European Parliament : €56.5 billion: how the EU and member states are fighting poverty world-wide

When it comes to fighting poverty around the globe, the EU and the member states take it very seriously. Together they are the world's largest aid donor, spending €56.5 billion in 2013 alone to help countries across the world fight poverty. This represented more than half of public aid that year. In December 2013 the European Parliament approved more than € 51.4 billion for supporting countries and regions outside the EU in 2014-2020.

European Year for Development

The EU has dedicated 2015 to development cooperation and aid to highlight the importance of international development policy and the key role played by the EU and the member states. In 2013, the last year for which complete data is available, the EU committed €14.86 billion or about 9% of the EU's overall budget to external development assistance, focusing on helping the countries and people most in need. However, European aid costs each European no more than eight cents per day.

How the EU will be helping in the coming years

The EU has devoted €51.2 billion to development aid for 2014-2020. The EU's development aid goes to about 150 countries in the world, from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe. However, in recent years several developing countries have enjoyed strong economic growth enabling them to reduce poverty. This is why the EU is increasingly focusing on the world's poorest places. About 75% of EU support will go to these countries, such as the ones in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Find out more

Discover more by visiting EU Aid Explorer, which gives you easy access to complete and accurate data on what donors do around the world.