Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) member states paid out more aid than ever before, partly as a result of the war in Ukraine, the Paris-based organization reported on Thursday.
Aid flows totalled $223.7 billion in 2023, up from $211 billion in 2022 and were a third above the 2019 level.
The increase reflected the additional aid provided since 2019, related to the Covid-19 pandemic and Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, the OECD said. The largest contributors were the United States, Germany, Japan, Britain and France.
"Donor countries have provided a record level of international aid for the fifth year in a row, maintaining their support for long-term development priorities while helping countries around the world to meet short-term needs caused by external shocks and pressures," OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann said.
Slower growth and rising debt servicing costs meant that developing countries were facing additional fiscal pressures and increasing risk of debt distress, he added.
Long-term structural challenges such as climate change and deepening economic and social disparities, were compounding these pressures, Cormann said, "so we must remain focused and committed to helping the most vulnerable to meet their economic development and growth objectives."
OECD members are committed to democracy and a market economy. It currently numbers 38 member states, including emerging markets like Mexico and Chile. Brazil and Croatia are in accession talks.
The OECD prepares economic reports and is also behind the closely watched PISA school tests for 15-year-olds around the world.