Key facts
- The global humanitarian aid system is experiencing a major contraction.
- Aid funding has decreased by 30% between 2022 and 2025.
- An estimated 64 million fewer people received aid in 2025 compared to previous years.
- Funding fell to an estimated $33.3 billion in 2025, down from $47.5 billion in 2022.
- USAID saw the most significant cuts, with a 55% reduction in 2025.
- The amount of aid per person decreased from $178 in 2021 to $90 in 2025, while needs increased to $255.
The global humanitarian aid system is facing a severe contraction due to declining funding and increasing political pressures, according to a report released on Thursday. The State of the Humanitarian System 2026 report indicates that aid contributions have been cut by 30% between 2022 and 2025, leading to a significant reduction in the number of people receiving assistance.
In 2025, the focus shifted to only those in immediate danger, with support for longer-term recovery drastically scaled back. Jennifer Doherty, co-author of the report by the Active Learning Network for Accountability and Performance (Alnap), stated that women, children, the elderly, and displaced people were disproportionately affected by reduced funding and restrictive policies. An estimated 23% of humanitarian staffing was lost in 2025, leading to the closure of specialized services.
Funding for humanitarian aid dropped to an estimated $33.3 billion in 2025, a decrease from the peak of $47.5 billion in 2022. While USAID experienced the most substantial cuts with a 55% reduction, 13 of the top 20 donors also decreased their aid donations. The report also noted growing governmental influence on how aid is spent, citing a US spending freeze on programs considered diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) driven.
The reduction in aid meant the targeted amount per person fell from $178 in 2021 to $90 in 2025, despite actual needs rising to $255. Compounding these issues, governments were found to be not only failing to protect civilians but also actively endangering them, being responsible for 64% of attacks on healthcare workers and violence against aid workers through airstrikes.
Yemen is highlighted as a country severely impacted, with worsening nutrition and increased diphtheria cases due to suspended vaccination campaigns. Mohammed Bahashwan, Action for Humanity’s country director in Yemen, noted that diminishing aid levels exacerbate existing crises for families. Meg Sattler, chief executive of Ground Truth Solutions, emphasized the need for greater localization in aid efforts, suggesting the international system has been too slow to adapt and resist imposed cuts and stipulations.