Egypt remittances hit record $41.5B in 2025

Remittances from Egyptians working abroad surged to an all-time high of $41.5 billion in 2025, up 40.5% from $29.6 billion a year earlier, the central bank said Monday.

The inflows — one of Egypt’s most reliable sources of hard currency — are giving the government breathing room as it tries to rebuild foreign-exchange buffers, meet external debt obligations, and keep imports flowing under an IMF-backed reform program.

For millions of households, the money is also a private safety net, helping families cover food, rent, school fees and healthcare as high prices squeeze budgets, though the relief is concentrated among those with relatives able to work abroad.

The central bank said Monday that remittances rose 29.6% in the first half of the current fiscal year to about $22.1 billion, compared with about $17.1 billion in the same period a year earlier.

The statement said remittances in December 2025 jumped 24% to about $4.0 billion, the highest monthly level on record, versus about $3.2 billion in December 2024.

Remittances from Egyptians abroad had reached $33.9 billion in the first 10 months of 2025, up 42.8% from about $23.7 billion a year earlier.

The increase comes as the International Monetary Fund expects Egypt’s external financing gap to total about $8.2 billion in the current fiscal year, raising pressure on the government to secure additional resources, including privatization proceeds, to help cover the shortfall.