The 5 richest countries that get money from UK’s £13bn of foreign aid | World | News
Britain is sending millions in foreign aid to five nations that are among the richest in the world, including one country that has a higher GDP than the UK.
Rising global economic powerhouse India, a country with its own space programme, is the wealthiest of the nations receiving cash, with £2million allocated for 2024/25 by the UK in the Official Development Assistance (ODA) budget.
According to the UN and World Bank, India currently ranks fifth overall globally for the size of its economy, a place above Britain in sixth.
Brazil is the second richest country in terms of aid received, but the most prosperous country in South America has only around £87,000 allocated in ODA.
Almost as surprising as India is the third country in the rankings, which is European nation and NATO member, Turkey.
The population holiday destination recieves nearly £19 million of UK taxpayer cash, that is despite the Turkish being able to afford almost double the number of fighter jets in their military compared to the RAF.
Coming in fourth place in size of aid spending is Indonesia, a country listed higher than the Netherlands and Switzerland in terms of overall wealth. The South East Asian archipelago nation is allocated nearly £45million.
Finally, and perhaps arguably more deserving of UK assistance than the rest of the top five, is Bangladesh, which has more than £61million set aside for aid. In the East Asian nation, roughly 18% of the population live below the poverty line, and the average wage is less than £180 a month.
In the Autumn 2024 budget, the Labour Government allocated a total of £13.3 billion in aid for 2024/25 increasing to £13.7 billion for 2025/26.
In a statement published on February 6, Labour Minister of State for Development, Anneliese Dodds, said: “Overseas Development Assistance is central for delivering the government’s mission to help create a world free from poverty on a liveable planet, working in a modern, genuine partnership with the Global South.
“Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office’s ODA spending will be used to achieve better development outcomes as part of a coherent international approach, with a strong focus on poverty reduction and accelerating progress on the Sustainable Development Goals.
“Our approach to development will deliver inclusive growth, tackle the climate crisis and address irregular migration.
“My Right Honourable Friend the Foreign Secretary and I are determined that the FCDO’s ODA spending will reach those who need it most, listening to our partners, and focusing on where the UK can have the biggest impact, delivering value for money for the British taxpayer.
“Since coming into office, the Foreign Secretary and I have reviewed the FCDO’s ODA plans for the current financial year (2024-25).
“Our objective has been to prioritise predictability and stability in budgets after years of turbulence under the previous government.
“We have therefore not reduced planned budgets except in relatively few areas where circumstances meant teams were unable to deliver their full budgets, or where some reprioritisation has been required to respond to changes in operating context.”
