International Day of Family Remittances

International Day of Family Remittances (IDFR)
The International Day of Family Remittances (IDFR) is celebrated on 16 June each year. The IDFR recognizes the crucial contribution of over 200 million migrant workers who send money to over 800 million family members in low- and middle-income countries. It highlights the resilience of migrant workers in the face of uncertainty while promoting reduced transfer costs and greater financial inclusion through remittances.
Remittances are a lifeline to the developing world and are used to pay for basic household needs, education and entrepreneurship. While individual remittances may be relatively small (the average remittance is US$200-US$300 a month), collectively, these flows are three times greater than global official development assistance.
Over the past 20 years, remittance flows have increased five-fold. Even during economic downturns, remittances continue to flow as they bind migrants to their families back home, helping them stay afloat. In 2022, migrant workers sent US$626 billion home, a growth of 10.2 percent compared to 2021.
Behavioural shifts among migrants and the diaspora—such as sending savings and using mobile transfers—have further bolstered remittances. The COVID-19 pandemic catalysed the use of formal remittances, with mobile remittances alone increasing by 48 per cent in 2021. Digitalization is less costly than cash transfers and has advanced the financial inclusion of migrants and their families.
Find out more and visit the IDFR webpage.
IDFR Facts and figures
Facts and figures
- Each year, 200 million migrant workers in 40 rich countries send remittances to over 800 million relatives in 125 low- and middle- income countries.
- Remittances directly impact the lives of more than one billion people, either as senders or receivers.
- Global remittances are three times greater than Official Development Assistance.
- In 2022, more than half of the US$626 billion remittances sent to low- and middle-income countries went to rural areas.
- Remittances make up an average of 60 per cent of household income.
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- Trello Board
- IDFR flash reports for 2022:
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Contact information
Asset Publisher



Leonard Makuvaza
Remittances and Inclusive Digital Finance Officer (South Africa, The Gambia)

Frédéric Ponsot
Senior Technical Specialist on Remittances, Diaspora and Inclusive Finance

Leleng Tchangai
Remittance and Inclusive Digital Finance Specialist (Morocco, Senegal)
Related pages
Related pages
The International Day of Family Remittances (IDFR) Contacts
Contact us
For questions, please contact familyremittances@ifad.org