Panama. Refugees and migrants brave hazardous jungles of Darien Gap on their way north
In Panama, refugees and migrants brave the hazardous jungles of the Darien Gap on their way north.
© UNHCR/Nicolo Filippo Rosso

Budget and Expenditure

UNHCR operates on an annual budget designed to address global needs.

Funding appeals are made based on these approved budgets, and the organization's expenditure depends on the amount and quality of the funding received.

This page provides detailed budget and expenditure information dating back to 2015.

In Panama, refugees and migrants brave the hazardous jungles of the Darien Gap on their way north.
© UNHCR/Nicolo Filippo Rosso
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UNHCR's activities are based on an annual budget that reflects global needs. It includes a budget for the coming calendar year, which is submitted to the UNHCR Executive Committee for approval in October, and subsequent Supplementary Budgets that reflect needs arising from new emergencies during the year.

UNHCR appeals for funding on the basis of these approved budgets, and its expenditure is a function of the quantity and quality of funding that it receives.

 

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Country Operational Technical Support (COTS)

As of 2024, country and regional programmes include a budget line for country operational technical support. This refers to a set of activities that directly benefit operations in the achievement of their intended results and that were previous reported under global programmes or Headquarters.

The 2025 budget of $155.1 million for the country operational technical support reflects a decrease of $5 million, or 3%, compared to the 2024 current budget of $160.0 million. This reduction is primarily due to a rationalization of supply chain management.

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Global budget
Total expenditure
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Select budget component

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Budget by region

2025 budget as approved by the Executive Committee in October 2024.
2024 current budget as presented at the Executive Committee in October 2024.
Budget and expenditure for all other years are final.

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Financials

Budget and expenditure by Impact area

Budget by Outcome and Enabling Areas

Source: 2023 budget as approved by the Executive Committee in October 2022.
2022 current budget as approved by the High Commissioner as of October 2022; pending presentation to the ExCom's Standing Committee.

Budget by Operation

2025 budget as approved by the Executive Committee in October 2024.
2024 current budget as presented at the Executive Committee in October 2024.
Budget and expenditure for all other years are final.

Expenditure by operation

Budget by Impact Areas

Budget by Outcome and Enabling Areas

Budget by Operation

Source: 2024 budget and 2023 current budget are taken from the budget document approved by UNHCR's Executive Committee in October 2023.

Budget by Impact Areas

Source: 2025 budget as approved by the Executive Committee in October 2024. 2024 current budget as presented at the Executive Committee in October 2024. Budget and expenditure for all other years are final.

Budget by Outcome and Enabling Areas

Source: 2025 budget as approved by the Executive Committee in October 2024. 2024 current budget as presented at the Executive Committee in October 2024. Budget and expenditure for all other years are final.

Budget by Operation

Source: 2025 budget as approved by the Executive Committee in October 2024. 2024 current budget as presented at the Executive Committee in October 2024. Budget and expenditure for all other years are final.

Budget by operation
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Explore the following sections of this website for deeper insights into UNHCR's budgeting and expenditures:

2025 Global Appeal 2023 Global Report