A systematic review of global evidence on the role of remittances in household welfare

Migration and remittances significantly shape the socio-economic dynamics of rural communities, influencing rural household mobility and rural economic resilience. This systematic literature review explores the role of remittances in household welfare, drawing on 75 studies published between 2000 and 2025 that were selected from Scopus and ScienceDirect databases using predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. These studies were selected through a systematic screening process guided by the PRISMA flowchart. Based on the reviewed literature, we present a comprehensive analysis of how remittances influence household well-being, highlighting both their positive and negative effects. The review further emphasizes the differences between the impacts of remittances on developing countries and the least developed countries as well as the short-term and long-term economic implications of the use of remittances by households. This study provides important insights for policymakers looking to maximize the benefits of remittances within families and communities, as well as mitigate the risks of dependency and unequal distribution in society.