OFWs rise to 2.19 million in 2024 – PSA

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December 19, 2025 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines —  The number of overseas Filipinos workers (OFWs) increased by 1.5 percent last year, as more people opted to take advantage of income opportunities abroad.

Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed that there were 2.19 million OFWs in 2024 from the estimated 2.16 million in 2023.

Of the total OFWs, 97.9 percent are overseas contract workers or those with existing work contracts.

Meanwhile, the balance of 2.1 percent covered those employed and working full time without a working visa or work permit or those using other types of non-immigrant visas.

PSA data showed that more than half or 1.25 million of last year’s OFWs were females.

By age group, those 45 years and older comprised the largest share of OFWs in 2024 at 25.8 percent.

This was followed by the 30 to 34 age group (21.3 percent) and 35 to 39 years (19.2 percent).

“About four in every 10 OFWs in 2024 were engaged in elementary occupations,” the PSA said.

Elementary occupations involve the performance of simple and routine tasks.

The next most common occupations of OFWs last year were plant and machine operators and assemblers (15.4 percent) followed by service and sales workers (12.7 percent).

Asia remained the primary destination for OFWs, accounting for 74.5 percent of the total last year.

Europe placed second with a 10.6-percent share, followed by North and South America with 9.2 percent.

Within Asia, Saudi Arabia was the most preferred destination for OFWs, accounting for 21.9 percent.

In terms of sources, Calabarzon had the largest share of OFWs at 20.5 percent, followed by Central Luzon with 11.3 percent and Western Visayas with 9.5 percent.

The data also showed that OFW remittances rose by 9.9 percent to P262.20 billion last year from P238.63 billion in 2023.

These remittances include cash sent (P214.31 billion), cash brought home (P40.56 billion) and those in kind (P7.33 billion).

Banks remained the most preferred mode of sending remittances, accounting for 61.1 percent or P131.04 billion of the total last year.

Money transfer services came in next with a 37.5 percent share or P80.39 billion.

Meanwhile, 1.3 percent or P2.88 billion of the cash remittances were sent through agency and/or the OFW’s local office, friends or co-workers and door-to-door services.