UN faces imminent financial collapse as member states fail to pay dues

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has warned that the organization faces "imminent financial collapse" due to member states failing to pay their mandatory fees, with funds potentially depleted by July.

In a letter sent to all 193 UN member states this week, Guterres outlined a grave financial crisis that is "deepening, threatening programme delivery." He called on member states to either honour their mandatory payments immediately or agree to overhaul the organization's financial rules to avert collapse.

The UN currently faces a record $1.57 billion in unpaid dues. The financial strain has been compounded by the United States, the organization's largest contributor, refusing to contribute to its regular and peacekeeping budgets. The U.S. has also withdrawn from several UN agencies, describing them as a "waste of taxpayer dollars." Several other member states are either in arrears or refusing to pay their contributions.

During a news briefing on Friday, a UN spokesperson emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating that "when it comes to paying, it's now or never."

The UN General Assembly approved a partial change to the organization's financial system in late 2025, but this measure has not been sufficient to address the deepening crisis. Guterres stressed that the current financial trajectory is unsustainable and that member states must act immediately to prevent organizational collapse.

The secretary-general's warning comes as the UN continues to grapple with multiple global challenges. In his letter, Guterres urged member states to recognize the "very real prospect of the financial collapse" of the organization and take decisive action to prevent it.