Gulf Statistical Centre: GCC Countries Lead the World in Workers' Remittances Abroad in 2025
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Statistical Center announced on Sunday that GCC countries collectively recorded the highest global value of worker remittances sent abroad in 2025, totaling approximately $161 billion, representing a 13.6 percent increase compared to 2024.
In a report titled “Worker Remittances from the GCC Countries Abroad 2025,” the Center stated that this rise comes amid “the continued attraction of foreign labor, alongside the expansion of economic activities linked to infrastructure projects, services, industry, and non-oil sectors.”
The Center noted that total worker remittances from the GCC countries rose for the second consecutive year after a decline in 2023, reaching their highest level in 2025, an increase of approximately $19 billion over 2024.
Regarding the share of worker remittances in the gross domestic product (GDP) of GCC countries, the Center reported that it amounted to about 6.6 percent in 2025, compared to 6 percent in 2024, 5.7 percent in 2023, and 5.6 percent in 2022. It clarified that this percentage reflects the relative weight of worker remittances compared to the size of the GCC economies “and does not, by itself, indicate an improvement or deterioration in economic performance.”
In this regard, the Center highlighted the global standing of the GCC countries, which becomes evident when comparing their total outbound remittances with the remittance figures recorded in several major individual economies. It noted that worker remittances sent from the United States amounted to approximately $107 billion, Switzerland to about $43 billion, Germany to around $27 billion, and France to roughly $21 billion.
Emphasizing the significance of these remittances, the Center affirmed that their value extends beyond their direct financial worth, as they contribute to supporting household incomes, consumption, and economic and social stability in recipient countries. They also reflect “the GCC’s regional economic weight, its role in global financial flows, and its linkage to the global economy.”
The GCC Statistical Center, headquartered in the Sultanate of Oman, was established in 2011 as the official authorized body for data, information, and statistics related to the GCC countries. It also plays a role in enhancing statistical and informational efforts among national statistical centers and planning authorities within the GCC.
