A regular budget of $3.45 billion for the year 2026 was approved by the General Assembly of the United Nations after completion of intense negotiations, which were largely influenced by economic pressures and the ‘UN80’ reform agenda, which is the most extensive reform at the United Nations in at least the last eight decades, according to the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres.
This was adopted through consensus, meaning that it involves all 193 Member States. This budget will help fund the three pillars of the UN: peace and security, development issues, and human rights. These three pillars sustain the political, legal, humanitarian, and public information roles of this Organization.
The General Assembly approves $3.45 billion regular budget for the United Nations for 2026, following weeks of intensive negotiations.https://t.co/fczlV4AxmK
— UN News (@UN_News_Centre) December 31, 2025How does the 2026 budget compare with previous years?
Although the 2026 allocation is $200 million higher than the Secretary-General’s original amount within the UN80 framework, it still constitutes a lower amount compared to the previous year.
The agreed 2025 regular budget was approximately 3.7 billion dollars, which indicates that the 2026 budget is 7 percent lower than last year. The decrease indicates increased pressure from major donors to control expenditure, improve management, and reduce what an overextended bureaucracy is described as by a number of governments.
What exactly does the UN regular budget fund?
The regular budget finances the UN’s core institutional functions, including:
- Political affairs and conflict prevention
- International justice and legal affairs
- Regional development cooperation
- Human rights monitoring and advocacy
- Humanitarian coordination
- Strategic communications and public information
Why were negotiations so contentious this year?
Member States clashed sharply over:
- Proposed staff reductions and post abolitions
- Funding levels for special political missions
- Resource allocations linked to UN80 reform priorities
- Persistent cash-flow shortages caused by delayed or incomplete contributions
How challenging was the budget preparation process?
As quoted by Chandru Ramanathan, the Assistant Secretary-General for Programme Planning, Finance and Budget of the United Nations: “there were exceptional constraints under which the Secretariat operated.”
The Secretariat had to accomplish the preparation of the entire budget in less than six weeks, which entailed the compilation of 345 tables and over 2,000 questions submitted by the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ).
“This was not an easy task,” he said, warning that the approval of the budget marks the beginning of another demanding phase rather than its conclusion.
What impact will the budget have on UN staff?
As part of the reform-driven cost reductions:
- 2,900 UN positions will be abolished as of 1 January 2026
- Over 1,000 staff members have already finalized separation agreements
The Secretariat must now ensure that affected staff continue to receive salaries, benefits, and entitlements during the transition, a process Mr. Ramanathan described as administratively complex and high-risk.
Did Member States reach an agreement despite the tensions?
Yes. Addressing the Fifth Committee, the UN Controller praised delegates for steering a compressed and politically sensitive process to consensus.
“Despite often arduous negotiations, the Committee has once again reached agreement by consensus,” he said, calling it a defining feature of the UN budgetary system that should not be underestimated.
What concerns remain as implementation begins?
Looking ahead, UN officials warned that budget adoption is only the starting point. Implementation will require:
- Careful management of staff reductions
- Sustained liquidity to avoid operational disruptions
- Continued timely payment of assessed contributions
Mr. Ramanathan welcomed what he described as a record level of potential advance payments toward the 2026 budget, while urging Member States to maintain payment discipline.
How did major contributors react to the final budget?
The United States welcomed the outcome, calling it a “leaner and better prioritized” budget. Washington said the agreement would deliver $570 million in assessment savings compared to 2025, while reducing what it termed the UN’s “bloated bureaucracy.”
Additionally, the US delegation demanded drastic structural changes within the budgets of 2027-2028. The African Group, under the leadership of Angola, appreciated the spirit of cooperation that characterized the meeting and repeated demands on the importance of sustaining financing of the development pillar of the United Nations, especially during their efforts towards fulfilling SDGs. Additionally, the African Group appreciated the conclusion of changes within financing of UNRWA.
The Chinese and Japanese delegations both welcomed the support for a reform agenda in the post-2027 period emphasizing efficiency, costs, geographic diversity, and fiscal discipline.