New data from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) has shown that Australia’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) continues to rank among the lowest in the world.
In 2024, Australia gave 19 cents for every $100 in national income, which was a less generous figure than 84% of OECD countries. Globally, there was a drop in total aid contributions of 7.1% - the first fall after five years of consecutive year-on-year growth. This did not include further cuts announced this year.
In response to the new figures, Oxfam Australia’s Acting Chief Executive Dr Chrisanta Muli said:
“In a world of increased and growing need, Australia has failed to keep pace and continues to lag behind on aid. Australia continues to be among the least generous countries when it comes to aid, and has in fact fallen two places in a ranking of OECD countries. Outside of the OECD, Australia trails behind countries like Malta and Croatia, who give more as a proportion of their economies.
“In a global context where total aid spends dropped by 7.1% last year, we can and must do better. We are calling for the Australian Government to lift its aid contribution from 0.65% to 1% of overall spending, so we can meet the challenges we are facing both in the region and beyond.”
Oxfam International’s Aid Policy Lead Salvatore Nocerino said:
“Today’s figures lay bare an ugly truth: even before this year’s devastating cuts to aid, rich countries had already begun to renege on their moral obligations to the world’s most vulnerable communities. Not only had they been reducing aid, but also spending a significant share of it within their own borders to cover refugee costs.
“Only a handful of countries, including Luxembourg, New Zealand, Spain and South Korea, maintained or increased their aid budgets in 2024, and are expected to do the same this year.
“If governments keep slashing aid, more children will go to bed hungry, more people will die from diseases we’ve long known how to prevent, and millions more will be pushed even deeper into poverty.
"Governments must urgently reverse these cuts and start taxing the super-rich, whose wealth has grown unchecked. In a world as interconnected as ours, diseases and climate disasters know no borders. These cuts are reckless and short-sighted, and will drive us all towards greater harm."
Notes to editors
The OECD’s preliminary data shows that ODA totalled $212 billion in 2024, a significant drop from $223 billion in 2023. Last year’s ODA fell $237 billion short of meeting the longstanding commitment of allocating 0.7 percent of gross national income (GNI) to aid for low- and middle-income countries. Oxfam has calculated that in the 54 years since this promise was made, rich countries have failed to deliver a total of $7.5 trillion in aid.
In 2024, 13.1 percent was spent on domestic refugee reception.
According to Forbes’ 39th Annual World’s Billionaire List published on 1 April, billionaires are worth a record $16.1 trillion, $2 trillion more than in 2024.
For interviews, contact Lily Partland on 0418 118 687 / [email protected]