Development Co‑operation Profiles: Australia
Table of contents
Australia’s development co-operation focuses on the Indo-Pacific region. Through its development co-operation, Australia works to reaffirm and strengthen the centrality of gender equality, disability and LGBTQIA+ rights in its foreign policy. Australia’s total official development assistance (ODA) (USD 3.3 billion, preliminary data) decreased in 2025, representing 0.18% of gross national income (GNI).
This profile presents verified data on Australia’s development assistance allocations. See the Development Co-operation Profiles.
Australia’s International Development Policy articulates Australia’s ambition to contribute to a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific region, including supporting ambitious action on climate change. The policy prioritises locally led development through country and regional development partnership plans, reflecting priorities agreed upon with partner governments and informed by consultation with civil society, business, academia and other local actors. Thematic strategies for gender equality and disability equity and rights help guide programming in line with the government’s priorities in these areas. Australia’s Humanitarian Policy outlines its approach to preventing, preparing for and responding to humanitarian crises.
Beyond a strong focus on bilateral co-operation, Australia also uses regional and multilateral channels to pursue its regional and global priorities. It advocates in the United Nations (UN) system and multilateral development banks for the needs of the Indo-Pacific region and the unique vulnerabilities of small island developing states (SIDS).
The 2025 OECD-DAC peer review found that Australia’s 2023 International Development Policy outlines a whole-of-government approach that prioritises strategic partnerships in the Indo-Pacific region and locally led development. While Australia’s ODA has stabilised, it remains low by international standards. The review encouraged Australia to increase its ODA and highlighted the need for sustained political leadership and strengthened institutional capability in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) to deliver on the government’s policy priorities.
Discover insights from Australia’s 2025 OECD-DAC Peer Review and learn from Australia’s practices in Development Co-operation Tools Insights Practices.
Australia provided USD 3.3 billion (preliminary data) of ODA in 2025 (USD 3.3 billion in constant terms), representing 0.18% of GNI.1 This was a decrease of 2.7% in real terms in volume and in the share of GNI from 2024. Australia’s ODA volume declined substantially after 2012 and has hovered around USD 3 billion over the past decade. The government has committed to increase Australia’s ODA by 2.5% per annum. Australia is not currently in line with its international commitments to achieve a 0.7% ODA/GNI ratio. Within Australia’s ODA portfolio in 2024, 89.7% was provided in the form of grants and 10.3% was extended as loans.
In 2025, Australia ranked 16th among Development Assistance Committee (DAC) members in terms of ODA volume and 24th when ODA is taken as a share of GNI. Australia has a relatively high share of country programmable aid (74.9% of gross bilateral ODA in 2024), ranking third among DAC members. In line with its policy priorities, Australia focuses strongly on SIDS, with their share of gross bilateral ODA reaching 53.4% in 2024. A significantly higher share of Australia’s humanitarian aid includes gender equality objectives when compared to the DAC average. In 2024, Australia ranked first among DAC member countries for the share of bilateral ODA commitments allocated to persons with disabilities. As Australia increases loans, the grant element of total ODA commitments has declined.
Australia is committed to several international targets and DAC standards and recommendations. Learn more about DAC Recommendations.
Notes: This table only includes information about ODA data-related DAC recommendations. ODA: official development assistance; GNI: gross national income; DAC: Development Assistance Committee.
Australia provided most of its ODA bilaterally in 2024. Gross bilateral ODA was 81.6% of total ODA disbursements. Of this, 18.9% was channelled through multilateral organisations (earmarked contributions).
In 2024, Australia provided USD 1.2 billion of gross ODA to the multilateral system, an increase of 4.8 % in real terms from 2023. Of this, USD 679.1 million was core multilateral ODA (18.4% of total ODA), while USD 568.2 million was non-core contributions earmarked for a specific country, region, theme or purpose. Project-type funding earmarked for a specific theme and/or country accounted for 60.1% of Australia’s non-core contributions, and 39.9% was programmatic funding (to pooled funds and specific-purpose programmes and funds).
The UN system received 45.1% of Australia’s contributions to multilateral organisations, of which USD 356.5 million (63.4%) represented earmarked contributions. Of a total volume of USD 562.3 million to the UN system, the top three UN recipients of Australia’s support (core and earmarked contributions) were the World Food Programme (USD 79 million), United Nations Development Programme (USD 75.2 million) and United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (USD 53.9 million).
See the section on Geographic, sectoral and thematic focus of ODA for the breakdown of bilateral allocations, including ODA earmarked through the multilateral development system.
Learn more by exploring the DAC members’ use of the multilateral system dashboard.
In 2024, Australia’s bilateral spending increased compared to the previous year. It provided USD 3 billion of gross bilateral ODA (which includes earmarked contributions to multilateral organisations). This represented an increase of 8.4% in real terms from 2023.
In 2024, country programmable aid amounted to USD 2.3 billion, or 74.9% of Australia’s gross bilateral ODA, compared to the DAC country average of 46.5%.
Australia’s humanitarian aid was USD 320.6 million, or 10.7% of gross bilateral ODA. Australia does not report in-donor refugee costs to the OECD as ODA.
In 2024, Australia channelled its bilateral ODA mainly through public sector, PPPs and private sector and multilateral organisations. Technical co-operation made up 4% of gross ODA in 2024.
In 2024, civil society organisations (CSOs) received USD 331.6 million of gross bilateral ODA, of which 13% was directed to developing country-based CSOs. Overall, 1% of gross bilateral ODA was allocated to CSOs as core contributions and 10% was channelled through CSOs to implement projects initiated by the provider (earmarked funding). From 2023 to 2024, the combined core and earmarked contributions for CSOs decreased as a share of bilateral ODA, from 12.3% to 11%.
Learn more by reading the DAC Recommendation on Enabling Civil Society in Development Co-operation and Humanitarian Aid and by exploring the ODA to civil society organisations dashboard.
In 2024, Australia’s bilateral ODA primarily focused on Oceania. USD 1.5 billion was allocated to Oceania and USD 962.6 million to Asia (excluding the Middle East), accounting respectively for 50.5% and 32% of gross bilateral ODA. USD 80.8 million was allocated to countries in Africa. Asia (excluding the Middle East) was the main regional recipient of Australia’s earmarked contributions to multilateral organisations.
In 2024, 55.2% of gross bilateral ODA went to Australia’s top 10 recipients. Australia’s top 10 recipients are in the Asia-Pacific region, topped by Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, Solomon Islands, in line with its focus on its immediate neighbourhood. The share of gross bilateral ODA not allocated by country was 25.8%.
In 2024, Australia allocated just 0.04% of its GNI to the least developed countries (LDCs), well below the United Nations target. Australia allocated the highest share of gross bilateral ODA (36.1%) to lower middle-income countries in 2024, noting that 25.8% was unallocated by income group. LDCs received 20.8% of Australia’s gross bilateral ODA (USD 625.2 million). Additionally, Australia allocated 4.2% of gross bilateral ODA to land-locked developing countries in 2024, equal to USD 126 million. Australia allocated 53.4% of gross bilateral ODA to SIDS in 2024, equal to USD 1.6 billion.
The distribution of Australia’s ODA in net terms in relation to “ODA per person in extreme poverty”2 was USD 0.8 in LDCs, USD 2.4 in lower middle-income countries (LMICs) and USD 5.3 in upper middle-income countries.
In 2025, Australia provided USD 7 million of net bilateral ODA to Ukraine to respond to the impacts of the Russian Federation’s full-scale invasion, a 65.1% decrease from 2024 in real terms. None of this was provided as humanitarian assistance3.
Support to contexts with high and extreme fragility was USD 1.4 billion in 2024, representing 45% of Australia’s gross bilateral ODA. Of this, 14.2% was provided in the form of humanitarian assistance, a decrease from 20.5% in 2023, while 13.7% was allocated to peace, a decrease from 15.6% in 2023. Conflict prevention, a subset of contributions to peace, represented 0.7% of gross bilateral ODA, a similar share to 2023 (0.7%).
Learn more about the States of Fragility platform.
In 2024, the largest sectoral focus of Australia’s bilateral ODA was social infrastructure and services. Investments in this area accounted for 35.9% of bilateral ODA commitments (USD 1.1 billion), with a strong focus on support to government and civil society (USD 482.7 million), health and population (USD 278.8 million) and education (USD 150.6 million). ODA for other macro sectors totalled USD 664.3 million, largely general budget support (USD 460.7 million). ODA reported as targeting multi‑sectors amounted to USD 425.8 million (14.2% of bilateral ODA). Earmarked contributions to multilateral organisations also focused on social sectors and other macro sectors in 2024.
In the period 2023-2024, Australia committed 62% of screened bilateral allocable ODA to gender equality and women’s empowerment compared to 43.8% in 2021-2022 and a DAC average of 48.2% in 2023-2024. This is equal to USD 1.5 billion of screened bilateral allocable ODA in support of gender equality on average per year. In addition:
The share of screened bilateral allocable ODA committed to gender equality and women’s empowerment as a principal objective was 7.8% in 2023-2024, compared with the DAC average of 4.2%.
Australia includes gender equality objectives in 80.7% of ODA for humanitarian aid, well above the 2023-2024 DAC average of 21.5%.
Australia screens virtually all bilateral allocable ODA against the DAC gender equality policy marker (100% in 2023-2024).
Australia committed USD 46.9 million of ODA to end violence against women and girls, and USD 28.6 million to support women’s rights organisations and movements, and government institutions on average per year in 2023-2024.
Learn more by reading the DAC Recommendation on Gender Equality and the Empowerment of All Women and Girls in Development Co-operation and Humanitarian Assistance and the DAC Recommendation on Ending Sexual Exploitation in Development Co-operation, and by exploring the development finance for gender equality dashboard.
In 2023-2024, Australia committed 41.7% of its total bilateral allocable ODA (USD 1 billion) in support of the environment and the Rio Conventions, up from 39.6% in 2021-2022. The DAC average was 39%. In addition:
6% of screened bilateral allocable ODA focused on environmental issues as a principal objective, compared with the DAC average of 11.2%.
41.1% of total bilateral allocable ODA (USD 992.8 million) focused on climate change overall (the DAC average was 35.4%), up from 38.9% in 2021-2022. Australia had a greater focus on adaptation (38.9%) than on mitigation (26%) in 2023-2024.
3.4% of screened bilateral allocable ODA (USD 81.9 million) focused on biodiversity overall, down from 5.4% in 2021-22 (the DAC average was 8.6%).
1.3% of screened bilateral allocable ODA (USD 31.3 million) focused on desertification overall (the DAC average was 4.2%), down from 2.6% in 2021-2022.
Learn more about the DAC Declaration on Aligning Development Co-operation with the Goals of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.
The OECD's tracking of ODA for the sustainable ocean economy shows that Australia committed USD 79.9 million in support of the conservation and sustainable use of the ocean in 2024, USD 2.4 million more than in 2023. The 2024 value is equivalent to 3.4% of Australia's bilateral allocable ODA.
In 2024, Australia:
Allocated 7.7% of its bilateral ODA (USD 231.7 million) to core poverty-reducing sectors as defined by Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 1.a.1. This indicator captures grants to basic social services (such as basic health and education, water supply and sanitation, multisector aid for basic social services) and development food aid. In addition, 1% of bilateral ODA (USD 29.5 million) went to social protection support. Learn more by exploring the Reducing poverty and inequalities through ODA data explainer.
Committed USD 163.7 million (7% of its bilateral allocable ODA) to address the immediate or underlying determinants of malnutrition in developing countries across a variety of sectors, such as emergency response, health, and water supply and sanitation.
Committed USD 1.1 billion (48.8% of its bilateral allocable ODA) to development co-operation projects and programmes that promote the inclusion and empowerment of persons with disabilities.
Committed USD 10.3 million (0.4% of its bilateral allocable ODA) to the mobilisation of domestic resources in developing countries. Regarding the payment of local tax and customs duties for ODA-funded goods and services, Australia seeks exemptions. It does not have a general policy; however, it makes information available on the OECD Digital Transparency Hub on the Tax Treatment of ODA.
Committed USD 502.8 million (21.5% of its bilateral allocable ODA) to promote aid for trade and improve developing countries’ trade performance and integration into the world economy in 2024. Learn more by exploring the Aid for Trade dashboard.
In 2024, total official and private flows from Australia to developing countries amounted to USD 3.6 billion in net terms. Official sources accounted for USD 3.6 billion, while USD 28.2 million originated from private sources.
To help build markets in developing countries and incentivise greater mobilisation of private resources for development, many providers, including Australia, have established development finance institutions and similar vehicles that extend private sector instruments (PSI). Australian Development Investments (ADI) and the Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific (AIFFP) were assessed as ODA-eligible PSI vehicles. PSI represented 1.2% of Australia’s ODA in 2024 while the DAC average stood at 1.9%.
In 2024, ADI and AIFFP extended USD 2 million in the form of PSI to developing countries.4 Of this, equities accounted for 100%.
In 2024, USD 0.8 million (39.4%) of Australia’s private sector instruments were allocated to the LDCs and other low-income countries (LICs), with 26% received by lower middle-income countries (26%). USD 0.7 million was unallocated by income. Australia’s PSI primarily supported projects in the industry, mining, construction (71%) and energy (29%) sectors.
Australia uses leveraging mechanisms to mobilise private finance for sustainable development. In 2024, the Australian Government mobilised USD 28.2 million from the private sector through shares in collective investment vehicles, syndicated loans and simple co-financing. This constituted a 26.5% decrease compared to 2023.
Private finance mobilised by Australia in 2023-2024 mainly targeted middle-income countries, representing 6.3% of its total mobilised. Only 2.4% of total mobilised private finance during this period benefited the LDCs and other low-income countries (LICs), noting that 91.3% was unallocated by income.
Private finance mobilised by Australia in 2023-2024 related mainly to activities on energy (75.4%), as its top sector. Furthermore, over this period, 99.9% of Australia’s total mobilised private finance was for climate action.
Learn more by exploring the Mobilisation of private finance for development dashboard.
Total official support for sustainable development (TOSSD) is an international statistical standard that monitors and increases the transparency of all official and officially supported resources for financing the SDGs received by developing countries (Pillar 1) and for addressing global challenges (Pillar 2). In 2024, activities reported by Australia as TOSSD totalled USD 4.4 billion, marking a 13% increase compared with the previous year.5 Australia’s TOSSD activities mostly targeted SDG 5 (gender equality), SDG 10 (reduced inequalities) and SDG 17 (partnerships for the Goals).
Activity-level data on TOSSD by recipient are available at: https://tossd.online.
DFAT has overall responsibility for development co-operation policy and is responsible for most of Australia’s ODA budget. Within DFAT, development-related work cuts across many divisions, with geographic divisions and embassies responsible for managing country and regional development programmes. A Development Program Committee provides oversight and governance of the overall development co-operation programme to ensure that it is consistent with the government’s policy and achieves development impact. It advises the Secretary of DFAT and the Executive Board and engages with the department’s other committees.
DFAT has around 1 500 staff working on development, 32% of whom are in country offices and embassies abroad. Seventeen overseas posts have senior responsible officers, who are responsible for major bilateral and regional development programmes. Approximately a quarter of all staff working on development are locally engaged.
The Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, the Australian Federal Police, the Department of Treasury, and other federal departments and agencies contribute to Australia’s development co-operation efforts. However, Australia does not report the different government channels disbursing ODA. The Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade provides additional accountability towards Australia’s Federal Parliament.
CSOs active in development co-operation, humanitarian assistance and global citizenship education are co-ordinated by the Australian Council for International Development (ACFID), supporting policy engagement with the Australian government.
The Committee for Development Co-operation (CDC), established in 1975, is a joint DFAT and civil society advisory body made up of members from the Australian CSO community and DFAT. The CDC meets a minimum of three times a year and is chaired by DFAT. ACFID and DFAT jointly provide secretariat services to the CDC.
The Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development placed a renewed emphasis on strengthening the effectiveness of all forms of development co-operation by upholding and elevating the Effectiveness Principles. Adherence to these principles is measured through the partner country-led monitoring exercise of the Global Partnership for Effective Development Co-operation (GPEDC).
Notes: The global aggregate results of the 4th GPEDC monitoring round (2023-2026) will be published in the forthcoming 2026 GPEDC Global Monitoring Report. Learn more about partner countries’ participation, progress and country-specific results by exploring the GPEDC Global Dashboard. Australia’s results for the 2023-26 round are based on reporting in 8 countries. CRS: Creditor Reporting System; IATI: International Aid Transparency Initiative.
Internal systems and processes help ensure the delivery of Australia’s development co-operation. The table below highlights select features.
Access the full list of development co-operation providers at: Development Co-operation Profiles.
2025 OECD-DAC Peer Review of Australia: https://doi.org/10.1787/c58230a4-en.
2021 OECD-DAC mid-term review of Australia: https://one.oecd.org/document/DCD/DAC/AR%282024%293/23/en/pdf.
Australia’s development programme: https://www.dfat.gov.au/development/australias-development-program.
CSO umbrella organisation, the Australian Council for International Development (ACFID): https://acfid.asn.au.
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT): https://dfat.gov.au/pages/default.aspx.
Australia has been a member of the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC) since 1966.
The methodological notes provide further details on the definitions and statistical methodologies applied, including the grant-equivalent methodology, core and earmarked contributions to multilateral organisations, country programmable aid, channels of delivery, bilateral ODA unspecified/unallocated, bilateral allocable ODA, the gender equality policy marker, and the environment markers.
This work is published under the responsibility of the Secretary-General of the OECD. The opinions expressed and arguments employed herein do not necessarily reflect the official views of the Member countries of the OECD.
This document, as well as any data and map included herein, are without prejudice to the status of or sovereignty over any territory, to the delimitation of international frontiers and boundaries and to the name of any territory, city or area.
The statistical data for Israel are supplied by and under the responsibility of the relevant Israeli authorities. The use of such data by the OECD is without prejudice to the status of the Golan Heights, East Jerusalem and Israeli settlements in the West Bank under the terms of international law.
Note by the Republic of Türkiye
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← 1. DAC members adopted the grant-equivalent methodology starting from their reporting of 2018 data as a more accurate way to count the donor effort in development loans. See the methodological notes for further details.
← 2. Aid per person in extreme poverty is calculated by dividing net ODA (bilateral and imputed multilateral) by the population in extreme poverty in each country. It estimates how much ODA each person in extreme poverty would receive if total ODA was divided evenly among the extreme poor. This metric does not measure the amount of ODA actually received by each person in extreme poverty, nor does it measure how much ODA goes to poverty reduction. It instead highlights patterns in total ODA allocations relative to the number of people living in extreme poverty in each country. Group averages are calculated based on a weighted average of aid per person in extreme poverty and the number of people in extreme poverty for each country in the group. See the methodological notes for further details.
← 3. Australia did not provide complete data for ODA to Ukraine in their submission of preliminary 2025 data
← 4. In 2023, the DAC agreed on revised reporting methods for measuring PSI in ODA based on ODA grant equivalents. Members may, however, take up to two years to transition to the new methods, with their PSI continuing to be accounted for on a net ODA basis during the transition period.
← 5. This amount does not include mobilised private finance by Australia.