Migrant women and remittances: Exploring the data from selected countries

A growing body of work has analysed the relationship between gender and remittances, but very little is known about the comparative value of the remittances sent by migrant women and men.

This policy brief is unique in its analysis of data from 11 national household surveys, which contain information on remittances received by households and on the senders. The research found that, while women typically earn less than men and pay more in transfer fees, the average remittance amounts they send are the same as or even greater than those of men, implying that they tend to remit a larger portion of their earnings than do men.

The research also showed that women tend to rely more on in-person cash transfer services, and when these services become unavailable—as seen during the COVID-19 pandemic—it creates significant barriers for migrant women to send remittances.