PARIS, France – International aid from official donors fell in 2024 by 7.1 percent in real terms compared to 2023, the first drop after five years of consecutive growth, according to preliminary data collected by the OECD.
The fall in official development assistance (ODA) was due to a reduction in contributions to international organisations, as well as a decrease in aid for Ukraine, lower levels of humanitarian aid and reduced spending on hosting refugees in donor countries.
ODA by member countries of the OECD’s Development Assistance Committee (DAC) amounted to USD 212.1 billion in 2024, representing 0.33 percent of DAC members’ combined GNI.
“Pressures on development finance and developing countries’ growth are increasing,” OECD secretary-general Mathias Cormann said. “Optimising the effectiveness of available official development assistance will help developing countries manage these fiscal pressures, make essential investments in growth, and protect the most vulnerable.”
Net ODA to Ukraine fell by 16.7 percent in real terms compared to 2023 and amounted to USD 15.5 billion, representing 7.4 percent of total net ODA. Humanitarian aid dropped by an estimated 9.6 percent in 2024, amounting to USD 24.2 billion.
ODA used to cover refugee costs within donor countries fell by 17.3 percent in 2024 compared to 2023 and amounted to USD 27.8 billion, representing 13.1 percent of DAC member countries’ total ODA, down from 14.6 percent in 2023. For five countries, in-donor refugee costs still represented more than a quarter of their ODA in 2024.
The United States continued to be the largest DAC member country provider of ODA (USD 63.3 billion), accounting for 30 percent of total DAC ODA in 2024, followed by Germany (USD 32.4 billion), the United Kingdom (USD 18.0 billion), Japan (USD 16.8 billion), and France (USD 15.4 billion).
“It is regrettable that ODA decreased in 2024 after five years of continuous growth. It’s even more concerning that some of the major donors have signalled further, and quite significant, decreases over the coming years.” OECD DAC chair Carsten Staur said. “In this situation, it is paramount that ODA is invested where it is most needed, especially in the poorest and most fragile countries. Going forward, poverty eradication, the just green transition and governance should remain at the core, and we must also make ODA work harder in mobilising other sources of finance. Doubling down on aid effectiveness, together with partner countries, will be the key to achieve this.”
ODA rose in ten DAC member countries and fell in twenty-two countries. Only four countries exceeded the United Nations’ target of 0.7 percent ODA to GNI: Denmark (0.71%), Luxembourg (1.00%), Norway (1.02%) and Sweden (0.79%).
Net bilateral ODA for programmes and projects and technical assistance, excluding in-donor refugees and humanitarian aid, fell slightly by 1.2 percent in real terms, due in part to the reduction in ODA for Ukraine. Net debt relief grants remained low at USD 241 million.
Preliminary estimates show that net bilateral ODA flows from DAC members to Africa stood at USD 42 billion in 2024, representing a fall of 1 percent in real terms compared to 2023. Within this total, net ODA to sub-Saharan Africa was USD 36 billion, a decrease of 2 percent in real terms.
Net bilateral aid flows from DAC members to the group of least developed countries (LDCs) were USD 35 billion, a fall of 3 percent in real terms compared to 2023.
Links to aid data and background information:
- Interactive charts showing ODA trends over time up to 2024: Official development assistance (ODA).
- More detail on ODA statistics including the breakdown for 2024: O.N.E – Preliminary official development assistance levels in 2024.
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