Kenya Leads East Africa in Money Sent Home from Abroad.
Kenya is doing great when it comes to getting money from its people living in other countries. In 2024, Kenyans abroad sent a whopping $4.8 billion back home. That's about 537.6 billion Kenyan shillings!
Kenya received much more money than its neighbors. Somalia came in second with $1.73 billion, and Uganda was third with $1.49 billion.
Some other countries in East Africa didn't do as well as last year. The Democratic Republic of Congo received $1.35 billion, South Sudan received $1.14 billion, and Tanzania, Rwanda, and Burundi all received less than $1 billion.
The World Bank, which tracks these numbers, says money sent home is a big deal. For many countries, it's even more important than foreign investments.
South Sudan and Somalia really count on this money. It makes up a big chunk of their economies - 17.5% for South Sudan and 13.6% for Somalia.
In Kenya, money from abroad accounts for 4.6% of the economy. That's a big jump from just $51 million in 2001.
Rwanda is getting more money from its people abroad. The amount reached $537 million in 2024, which is 3.9% of Rwanda's economy compared to Uganda's 2.6%.
But the Congo, Tanzania, and Burundi aren't getting as much. For them, it's less than 2% of their economies. The Congo used to get a lot more—$3.26 billion in 2022. But in 2024, it dropped to $1.35 billion.
Burundi usually gets less than $50 million a year. Tanzania got the least in East Africa, with $757 million in 2024. That's just 1% of its economy.
Around the world, India gets the most money from its people abroad. In 2024, they sent back a massive $129 billion. Mexico is next with $68 billion, and China with $48 billion.
In Africa, Egypt is the leader with $22.65 billion, Nigeria is second with $19.84 billion, and Morocco is third with $12.05 billion.
The World Bank report shows Uganda has always been good at getting money from its people abroad. It started at $238 million in 2000 and has gone up steadily.
But Tanzania has struggled with this. In 2000, it only got $8 million. By 2024, it was up to $757 million, but that's still not a lot.
One reason might be that Tanzania doesn't let its people have dual citizenship. In May 2024, the government suggested a new law. It would give Tanzanians abroad some special rights, like owning property and paying lower taxes on investments. But the law is still being talked about. It's not official yet.
Kenya is doing great when it comes to getting money from its people living in other countries. In 2024, Kenyans abroad sent a whopping $4.8 billion back home. That's about 537.6 billion Kenyan shillings!
Kenya received much more money than its neighbors. Somalia came in second with $1.73 billion, and Uganda was third with $1.49 billion.
Some other countries in East Africa didn't do as well as last year. The Democratic Republic of Congo received $1.35 billion, South Sudan received $1.14 billion, and Tanzania, Rwanda, and Burundi all received less than $1 billion.
The World Bank, which tracks these numbers, says money sent home is a big deal. For many countries, it's even more important than foreign investments.
South Sudan and Somalia really count on this money. It makes up a big chunk of their economies - 17.5% for South Sudan and 13.6% for Somalia.
In Kenya, money from abroad accounts for 4.6% of the economy. That's a big jump from just $51 million in 2001.
Rwanda is getting more money from its people abroad. The amount reached $537 million in 2024, which is 3.9% of Rwanda's economy compared to Uganda's 2.6%.
But the Congo, Tanzania, and Burundi aren't getting as much. For them, it's less than 2% of their economies. The Congo used to get a lot more—$3.26 billion in 2022. But in 2024, it dropped to $1.35 billion.
Burundi usually gets less than $50 million a year. Tanzania got the least in East Africa, with $757 million in 2024. That's just 1% of its economy.
Around the world, India gets the most money from its people abroad. In 2024, they sent back a massive $129 billion. Mexico is next with $68 billion, and China with $48 billion.
In Africa, Egypt is the leader with $22.65 billion, Nigeria is second with $19.84 billion, and Morocco is third with $12.05 billion.
The World Bank report shows Uganda has always been good at getting money from its people abroad. It started at $238 million in 2000 and has gone up steadily.
But Tanzania has struggled with this. In 2000, it only got $8 million. By 2024, it was up to $757 million, but that's still not a lot.
One reason might be that Tanzania doesn't let its people have dual citizenship. In May 2024, the government suggested a new law. It would give Tanzanians abroad some special rights, like owning property and paying lower taxes on investments. But the law is still being talked about. It's not official yet.
