The number of military personnel deployed in peacekeeping missions worldwide fell to 78,633 by the end of 2025, the lowest level in at least 25 years, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. That marks a 17 percent drop from the previous year and a 49 percent decline since 2016, reflecting a sharp contraction in multilateral conflict management efforts.

Researchers attributed much of the decline to a funding crisis at the United Nations, driven by delayed or unpaid contributions from major donor countries. The financial strain led to abrupt spending cuts and reductions in personnel across several major missions. The approved peacekeeping budget for 2025 to 2026 was reduced to 5.38 billion dollars, the lowest in at least a decade, with a 2 billion dollar shortfall reported earlier in the year.

The institute warned that rising geopolitical tensions are compounding financial pressures. It cited Russia’s involvement in African conflicts, actions by the United States government to withdraw from or defund United Nations bodies, and limited willingness or capacity from China and European countries to sustain the multilateral system. Researchers cautioned that weakening peace operations could result in more frequent and more severe conflicts, particularly affecting civilians.

While the United Nations remained the largest organizer of peace operations, regional organizations led most missions but often lacked resources and consensus to fill the growing gap. Sub Saharan Africa hosted the majority of deployed personnel, and the top troop contributors were countries from the Global South, led by Uganda, Nepal, Bangladesh and India. The report concluded that financial constraints and deepening geopolitical divisions are steadily shrinking the role of the United Nations in global conflict management.