Due to geopolitical tensions and chronic funding problems, the number of personnel in UN peacekeeping missions has fallen to its lowest level in 25 years, according to a new press release from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
According to the institute, fewer military, police, and civilian personnel are currently deployed in UN peacekeeping operations than at any point since the beginning of the 21st century. This decline in troop levels has been ongoing for several years and accelerated particularly in 2024–2025.
“Geopolitical fragmentation and growing disagreements among the permanent members of the UN Security Council significantly complicate the adoption of new mandates and the extension of existing ones. At the same time, many donor countries are reducing contributions or delaying their payments, threatening the sustainability of existing missions,” the SIPRI report notes.
The institute’s experts emphasize that the reduction in peacekeeping presence is occurring against a backdrop of an increasing number of conflicts worldwide. The problem is particularly acute in Africa (Mali, the Central African Republic, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo), where several missions have either already concluded or are in the process of being drawn down.
SIPRI warns that a further weakening of UN peacekeeping capacity could lead to a security vacuum in the most vulnerable regions, which is often filled by other actors—both state and non-state.
Previously, UN Secretary-General António Guterres has repeatedly warned of a funding crisis for peacekeeping operations and called on member states to fulfill their financial obligations.