Migrants are continuing to send sizeable sums of money to their home countries despite the economic downturn, with 2010 remittances totalling some $325 billion, according to a World Bank report.

The 2010 remittances represent a six per cent increase over the previous year, said bank officials, who predicted a steady increase in the amount of cash sent home by foreign workers over the coming years.

The five countries receiving the greatest amount of money were India, China, Mexico, the Philippines and France, the World Bank said.

India received $55 billion from its overseas residents while China received $51 billion, and Mexico $22.6 billion.

The Philippines received $21.3 billion from its residents abroad, while French nationals resid-ing overseas sent $15.9 billion home.

The World Bank estimates that there will be another 6.2 per cent rise in the amount of funds sent home by immigrants in 2011 to $346 billion, and another 8.1 per cent and in 2012 to $374 billion.

Mexico is the country with the greatest number of citizens working abroad with 11.9 million, followed by India with 11.4 million, the World Bank said in its report.