Money sent or brought back by migrants as a share of GDP in Jamaica
Jamaica: Money sent or brought back by migrants as a share of GDP was 16.2% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Money sent or brought back by migrants as a share of GDP in Jamaica, 1976–2024
Source: World Bank staff estimates based on IMF and OECD data (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for money sent or brought back by migrants as a share of gdp in Jamaica is 16.2%, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of down 3.7% on the previous year and down 0.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, money sent or brought back by migrants as a share of gdp in Jamaica peaked at 23.2% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 2.3%, in 1983.
That places Jamaica 19th out of 194 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Money sent or brought back by migrants as a share of GDP in Jamaica, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1976 | 3.0% | — |
| 1977 | 2.5% | -15.7% |
| 1978 | 2.6% | +3.9% |
| 1979 | 3.7% | +41.9% |
| 1980 | 3.6% | -3.9% |
| 1981 | 3.6% | +0.8% |
| 1982 | 3.4% | -6.1% |
| 1983 | 2.3% | -31.0% |
| 1984 | 3.1% | +33.8% |
| 1985 | 6.9% | +122.5% |
| 1986 | 4.0% | -41.6% |
| 1987 | 3.7% | -9.4% |
| 1988 | 4.0% | +9.7% |
| 1989 | 4.7% | +17.7% |
| 1990 | 5.0% | +5.2% |
| 1991 | 4.4% | -11.3% |
| 1992 | 6.1% | +38.1% |
| 1993 | 4.4% | -27.9% |
| 1994 | 9.6% | +117.8% |
| 1995 | 9.7% | +1.5% |
| 1996 | 9.3% | -3.9% |
| 1997 | 8.5% | -8.8% |
| 1998 | 8.4% | -0.9% |
| 1999 | 8.7% | +3.3% |
| 2000 | 9.7% | +11.8% |
| 2001 | 11.4% | +16.8% |
| 2002 | 12.8% | +12.2% |
| 2003 | 14.6% | +14.5% |
| 2004 | 15.7% | +7.6% |
| 2005 | 15.7% | -0.4% |
| 2006 | 16.1% | +2.9% |
| 2007 | 16.6% | +2.8% |
| 2008 | 15.7% | -5.1% |
| 2009 | 15.6% | -0.9% |
| 2010 | 15.3% | -1.7% |
| 2011 | 14.6% | -4.9% |
| 2012 | 14.6% | +0.4% |
| 2013 | 15.2% | +4.0% |
| 2014 | 16.3% | +7.2% |
| 2015 | 15.8% | -3.3% |
| 2016 | 16.3% | +3.5% |
| 2017 | 15.6% | -4.5% |
| 2018 | 14.8% | -4.9% |
| 2019 | 15.1% | +1.4% |
| 2020 | 20.4% | +35.8% |
| 2021 | 23.2% | +13.6% |
| 2022 | 19.6% | -15.6% |
| 2023 | 16.8% | -14.2% |
| 2024 | 16.2% | -3.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 3.0% | 2.5% | 3.7% | 4 |
| 1980s | 3.9% | 2.3% | 6.9% | 10 |
| 1990s | 7.4% | 4.4% | 9.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 14.4% | 9.7% | 16.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 15.4% | 14.6% | 16.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 19.3% | 16.2% | 23.2% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Jamaica
- 16 Kyrgyzstan 17.6% compare
- 17 Vanuatu 17.2% compare
- 18 Haiti 16.9% compare
- 20 Uzbekistan 14.3% compare
- 21 Yemen 12.0% compare
- 22 Cape Verde 11.7% compare
More population data for Jamaica
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -3.12 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -1.76 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -4.7 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -1.76 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -1.8% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 35,987 people (2100)
- Population density 98.5 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -1.8% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -1.66 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population -0.1905 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is money sent or brought back by migrants as a share of gdp in Jamaica?
- Money sent or brought back by migrants as a share of gdp in Jamaica was 16.2% in 2024, according to World Bank staff estimates based on IMF and OECD data (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest money sent or brought back by migrants as a share of gdp recorded in Jamaica?
- The highest recorded value was 23.2% in 2021.
- What is the lowest money sent or brought back by migrants as a share of gdp recorded in Jamaica?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.3% in 1983.
- How does Jamaica rank for money sent or brought back by migrants as a share of gdp?
- Jamaica ranks 19th out of 194 countries with data for 2024.
- Is money sent or brought back by migrants as a share of gdp rising or falling in Jamaica?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Jamaica data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank staff estimates based on IMF and OECD data (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Money sent or brought back by migrants as a share of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Money sent or brought back by migrants refers to remittances a country has received in this year.