Author: IFAD
RemitSCOPE.org is here, bringing remittance and remittance-related data to your fingertips in a way that’s informative, easy to access, and free to use.
Launched by the United Nations’ International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), RemitSCOPE gathers and organizes the latest information on remittance flows, costs, market conditions, access, and structure with a special focus on the regions and countries that benefit most from remittances—particularly rural communities in low- and middle-income countries.
For anyone interested in the world of remittances—whether you’re a remittance service provider, regulator, policy maker, or simply exploring the field—RemitSCOPE is a powerful, interactive tool that opens up a deeper understanding of global remittance markets and new market opportunities.
Why remittances matter
In 2023, officially recorded remittance flows to low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) were an estimated $656 billion. These funds, sent by migrants to support their families back home, are essential to many economies, especially in rural areas where they often matter most. Remittances have surpassed foreign direct investment (FDI) and official development assistance (ODA), making them the largest source of external financing to LMICs. This funding helps families meet basic needs, invest in education, healthcare, and businesses, and build financial resilience.
Despite their significance, critical gaps in remittance market data persist, making it challenging to identify bottlenecks, track trends, or address issues with access and cost. RemitSCOPE fills this gap with a central repository of reliable, current remittance information from multiple sources, from public agencies to primary research. It provides comprehensive remittance data that fosters competition and supports initiatives aimed at reducing transaction costs, promoting digitalization, and improving access to formal and digital remittance services.
Key features of RemitSCOPE
RemitSCOPE is designed to simplify the remittance landscape and offer data-driven insights to a broad audience. Here’s a closer look at some of the features that make this platform unique:
- Comprehensive Country Profiles RemitSCOPE provides individual remittance profiles for over 70 countries across Africa and Latin America, with plans to expand further. Each profile includes detailed data, such as the total remittance volume received, the main sending countries, access metrics, and an overview of the remittance market’s structure. This resource helps users understand how remittances support various economies and households, making it a valuable tool for exploring a specific country’s remittance landscape.
- Country Diagnostics on African and LAC Markets RemitSCOPE is also home to specialized Country Diagnostics on seven African markets and five countries in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). These diagnostics offer in-depth analysis on remittance markets within these countries and provide specific recommendations for improving market functionality. This level of targeted insight is ideal for identifying actionable strategies that can directly enhance the impact and efficiency of remittance flows in key markets.
- Interactive Dashboards and Thematic Insights RemitSCOPE’s interactive dashboards allow users to explore remittance data across multiple themes, from migration trends to financial inclusion, remittance costs, and market structure. The data is easy to filter and customize, allowing users to focus on the information that matters most to them. Carefully curated indexes deliver essential market intelligence across different countries.
- Data on Costs and Accessibility RemitSCOPE provides detailed data on the costs of sending remittances, which is often a significant challenge in remittance markets. High transaction fees and unfavorable currency exchange rates reduce the funds received by families. By shedding light on cost disparities by country and corridor (from one country to another), RemitSCOPE supports policymakers and service providers in identifying cost bottlenecks and fostering more affordable options.
- Focus on Digitalization and Financial Inclusion RemitSCOPE highlights trends in the digitalization of remittance services, showcasing data on mobile wallets, digital money transfers, and other fintech solutions that allow families to receive funds remotely. These digital options are becoming increasingly popular as cost-effective, safe alternatives, especially in rural areas with limited access to physical financial services. RemitSCOPE tracks the growth of digital remittances, helping users appreciate the benefits of these options.
- Insights for Market Transparency For those interested in understanding market dynamics, RemitSCOPE offers valuable insights into the structure and regulatory environment of remittance markets. By outlining factors such as service providers, competition levels, and regulatory frameworks, RemitSCOPE provides users with a complete picture of how remittance markets operate. This transparency supports greater accountability and drives improvements in cost, accessibility, and service quality across the sector.

How RemitSCOPE can benefit you
RemitSCOPE is a versatile tool for anyone curious about remittances—whether you’re sending money, receiving it, or interested in understanding the global economy. Here are a few ways it can support you:
- Remittance Service Providers: Gain insights that help identify market opportunities, enhance competition, and improve products. Providers can use country-specific remittance flows and barriers to tailor services to underserved populations, particularly in rural areas.
- Policymakers: Access data that supports effective policy formulation. Detailed remittance and migration insights enable governments to better address financial inclusion, promote formal remittance channels, and ensure regulations encourage innovation and competition.
- Donors and Development Agencies: Identify regions where remittances impact poverty alleviation and development. RemitSCOPE’s data helps align investments with high-need areas, especially in rural LMIC regions.
- Regulators: Use RemitSCOPE’s insights on pricing, competition, and operating environments to develop policies that lower remittance costs, enhance transparency, and improve formal financial service access.
Get Started with RemitSCOPE Today
Exploring RemitSCOPE is easy. Start with a country profile, explore interactive dashboards, or dive into cost data to see how remittances are evolving worldwide. Each feature on RemitSCOPE is designed to make remittance information accessible and actionable, putting you in control of this vital financial resource.
Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a regular user, RemitSCOPE.org continuously updates with new data, visualizations, market insights, and expanded country profiles.
As IFAD continues supporting economic resilience in rural areas, RemitSCOPE is a crucial step toward a future where remittances are more accessible, affordable, and impactful for the communities relying on them most. Visit the www.RemitSCOPE.org and watch the Video to explore the latest remittance data and discover how this platform can serve you.

The RemitSCOPE web tool gathers and organizes the latest info on remittance flows, costs, and market conditions, with a focus on countries and regions that benefit most from remittances—especially rural communities in low- and middle-income countries. Designed for service providers, policymakers, and regulators, RemitSCOPE offers interactive dashboards, country profiles, cost data, and insights on financial inclusion. Whether you’re exploring remittances for the first time or looking for market opportunities, RemitSCOPE delivers accessible, data-driven perspectives on global remittance markets.
Remittances and diaspora investments offer vital support for sustainable practices and climate adaptation. IFAD’s initiatives in Nepal and Mali prove simple solutions can scale.
Nearly 40% of Nepalese households depend on remittances, which total around US$11 billion annually. While this supports families and builds the country’s foreign exchange reserves, it comes with a social cost. Samriddhi helps youth, migrant households, and returnees turn remittances into sustainable livelihoods.

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) have jointly developed this Policy Brief on unlocking the full potential of remittances and diaspora investment for Member States’ consideration in preparation for the FfD4.
Key messages from the brief include:
- Migrants’ remittances are a major source of private finance for LMICs, surpassing foreign direct investment (FDI) and official development assistance (ODA). In 2023, remittances to LMICs amounted to approximately US$656 billion and are projected to reach US$5 trillion cumulatively by 2030.
- Beyond remittances, migrants also invest back home and contribute substantial human and financial capital in the form of skills and networks into their countries of origin.
- Remittances and diaspora investments significantly benefit rural areas and less developed countries by bridging financing gaps for millions of households. These funds help millions of people out of poverty, improve health and nutrition, and keep children in school, all development goals. They also enable people to acquire assets, start businesses and strengthen their livelihoods, and enhance resilience to climate-related challenges.
- Unlocking Full Potential: Despite their importance, the full potential of remittances and diaspora investment for sustainable development remain unrealised. Enhanced international support and strategic commitment could harness these financial flows to address long-term goals, significantly advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Programmes: FFR Location: Mexico
Authors: IFAD, CEMLA
Themes: Remittance Families and Development, Market Insights
This document is part of a series of diagnostics covering selected countries in Latin America and Africa. In Mexico, remittances are a cornerstone of economic and social development, reaching a record US$ 61 billion in 2022. Rural and semiurban communities receive a substantial share of remittances, where their impact is most significant due to the economic characteristics of these areas. The diagnostic also explores how remittances intersect with migration trends and highlights the limited integration of digital financial services, which presents opportunities for improving financial inclusion among recipients.
The Mexico Country Diagnostic is a living document that will be updated to incorporate feedback from key stakeholders in Mexico’s remittance ecosystem. It is available only in Spanish and can be downloaded from the RemitSCOPE LAC web portal. This series is developed with the technical support of the Centro de Estudios Monetarios Latinoamericanos (CEMLA) and includes contributions from regional central banks and other key partners.
Este documento forma parte de una serie de diagnósticos que abarcan países seleccionados de América Latina y África. En México, las remesas son un pilar fundamental del desarrollo económico y social, alcanzando un récord de 61 mil millones de US$ en 2022. Las comunidades rurales y semiurbanas reciben una parte sustancial de las remesas, donde su impacto es más significativo debido a las características económicas de estas zonas. El diagnóstico también explora cómo las remesas se intersectan con las tendencias migratorias y destaca la limitada integración de los servicios financieros digitales, lo que presenta oportunidades para mejorar la inclusión financiera entre los beneficiarios.
El Diagnóstico de País de México es un documento dinámico que se actualizará para incorporar comentarios de los principales actores del ecosistema de remesas en México. Está disponible únicamente en español y se puede descargar desde el portal web de RemitSCOPE LAC. Esta serie se desarrolla con el apoyo técnico del Centro de Estudios Monetarios Latinoamericanos (CEMLA) e incluye contribuciones de bancos centrales regionales y otros socios clave.