According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), which tracks official development assistance (ODA) from its member countries, aid from the world’s biggest donors reached $204 billion in 2022. We look at the breakdown of how each of the 18 wealthiest countries donate to foreign aid.
Sweden
Sweden’s 2023 budget introduced a new framework with a fixed annual ODA amount of SEK 56 billion (approximately $5.5 billion). This amount is set for three years (2023-2025) and is decoupled from Gross National Income (GNI). It represents 0.88% of the projected GNI for 2023. This budget means that Sweden was the top donor to foreign aid for 2023.
Ireland
The Irish government allocated €1.233 billion to its ODA program in 2023 and plans to increase this by €60 million in 2024. Ireland focuses its aid on poverty reduction, education, health, and climate change.
Norway
Norway is widely recognized for its significant contributions to foreign aid, often ranking among the top donors in the world. However, their initial donation of NOK 43.8 billion (approximately $4.1 billion) for foreign assistance in 2023 was criticized as under the UN target of 0.7% of GNI. The plan for 2024 is for Norway to donate NOK 51.7 billion (approximately $4.7 billion).
United Kingdom
The initial government plan allocated £18.3 billion (approximately $22.3 billion) for the 2023/24 financial year (April 2023 – March 2024) for(ODA). This represented a significant reduction from previous years, primarily due to rising domestic pressures and budgetary constraints.
The United States of America
According to the OECD, the United States remained one of the biggest individual donors in 2023 in terms of total amount, contributing $55.3 billion. While the US contributes the most in total amount, it falls short of the 0.7% target (set by the Pearson Commission in 1969., raising questions about proportional commitment.
Denmark
The Danish government allocated a total foreign aid budget of DKK 17.9 billion (approximately $2.6 billion) for ODA in 2023, which hits the UN guideline. Denmark’s ODA budget breakdown distinguishes between commitments and disbursements.
Canada
Canada’s 2023 foreign aid totaled $6.3 billion for international assistance, a 15% reduction from the previous year’s record high of $8.1 billion. This reduction in foreign assistance faced criticism from various organizations and individuals who argued that it would negatively impact vulnerable communities globally.
Netherlands
The Dutch ODA budget for 2023 was EUR 6.2 billion (approximately $6.5 billion). This represents a slightly decreased ODA/GNI ratio of 0.62%from 2022. The country has committed to spending more in future budgets after pressure to meet the 0.7% GNI target.
Iceland
Iceland contributed 71.9 million USD to ODA in 2023, consistent with previous years. The government has set an interim target of 0.35% of GNI (Gross National Income) and aims to hit the full target by 2027.
Luxembourg
Luxembourg has shown commitment to exceeding the UN target of 0.7% of Gross National Income (GNI) dedicated to ODA. For 2023, the ODA budget is estimated to be around €1.08 billion (approximately $1.16 billion), roughly 1.05% of GNI.
Korea
South Korea’s final ODA budget for 2023 was confirmed as KRW 4.78 trillion (approximately $3.7 billion). This budget represents a 6% increase over the initial proposal of KRW 4.5 trillion and a 21.3% increase over the 2022 budget of KRW 4.04 trillion.
Belgium
Unlike some other countries, Belgium’s final ODA budget for 2023 has yet to be confirmed as of February 29, 2024. Donor Tracker estimates the upside range for Belgium’s 2023 ODA to be around USD 3.4 billion.
Switzerland
The Swiss Federal Council approved an ODA budget of CHF 4.293 billion (approximately $4.5 billion) for 2023. This represents approximately 0.56% of Switzerland’s Gross National Income (GNI). Switzerland focuses on various regions and countries, with a more substantial presence in Asia, Eastern Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, and sub-Saharan Africa.
Germany
Germany’s final ODA (Official Development Assistance) budget for 2023 is confirmed to be €12.54 billion (approximately $13.3 billion). This amount shows an increase from 2022 but still falls short of the UN target of 0.7%, falling by approximately 0.83%.
Finland
Finland confirmed a foreign aid budget of €887 million (approximately $962 million) for ODA in 2023. Finland’s donation focuses on nine long-term partner countries, the majority of which are Least Developed Countries (LDCs) located in sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.
Italy
Italy’s ODA budget for 2023 is estimated to be around €3 billion (approximately $3.3 billion). This amount represents a slight increase compared to the 2022 budget but is still lower than the 0.7% of GNI.
Japan
In 2023, Japan set a budget of approximately ¥1.14 trillion (roughly USD 8.8 billion). This is based on exchange rates and specific project needs throughout the year, which may vary slightly. The country strongly emphasizes supporting infrastructure development that promotes economic growth and sustainability.
France
French lawmakers passed a budget targeting €16.1 billion (around USD 17.5 billion) for ODA in 2023. This represents a 600 million euro increase compared to 2022 and showcases continued commitment to increasing aid contributions.
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