Digital Remittances: A Scoping Review of Emerging Trends and Gaps

Remittance-driven economic development is gaining increased prominence in recipient countries, facilitated by advancements in digital technology. Digital financial technologies are reshaping remittance practices, yet their effectiveness and broader development impacts remain underexamined. This scoping review synthesizes existing literature on digital remittances, delineating central themes, empirical insights, and gaps in trends and development impacts. A comprehensive search of Scopus, Web of Science, and Dimensions databases was conducted for peer-reviewed articles published from 1998 to 2024. Out of the 190 articles reviewed, 69% of the articles were published after 2019, evidencing an intensified interest in digital remittances research after the COVID-19 pandemic. The studies showed significant household-centered leveraging of digital remittances for poverty alleviation and financial inclusion in developing countries, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. Despite progress in digital remittances research, there are deficiencies in primary data, systems-level analysis, and perspectives on harnessing remittances for broader sustainable development, including climate action. Future research must address these gaps, especially in developing regions where climate impacts reverse poverty reduction gains. Improved research underpins the design of appropriate policies and interventions to address digital remittance challenges and maximize the development potential.