Just under 79,000 personnel were deployed in international peacekeeping operations at the end of 2025, the lowest number in at least 25 years, SIPRI said in a new report. A total of 58 operations were ongoing during the year, meaning the number fell below 60 for the first time since 2016.
"If developments continue in this way, we could see a dramatic weakening of multilateral conflict management and institutions like the UN almost completely taking a back seat," said Jaïr van der Lijn at SIPRI in a statement.
SIPRI points to a lack of funding and geopolitical tensions among the reasons for the decline.
