The number of personnel in global peacekeeping missions has plummeted by more than 40% since 2015, new data reveal.
According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), only 94,451 international staff served in 57 peace operations as of December 2024.
That marks a steep fall from 161,509 peacekeepers in 2015 and a 6% drop from 2023, underscoring a decade-long decline.
Released ahead of the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers on May 29, SIPRI’s report highlights rising geopolitical tensions and shrinking budgets.
Despite dwindling numbers, the number of missions has remained relatively steady, with 61 operations active in 2024 across 36 countries or territories.
Sub-Saharan Africa hosted the most missions with 21, followed by Europe with 19, and the Middle East and North Africa with 14.
The Americas accounted for four operations, while Asia and Oceania hosted three, reflecting broad regional engagement despite reduced manpower.
Dr. Claudia Pfeifer Cruz, a senior SIPRI researcher, said global cooperation on peacekeeping has grown increasingly fragile in recent years.
“It has become much harder to agree on, deploy and sustain multilateral peace operations,” she noted, citing struggles faced by the UN and African Union.
She warned that the diminishing presence of peacekeepers carries dire consequences for vulnerable civilian populations in conflict zones.
As conflicts deepen and consensus fades, the world’s ability to protect peace appears increasingly under siege.