During 2024, diaspora remittances continued to be a key financial source for Balkan countries, amounting to billions of euros and having a direct impact on national economies.
Data published by Eurostat show that many countries in the region remain dependent on remittances from migrants, both for household consumption and economic stability.
Among the countries in the region, Croatia ranks first in terms of the absolute value of remittances, with around 2.27 billion euros sent last year, representing around 2.6 percent of Gross Domestic Product.
Bosnia and Herzegovina continues to remain among the economies most dependent on remittances, with around 1.99 billion euros from the diaspora, or 7.6 percent of GDP.
Albania benefited from around 1.28 billion euros from its emigrants during 2024, an amount that is estimated at around 5.1 percent of the national economy.
Meanwhile, Kosovo records the highest level of dependence on remittances in the region, with around 1.32 billion euros sent from the diaspora, representing approximately 12.7 percent of GDP.
At the bottom of the list are Montenegro and North Macedonia. Montenegro has recorded around 345 million euros in remittances, or 4.5 percent of GDP, while North Macedonia has recorded around 310 million euros, which makes up around 2 percent of its economy.
Experts emphasize that remittances remain vital for covering basic expenses, maintaining social stability, and supporting households in the region, although their long-term impact on economic development depends on the orientation of these funds towards productive investments and economic sustainability. /Telegraph/
