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UN 101

US contributions to UN Regular Budget

The United States has the maximum assessed contribution to the UN regular budget -- 22%. In 2015 the assessed amount was $655,000,000. The minimum assessed contribution is 0.001%. The scale of assessments for each UN member for the required contributions to the regular budget is determined every 3 years on the basis of Gross National Product (GNP).

Only eleven countries (starting with the largest contributor: United States, Japan, China, Germany, France, United Kingdom, Brazil, Italy, Russia, Canada, Spain) contribute 71% of the entire regular budget. Cuba contributes .065% of the regular budget. Oil-rich Saudi Arabia contributes 1.146%.

In addition to their contributions to the UN regular budget, member states contribute to the peacekeeping operations budget and the cost of international courts and tribunals. The level of these contributions is based on their assessed contributions to the regular budget plus variations which take account of permanent membership on the Security Council.

UN members also make voluntary contributions to UN specialized agencies and subsidiary organizations. In general, administrative costs of such bodies are met from the regular budget.