The Central Bank (BCRD) has announced that remittances sent home by Dominican expatriates reached a total of US$5.83 billion during the first half of 2025. This figure represents an 11.2% increase compared to the same period in 2024, highlighting the continued importance of these money transfers for the country’s economy.
By year-end, remittances are expected to total approximately US$11.3 billion.
The remittances have contributed significantly to maintaining a health level of international reserves. The country’s international reserves now stand at US$14.79 billion, equivalent to 11.3% of GDP and covering 5.4 months of imports—well above the thresholds recommended by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
In particular, June 2025 saw remittance inflows of US$923.8 million, up 7.9% compared to June 2024. According to the BCRD, these funds from the Dominican diaspora play a crucial role in national development, fueling consumption, investment, and support for vulnerable sectors.
This growth in remittances comes despite ongoing global uncertainty and volatility in international financial markets. With weakened global growth expectations and heightened caution among households and businesses—especially in countries hosting migrant communities—the resilience of remittance flows is notable.
In the United States, the origin of 81.2% of formal remittances in June (about US$693.0 million), the overall unemployment rate was 4.1%, slightly lower than in May and still near full employment levels. Additionally, the non-manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) from the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) rose to 50.8 in June from 49.9 in May, reflecting modest economic expansion.
Beyond the United States, other key sources of remittances in June included:
• Spain: US$59.7 million (7.0% of total)
• Haiti: 1.4%
• Italy and Switzerland: 1.3% each
Central Bank says that metropolitan areas continue to receive the bulk of the transfers. In terms of regional distribution within the Dominican Republic:
• The National District received 38.2% of total remittances in June.
• Santiago followed with 12.5%, and Santo Domingo province with 8.0%.
Together, these metropolitan areas accounted for 58.7% of all remittance inflows.
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Central Bank
14 July 2025