The number of peacekeepers worldwide has fallen to a 25-year low — SIPRI
The number of military personnel deployed to international peacekeeping missions fell in 2025 to its lowest level in at least the last quarter-century.
This was reported by Defense News, citing a report from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
As of the end of 2025, 78,633 international military personnel were participating in peacekeeping operations worldwide. This is 17% fewer than a year earlier and nearly half the number at the end of 2016.
SIPRI attributes the decline to geopolitical tensions, financial problems, and weakening support for multilateral security mechanisms.
One of the main reasons cited is the financial crisis at the UN due to delays or non-payment of contributions by major donors. Due to a shortage of funds, the organization has cut spending on peacekeeping missions, particularly on personnel in the largest operations.
Yair van der Leyen, director of SIPRI’s Peacekeeping and Conflict Management Program, stated that a further deterioration of the situation could significantly weaken the international conflict resolution system.
According to him, this could lead to new conflicts and more severe humanitarian consequences for the civilian population.
SIPRI also points to additional factors contributing to the pressure: Russia’s presence in conflicts in Africa, declining U.S. support for multilateral mechanisms, and insufficient participation by other major players in supporting the international security system.
As of early July 2025, the budget deficit for UN peacekeeping operations had reached $2 billion. At the same time, the UN General Assembly approved a budget of $5.38 billion for peacekeeping missions for 2025–2026—the lowest figure in at least the last decade.
In 2025, the largest number of peacekeepers was deployed in sub-Saharan Africa—about 70% of the total. The largest missions remain the UN operations in the Central African Republic and South Sudan.
The UN is preparing to review the format of its peacekeeping presence in Lebanon following the expiration of the current UNIFIL mandate at the end of 2026. The organization is already working on options to maintain an international presence in the region, even if the format of the operation changes.
In Lebanon, a rocket struck the headquarters of the Italian contingent of the UN Interim Force, damaging the base’s infrastructure. No casualties among the military personnel have been reported so far.
