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The race to live off money sent home

Race · 2 Nov 2026

Line race of remittances received as a share of GDP, 2002 to 2025, for Tajikistan, Tonga, Nepal, Lesotho and Moldova. Tajikistan, in gold, starts last at 6%, leads from 2007, dips to 27% in 2015 after the rouble crash, passes Tonga again in 2024 and ends at 58%. Lesotho falls from 50% to 21%.

Tajikistan remittances rose from 6% to 58% of GDP, 2002 to 2025

Personal remittances received as a share of GDP in Tajikistan, Tonga, Nepal, Lesotho and Moldova, 2002 to 2025.

Most of the money comes from Tajiks working in Russia, so the rouble sets the pace: when it crashed in 2014 and 2015 the share fell from 44% to 27%. Tajikistan first led these five in 2007 and took the lead back from Tonga in 2024. In 2025 remittances reached 58% of GDP, the highest of any country with 2025 data. Tonga is at 39%, Nepal at 32%.

Source: World Bank, 2025