In 2024, Ethiopia emerged as one of the largest recipients of foreign aid in the world, second only to Ukraine. New data on Official Development Assistance (ODA) reveals not just the scale of aid flowing into Ethiopia, but also how sharply it stands out within East and Central Africa. This blog breaks down what the numbers show, what ODA really measures, and why Ethiopia’s aid profile matters in a global context.

When the average dinner conversation turns to global inequality, the noble idea of foreign aid tends to make an appearance. Politicians pat themselves on the back for budgeted billions in development assistance. Yet, behind the scenes and without red carpets, a much bigger financial force has been steadily growing: migrant remittances.