India tops global remittances with $138 billion inflow

India’s diaspora is the largest at around 19 million, with significant numbers of international immigrants living in UAE, US and Saudi Arabia. With this backing, India continued as the top country receiving remittances, but 2024 was spectacular with inflows of $138 billion.

The country also emerges as one of the biggest source countries for student and skilled migration, according to World Migration Report 2026 released by International Organisation for Migration. According to the report, India was the only country to cross the $100-billion remittance mark, underlining the enormous economic footprint of the Indian diaspora spread across the world.

The report noted that remittance inflows into India had risen sharply over a decade from around $53 billion in 2010 to over $137 billion in 2024, driven by strong earnings by Indian workers and professionals in the US, the UAE, UK, Canada and Australia. Mexico, with inward remittances of $68 billion, was the secondlargest recipient in 2024, China’s inward remittances in 2022 were $48 billion.

India’s dominance in remittance flows comes amid a broader transformation in migration patterns. While Gulf nations continue to employ millions in construction, services and domestic work, the report highlighted the rapid rise in high-skilled migration from India, particularly in technology, healthcare, engineering and research sectors. The report does not reflect the top source countries of inward remittances to India, but understandably it would be from top diaspora countries.