SAN SALVADOR – At least 206 million dollars more in remittances entered Guatemala this month of January, compared to the same month in 2022. The figure represents an increase of 17.4%, according to data released by the Department of Macroeconomic Statistics of the Guatemalan Bank.
In January 2022, the number of remittances received in the Central American country was 1.180 million dollars. This January, the figure closed at 1,386 million dollars. Most remittances come from the United States.
But the sending of remittances to Guatemala shows a sustained growth rate since 2020, and in 2022 it was further consolidated. Last year, Guatemala broke a record in remittances after receiving 18.040 million dollars in the year.
The Bank of Guatemala has kept records since 2002 and reports that Guatemala had not received such an amount in the last 21 years.
“Employment growth among Latin American migrants in the United States contributed to remittance flows. In turn, remittances received by migrants in transit also contributed to strong flows in Mexico and Central America,” the World Bank explained in a statement. report at the end of 2022.
The multilateral organization adds that remittances are an essential source of income for households in low- and middle-income countries. They also help recipient households to strengthen their resilience, for example, through the financing of more adequate housing.
Connect with the Voice of America! Subscribe to our channel Youtubeand activate notifications, or follow us on social networks: Facebook, Twitter and instagram!
