UN Secretary-General António Guterres has raised concerns over the organization’s strained finances, revealing that with fewer than five weeks left in the year, only 145 out of the UN’s 193 Member States have settled their 2025 dues in full. Nigeria completed its payment on September 25.
Speaking to the Fifth Committee in New York on Monday, Guterres described the UN’s current cash position as the most precarious in years, despite budget reductions already incorporated into next year’s plans. Key contributors, including the United States and Russia, have yet to make their payments, while China fulfilled its obligations on October 29.
“I have consistently urged Member States to pay their assessed contributions fully and on time,” Guterres said, noting that delays in payment are forcing the UN to operate significantly below approved budget levels. Unpaid dues now approach $1.6 billion, compounding the impact of ongoing budget cuts.
The Secretary-General highlighted that chronic late payments are undermining the UN’s operational capacity, even as the General Assembly’s main budget committee pushes through structural cuts. “Liquidity remains fragile, and this challenge will persist regardless of the final budget approved,” he added, pointing to what he called an “unacceptable volume of arrears.”
By the end of 2024, the UN had $760 million in unpaid assessments, most of which remain unsettled. Contributions due for 2025 amount to $877 million, bringing total arrears to roughly $1.586 billion.
Guterres’ remarks came as delegations review revised proposals for the 2026 regular budget, which include significant cuts under the UN80 reform initiative—a system-wide efficiency drive aimed at modernizing operations and reducing costs. The revised budget stands at $3.238 billion, a reduction of $577 million or 15.1 percent compared to 2025.
The plan also anticipates a cut of 2,681 posts, representing an 18.8 percent reduction, while special political missions are expected to shrink by over 21 percent due to mission closures and streamlined staffing. As part of cost-saving measures, the UN will consolidate payroll processing across three duty stations, establish shared administrative hubs in New York and Bangkok, and explore relocating functions to lower-cost locations. Lease terminations in New York since 2017 have already saved $126 million, with additional closures projected to save $24.5 million annually by 2028. Voluntary exit programmes are planned to manage workforce reductions, with one-time separation and relocation costs estimated at $5.4 million.
The revised estimates, reviewed by the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), are now before the Fifth Committee for negotiations ahead of year-end approval. ACABQ Chair Juliana Gaspar Ruas welcomed the reform efforts but noted that the tight preparation timeline limited the committee’s ability to fully evaluate some proposed cuts. She emphasized the need for consistent methodologies across departments and clearer criteria for staff relocations.
Member States praised Guterres’ leadership in presenting the revised budget, recognized the UN’s ongoing liquidity challenges, and expressed support for a leaner and more agile organization. Some delegations, however, expressed concern over the compressed timeline and the uneven impact of cuts, particularly on junior and general service staff, as well as on development-related programmes.
In response, Guterres stressed that the development pillar would face the smallest proportional reduction, with Africa-focused programmes largely protected. The most significant cuts would affect back-office and support functions rather than frontline delivery. “Our commitment to development is absolutely fundamental, and our commitment to the African continent is absolutely fundamental,” he said.
Final approval of the 2026 budget will require endorsement by the full General Assembly later this month. Despite the planned reductions, the Secretary-General noted that the UN had already been forced to underspend in 2025 due to cash shortages. “Vacancies do not correspond to a strategic priority,” he said. “They simply reflect the fact that we do not have the funds to fill positions as staff leave.”