Zepz Insights Report Reveals Young Adults Aged 25–34 Drive Global Remittance Trends

Zepz has released a proprietary insights report revealing a fundamental shift in the remittance landscape, where digital-native adults aged 25–34 and women now dominate transaction volumes. For fintech professionals, this data signals a move away from one-off transfers toward complex, multi-recipient financial management, requiring platforms to prioritize speed, flexibility, and integrated wallet features.

What was announced

The report, titled More Than a Transfer: Understanding Today's Global Remitter, analyzed the behavior of 5.5 million unique senders between May 2021 and May 2026. It identifies adults aged 25–34 as the largest demographic in the sector, representing 30% of unique senders, followed closely by the 35–44 age bracket at 27%. These younger cohorts, having matured alongside mobile banking, are driving demand for digital-first services that emphasize control and simplicity.

The data highlights a significant change in the gender profile of remitters. Women now account for 46% of all remittance transactions, a figure that has seen consistent year-on-year growth since 2020. In the 35–44 age group, women have reached parity with men, representing 50% of transactions. Furthermore, the gap between the average amounts sent by men and women has more than halved over the last five years, with women now out-sending men in several specific markets.

Financial responsibilities are also becoming more fragmented. Currently, 70% of senders transfer money to more than one recipient, an increase from 65% five years ago. One in eight senders now manages transfers to recipients in multiple countries. Despite these expanding networks, individual transaction sizes remain modest; 45.3% of transfers are below $50, and 94.7% are below $250. Sending patterns align with the regular rhythm of daily life, with volumes peaking on Fridays and during the first few days of each month.

"For years, the remittance story has been told through transaction volumes and growth rates. What this report shows is that people aren't simply sending money across borders - they're managing increasingly complex financial lives, supporting multiple loved ones, planning ahead and balancing responsibilities across countries. As those responsibilities grow, the financial services they rely on must evolve too to give people the confidence that their money will move quickly, securely and reliably."

Barrie Morris, Interim CEO of Zepz.

The companies involved

Zepz is a global payments group that serves as the parent company for two of the most prominent brands in the international remittance sector: WorldRemit and Sendwave. The group operates as a digital-native alternative to traditional, physical money transfer agents, leveraging mobile technology to facilitate cross-border payments. WorldRemit was established to provide a more transparent and cost-effective method for migrants to send money home, focusing on a wide array of payout options including bank deposits, mobile money, and cash pickup.

Sendwave, also under the Zepz umbrella, specializes in mobile-to-mobile transfers, particularly within corridors serving Africa and Asia. By maintaining both brands, Zepz covers a broad spectrum of user preferences and regional requirements. The company’s leadership currently includes Barrie Morris, who holds the position of Interim Chief Executive Officer. Together, the Zepz brands process millions of transactions annually, positioning the group as a major challenger to legacy financial institutions in the global payments market.

What FF News has reported before

FF News has documented several key milestones for Zepz throughout 2026. In March, the group underwent a leadership transition as Zepz Appoints Barrie Morris as Interim CEO as Mark Lenhard Steps Down. Following this change, the company demonstrated an increased focus on industry safety and compliance; in May, we reported that Zepz Partners with UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) to Pro-actively Develop Financial Risk Indicators of Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) for Payments Industry. Most recently, our coverage of the group's market research noted that Zepz Data Reveals Digital-Native Shift: 25-34 Year Olds Now Largest Remittance Group, highlighting the demographic trends detailed in their latest proprietary report.

What this means

This data suggests the remittance industry is moving past a purely transactional phase and into a "relationship" phase. When 70% of users are supporting multiple recipients across different borders, the traditional one-to-one transfer model becomes an administrative burden for the user. The industry is under pressure to move away from simple corridors and toward sophisticated personal finance hubs that offer integrated wallet features. The rise of women as primary senders and the narrowing of the gender pay gap in remittance volumes also challenge long-held industry assumptions about migrant worker demographics. For competitors, the challenge is no longer just about price or speed, but about providing the infrastructure that allows users to manage a globalized family budget.