After becoming president, one of the many policies taken by Donald Trump is to order a 90-day freeze to the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), which mainly provides financial aid to various countries.
Among the top 10 countries receiving US foreign aid, Ukraine received the highest $6.1 billion in aid from USAID in 2024, followed by the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) with the second highest at $1.3 billion due to extreme violence and poverty.
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, USAID has provided more than $32.5 billion in foreign aid to Ukraine, according to Visual Capitalist.
Visual Capitalist has published a list of the top 10 countries receiving US foreign aid through USAID in 2024, based on data from ForeignAssistance.gov. It is important to note that there are other forms of foreign aid, including military, financial, humanitarian, etc., which can also go through different channels.
Top USAID Funding Countries in 2024
| Rank | Country | Aid Provided in 2024 |
| 1 | Ukraine | $6.1 billion |
| 2 | DRC | $1.3 billion |
| 3 | Jordan | $1.3 billion |
| 4 | Ethiopia | $1.2 billion |
| 5 | West Bank and Gaza | $918 million |
| 6 | Sudan | $769 million |
| 7 | Nigeria | $763 million |
| 8 | Yemen | $753 million |
| 9 | Afghanistan | $743 million |
| 10 | South Sudan | $727 million |
In January 2025, President Trump abruptly cut off almost all US foreign aid to conduct a 90-day review to ensure compliance with his new “America First” policies.
Under the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), tasked with cutting federal spending, it has effectively frozen bank accounts, closed offices, and laid off thousands of aid workers worldwide. It also cut payments of up to $1 billion for already completed contracts. However, these steps have recently been challenged by the Supreme Court.
Ukraine is currently the largest beneficiary of US foreign aid through USAID due to its war with Russia, resulting in $6.1 billion in 2024.
According to Visual Capitalist, the East African nation of Ethiopia, which is experiencing civil war and drought, has also received significant aid, much of which includes emergency humanitarian aid.
In the West Bank and Gaza, where more than 46,000 people have been killed in the war, US foreign aid has provided food and clean drinking water to needy people, and funds have also been used for two hospitals that treat 33,000 patients each month, according to Visual Capitalist.
According to the Pew Research Center, in fiscal year 2023, US aid dollars supported programs and activities in 177 individual countries and 29 territories.
Also Read: Ukrainian refugees: Which 10 European countries have the most?
