The United States has the most international influence of any country in the world, according to one poll. A leader in scientific and technological innovation, as well as entertainment and culture, the U.S. is also actively engaged in wielding its substantial influence in numerous conflicts and security initiatives around the world.
American influence abroad is also attributable to the amount of foreign aid it gives each year. The U.S. is the largest foreign aid donor in the world by a wide margin, dispersing $44 billion to 198 countries in 2022, according to the federal government – excluding much of the weaponry and military assistance it has provided to Ukraine since the Russian invasion. Though it is the largest sum of any country, it accounts for about 0.2% of gross domestic product. For context, Germany, the world’s second largest contributor of foreign aid, gave $33.3 billion in official development assistance in 2021, or about 0.7% of its GDP, according to the latest year of available data from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.
Each year, American aid is disbursed around the world, earmarked for health programs, disaster relief, economic stability, development assistance, and child nutrition and education initiatives – among others. Covering most of the world, U.S. aid goes to nearly every African, Asian, and Latin American country, as well as much of Europe. But some countries receive far more than others. Some of the countries that receive the most humanitarian aid, including Yemen and Afghanistan, have been the site of U.S. military action.
Using data from the State Department and U.S. Agency for International Development, 24/7 Wall St. identified the countries receiving the most U.S. foreign aid. The 25 countries on this list received anywhere from hundreds of millions to several billion dollars in American aid in 2022.
Generally, U.S. foreign aid is intended to relieve suffering, and many of the countries receiving the most American aid are home to some of the poorest populations in the world. In 11 of the countries on this list, GDP per capita is less than $1,000 a year. For context, GDP per capita in the U.S. is over $70,000. (Here is a look at the 27 poorest nations on Earth.)
The amount of aid the U.S. sends to a given country can fluctuate considerably from year to year, depending on circumstances – like the outbreak of an infectious disease, a natural disaster, or a war. Ukraine, which has been fighting a Russian invasion for over a year, was far and away the largest recipient of American aid in 2022, with $9.0 billion, not including military weapons and material, which are valued at many times that amount. Meanwhile, in 2021, the year before the war, Ukraine received $302 million from the United States. (Here is a list of the countries sending the most aid to Ukraine.)
Click here to see countries that receive the most aid from the USA.
Click here to see our detailed methodology.
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25. Lebanon
> Total U.S. aid disbursements, 2022: $228.7 million
> U.S. aid disbursements per capita: $40.89 (8th of 203 countries)
> GDP per capita, 2021: $4,136 (122nd of 203 countries)
> Population, 2021: 5.6 million (115th of 203 countries)
> Top funding agency: U.S. Agency for International Development (98.9% of aid)
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24. India
> Total U.S. aid disbursements, 2022: $231.4 million
> U.S. aid disbursements per capita: $0.16 (128th of 203 countries)
> GDP per capita, 2021: $2,257 (152nd of 203 countries)
> Population, 2021: 1.4 billion (2nd of 203 countries)
> Top funding agency: U.S. Agency for International Development (70.8% of aid)
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23. Malawi
> Total U.S. aid disbursements, 2022: $239.9 million
> U.S. aid disbursements per capita: $12.06 (37th of 203 countries)
> GDP per capita, 2021: $635 (189th of 203 countries)
> Population, 2021: 19.9 million (62nd of 203 countries)
> Top funding agency: Department of State (51.8% of aid)
Source: HomoCosmicos / iStock via Getty Images
22. Niger
> Total U.S. aid disbursements, 2022: $240.5 million
> U.S. aid disbursements per capita: $9.52 (45th of 203 countries)
> GDP per capita, 2021: $591 (190th of 203 countries)
> Population, 2021: 25.3 million (57th of 203 countries)
> Top funding agency: U.S. Agency for International Development (45.9% of aid)
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21. Zimbabwe
> Total U.S. aid disbursements, 2022: $264.7 million
> U.S. aid disbursements per capita: $16.55 (25th of 203 countries)
> GDP per capita, 2021: $1,774 (160th of 203 countries)
> Population, 2021: 16.0 million (74th of 203 countries)
> Top funding agency: Department of State (48.8% of aid)
Source: Joel Carillet / iStock via Getty Images
20. Iraq
> Total U.S. aid disbursements, 2022: $282.3 million
> U.S. aid disbursements per capita: $6.48 (56th of 203 countries)
> GDP per capita, 2021: $4,775 (116th of 203 countries)
> Population, 2021: 43.5 million (37th of 203 countries)
> Top funding agency: U.S. Agency for International Development (100.0% of aid)
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19. Zambia
> Total U.S. aid disbursements, 2022: $302.1 million
> U.S. aid disbursements per capita: $15.51 (27th of 203 countries)
> GDP per capita, 2021: $1,137 (172nd of 203 countries)
> Population, 2021: 19.5 million (64th of 203 countries)
> Top funding agency: Department of State (62.3% of aid)
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18. Tanzania
> Total U.S. aid disbursements, 2022: $331.2 million
> U.S. aid disbursements per capita: $5.21 (64th of 203 countries)
> GDP per capita, 2021: $1,099 (173rd of 203 countries)
> Population, 2021: 63.6 million (24th of 203 countries)
> Top funding agency: Department of State (68.8% of aid)
17. South Africa
> Total U.S. aid disbursements, 2022: $360.8 million
> U.S. aid disbursements per capita: $6.08 (57th of 203 countries)
> GDP per capita, 2021: $7,055 (94th of 203 countries)
> Population, 2021: 59.4 million (25th of 203 countries)
> Top funding agency: Department of State (72.5% of aid)
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16. Bangladesh
> Total U.S. aid disbursements, 2022: $394.4 million
> U.S. aid disbursements per capita: $2.33 (90th of 203 countries)
> GDP per capita, 2021: $2,458 (147th of 203 countries)
> Population, 2021: 169.4 million (9th of 203 countries)
> Top funding agency: U.S. Agency for International Development (75.8% of aid)
15. Colombia
> Total U.S. aid disbursements, 2022: $431.5 million
> U.S. aid disbursements per capita: $8.38 (49th of 203 countries)
> GDP per capita, 2021: $6,104 (102nd of 203 countries)
> Population, 2021: 51.5 million (30th of 203 countries)
> Top funding agency: U.S. Agency for International Development (98.0% of aid)
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14. Mozambique
> Total U.S. aid disbursements, 2022: $441.3 million
> U.S. aid disbursements per capita: $13.76 (31st of 203 countries)
> GDP per capita, 2021: $492 (194th of 203 countries)
> Population, 2021: 32.1 million (49th of 203 countries)
> Top funding agency: Department of State (49.9% of aid)
Source: Dennis Wegewijs / iStock via Getty Images
13. Uganda
> Total U.S. aid disbursements, 2022: $502.0 million
> U.S. aid disbursements per capita: $10.95 (38th of 203 countries)
> GDP per capita, 2021: $884 (180th of 203 countries)
> Population, 2021: 45.9 million (32nd of 203 countries)
> Top funding agency: U.S. Agency for International Development (53.3% of aid)
Source: Jacek_Sopotnicki / iStock via Getty Images
12. Kenya
> Total U.S. aid disbursements, 2022: $538.0 million
> U.S. aid disbursements per capita: $10.15 (41st of 203 countries)
> GDP per capita, 2021: $2,082 (154th of 203 countries)
> Population, 2021: 53.0 million (28th of 203 countries)
> Top funding agency: Department of State (44.9% of aid)
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11. Somalia
> Total U.S. aid disbursements, 2022: $549.8 million
> U.S. aid disbursements per capita: $32.22 (13th of 203 countries)
> GDP per capita, 2021: $447 (197th of 203 countries)
> Population, 2021: 17.1 million (71st of 203 countries)
> Top funding agency: U.S. Agency for International Development (69.2% of aid)
Source: mbrand85 / iStock via Getty Images
10. Jordan
> Total U.S. aid disbursements, 2022: $614.1 million
> U.S. aid disbursements per capita: $55.08 (7th of 203 countries)
> GDP per capita, 2021: $4,103 (123rd of 203 countries)
> Population, 2021: 11.1 million (84th of 203 countries)
> Top funding agency: U.S. Agency for International Development (99.7% of aid)
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9. Sudan
> Total U.S. aid disbursements, 2022: $636.3 million
> U.S. aid disbursements per capita: $13.94 (29th of 203 countries)
> GDP per capita, 2021: $752 (185th of 203 countries)
> Population, 2021: 45.7 million (34th of 203 countries)
> Top funding agency: Department of Agriculture (57.0% of aid)
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8. Democratic Republic of the Congo
> Total U.S. aid disbursements, 2022: $784.1 million
> U.S. aid disbursements per capita: $8.18 (50th of 203 countries)
> GDP per capita, 2021: $577 (191st of 203 countries)
> Population, 2021: 95.9 million (17th of 203 countries)
> Top funding agency: U.S. Agency for International Development (51.5% of aid)
Source: peeterv / iStock via Getty Images
7. Nigeria
> Total U.S. aid disbursements, 2022: $798.7 million
> U.S. aid disbursements per capita: $3.74 (77th of 203 countries)
> GDP per capita, 2021: $2,066 (155th of 203 countries)
> Population, 2021: 213.4 million (8th of 203 countries)
> Top funding agency: U.S. Agency for International Development (59.0% of aid)
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Source: Joel Carillet / E+ via Getty Images
6. Syria
> Total U.S. aid disbursements, 2022: $839.5 million
> U.S. aid disbursements per capita: $39.37 (9th of 203 countries)
> GDP per capita, 2021: $533 (192nd of 203 countries)
> Population, 2021: 21.3 million (61st of 203 countries)
> Top funding agency: U.S. Agency for International Development (99.8% of aid)
Source: Phototreat / iStock via Getty Images
5. South Sudan
> Total U.S. aid disbursements, 2022: $919.6 million
> U.S. aid disbursements per capita: $85.56 (5th of 203 countries)
> GDP per capita, 2021: $1,072 (175th of 203 countries)
> Population, 2021: 10.7 million (86th of 203 countries)
> Top funding agency: U.S. Agency for International Development (48.1% of aid)
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4. Ethiopia
> Total U.S. aid disbursements, 2022: $1.2 billion
> U.S. aid disbursements per capita: $10.19 (40th of 203 countries)
> GDP per capita, 2021: $925 (177th of 203 countries)
> Population, 2021: 120.3 million (13th of 203 countries)
> Top funding agency: Department of Agriculture (49.3% of aid)
Source: Kilinson / iStock via Getty Images
3. Yemen
> Total U.S. aid disbursements, 2022: $1.3 billion
> U.S. aid disbursements per capita: $39.07 (10th of 203 countries)
> GDP per capita, 2021: $702 (186th of 203 countries)
> Population, 2021: 33.0 million (47th of 203 countries)
> Top funding agency: Department of Agriculture (68.0% of aid)
2. Afghanistan
> Total U.S. aid disbursements, 2022: $3.0 billion
> U.S. aid disbursements per capita: $75.23 (6th of 203 countries)
> GDP per capita, 2021: $369 (198th of 203 countries)
> Population, 2021: 40.1 million (38th of 203 countries)
> Top funding agency: Department of Defense (71.4% of aid)
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1. Ukraine
> Total U.S. aid disbursements, 2022: $9.0 billion
> U.S. aid disbursements per capita: $204.87 (3rd of 203 countries)
> GDP per capita, 2021: $4,836 (115th of 203 countries)
> Population, 2021: 43.8 million (36th of 203 countries)
> Top funding agency: U.S. Agency for International Development (99.7% of aid)
Methodology
To determine the countries receiving the most U.S. foreign aid, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed data from the U.S. Agency for International Development. Countries were ranked based on total U.S. aid disbursements in the 2022 fiscal year. Aid disbursements were adjusted for population using data from the World Bank. Data on GDP per capita in current U.S. dollars in 2021 also came from the World Bank. Data on disbursements by agency came from USAID.
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