In this factsheet we provide an overview of key trends in official development assistance (ODA) emerging from the provisional 2017 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Development Assistance Committee (DAC) data release.
Key findings
Total net ODA from DAC donors in 2016 was US$142.62 billion (US$143.33 billion in constant 2015 prices), up 8.9% on 2015 figures.
Both total ODA and ODA net of refugee-hosting costs increased. Total ODA net of refugee-hosting costs reached US$127.21 billion in 2016 (US$127.89 billion in constant 2015 prices), an increase of 7.1% from 2015.
The proportion of total ODA reported by DAC donors for refugee-hosting costs increased by 27.5%, reaching US$15.41 billion (US$15.44 billion in constant 2015 prices).
The majority of donors saw an increase in their reported ODA from 2015 to 2016, some quite significantly; however, some key donors saw a decrease. Six countries met the 0.7% gross national income (GNI) target.
Bilateral aid to least developed countries (LDCs) has fallen slightly on last year, from just over US$25 billion to US$22.4 billion (US$22.5 billion in constant 2015 prices).
In terms of total volumes, the United States (US) continues to be the largest bilateral provider, with 59 billion (US$33.16 billion in constant 2015 prices). Germany is the second largest provider with ODA increasing to US$24.67 billion (US$24.41 billion in constant 2015 prices), followed by the United Kingdom (UK) with US$18.01 billion (US$20.01 billion in constant 2015 prices), Japan with US$10.37 billion (US$9.29 billion in constant 2015 prices) and France with US$9.50 billion (US$9.46 billion in constant 2015 prices).
In 2016 total gross ODA loans and equity investments are slightly down against grants compared with 2015. In 2015, US$17.94 billion of ODA was given in the form of loans. This fell 8.9% in 2016 to US$17.23 billion (US$16.35 billion in constant 2015 prices).
In 2016 ODA to multilateral organisations from DAC donors stood at US$40.63 billion (US$40.99 billion in constant 2015 prices), a 9.8% increase on levels in 2015.
Bilateral net ODA to Africa from DAC donors stood at US$26.74 billion in 2016 (US$26.93 billion in constant 2015 prices); this was a 0.5% fall from the previous year. Sub-Saharan Africa made up 88.7% of the 2016 total to Africa.