International aid from official donors dropped by 7.1% in real terms in 2024, marking the first decline after five years of consecutive growth, according to preliminary data from the OECD.
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This decrease in official development assistance (ODA) was driven by reduced contributions to international organizations, lower aid for Ukraine, a decline in humanitarian aid, and less spending on hosting refugees in donor countries. Overall, ODA from OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC) members amounted to USD 212.1 billion, representing just 0.33% of their combined gross national income (GNI).
The drop in aid was felt across several areas, with net ODA to Ukraine falling by 16.7%, humanitarian aid dropping by 9.6%, and funding for refugees within donor countries declining by 17.3%. In total, ODA directed to cover refugee costs amounted to USD 27.8 billion, or 13.1% of total DAC ODA. The United States remained the largest provider of ODA, contributing USD 63.3 billion, followed by Germany, the United Kingdom, Japan, and France. Despite the decrease, a few countries, such as Denmark, Luxembourg, Norway, and Sweden, still exceeded the United Nations' ODA target of 0.7% of GNI.
OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann expressed concern over the increasing pressures on development finance, emphasizing the need for more effective use of available ODA to support developing countries’ growth. OECD DAC Chair Carsten Staur also highlighted the importance of prioritizing aid for the poorest and most fragile nations, with a focus on poverty eradication, a just green transition, and improving governance. Despite the overall decline, net bilateral ODA to Africa and least developed countries (LDCs) remained significant but showed slight reductions compared to 2023.
