Key Findings:
- Higher-income households receive remittances on a more regular basis. A mere 7% of respondents reporting a monthly income of less than LBP 5 million receive regular remittances, compared to almost 60% of those earning between LBP 20 million and LBP 25 million. This finding underlines the prevalence of remittance inequality and that remittances are not a substitute for state-guaranteed social protections or international aid interventions.
- Recipients primarily use remittances to purchase food, cover basic expenses, and buy medication as opposed to saving and investment, which was more common prior to 2019.
- Sixty-three percent of surveyed remittance recipients reported that they began receiving remittances after 2019. This links the economic crisis to reliance on remittances as a source of income amid LBP depreciation.
- Most remittance recipients rely on direct family as their source of remittances. Transactions through close family members tend to be both more regular and higher in value.
- About half of survey respondents reported having support circles outside of their direct family, including at least one person outside Lebanon. Most remittances arriving in Lebanon originate in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries (34%). One-quarter originate from North America, 19% from Europe, 14% from Africa, and 14% from Australia.
- The economic crisis has led to a decrease in the number of people in informal social protection circles, especially individuals who live in Lebanon. As a result, people have smaller circles of support today compared to before the crisis.
By Crisis Analytics Team, Mercy Corps Lebanon
