Manama:Gulf Cooperation Council: GCC countries have reported the highest global value of outward workers' remittances, totaling approximately USD 161 billion in 2025. This figure represents a 13.6% increase from 2024, marking a rise of around USD 19 billion.
According to Bahrain News Agency, the increased remittances reflect the continued influx of expatriate workers, spurred by the expansion of economic activities in infrastructure, services, industry, and non-oil sectors within the GCC region.
The report highlights that this is the second consecutive year of growth in remittances, following a decline in 2023, with the 2025 levels reaching a new peak. Workers' remittances accounted for about 6.6% of the GCC's GDP in 2025, up from 6.0% in 2024, 5.7% in 2023, and 5.6% in 2022. This percentage indicates the significance of remittances in relation to the size of the GCC economies.
GCC countries' remittances surpass those of major economies including the United States, which recorded approximately USD 107 billion, Switzerland with USD 43 billion, Germany with USD 27 billion, and France with USD 21 billion.
These remittances play a crucial role beyond their monetary value, contributing to household incomes, consumption, and economic and social stability in the recipient countries. They underscore the GCC's economic influence regionally and its integration into global financial dynamics.