In 2024, the United Nations faces a serious cash crisis, with a reported shortfall of $200 million. According to The Economist, internal estimates suggest that without significant budget cuts, the deficit could balloon to $1.1 billion by the end of the year. This situation could leave the UN unable to pay salaries and suppliers by September.
A major part of this financial struggle comes from unpaid dues, which totaled around $760 million in 2024. The United States and China are the largest contributors to the UN’s budget, each providing about 20%. The U.S. alone contributes approximately $2.3 billion each year.
The UN Charter has a rule—Article 19—that states if a country skips two years of payments, it loses its voting rights in the General Assembly. Currently, the U.S. owes about $3 billion, which is just under the $4.5 billion limit before facing this penalty. If these dues are not paid, the U.S. risks losing its vote in 2027.
Voting patterns at the UN show that in 2022, countries like Israel, Canada, and the United Kingdom often sided with the U.S., while nations such as Syria, Iran, and Russia voted against it. This trend has been consistent over the years, highlighting the complex relationships within the UN.
Brett Schaefer from the American Enterprise Institute expressed strong criticism of the UN, suggesting that if the organization does not serve U.S. interests, it may be time to withdraw funding. He pointed to issues like the UN’s handling of groups like Hamas and its failure to condemn human rights abuses by countries like China and Cuba.
In February, President Donald Trump took a significant step by issuing an executive order to stop U.S. funding for certain UN organizations, including the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) and the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC). This order also stated that the U.S. would not pay any back dues owed to these organizations.
The UN’s financial challenges raise important questions about its future and the role of major contributors like the United States. As the organization grapples with budgetary constraints, the implications for global governance and humanitarian efforts remain to be seen.