Who funds the World Health Organization? A list of its biggest donors
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 [January 29, 2025]
President Donald Trump's decision to exit the World Health
Organization means the U.N. agency is losing its biggest funder. For the
two-year budget ending in 2025, the U.S. is projected to be WHO’s
largest single contributor by far. It is expected to donate $958
million, or nearly 15%, of the agency’s roughly $6.5 billion budget.
Most of the U.S.'s contribution — and most of WHO's budget overall — is
via voluntary contributions. WHO member countries are assessed
membership fees based on a country's gross domestic product. But
countries and other groups can make voluntary contributions to WHO to
spend on designated issues.
About 70% of WHO's budget comes from these voluntary contributions,
which makes it difficult for the agency to set its own public health
priorities. In 2022, WHO member countries agreed to reform its financing
model, aiming to make countries' membership fees about half of its
budget by 2030.
The WHO is the U.N.’s specialized health agency and is mandated to
coordinate the world’s response to global health threats, including
outbreaks of mpox, Ebola and polio. It also provides technical
assistance to poorer countries, helps distribute scarce vaccines,
supplies and treatments and sets guidelines for hundreds of health
conditions, including mental health and cancer.
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The logo of the World Health Organization is seen at the WHO
headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, June 11, 2009. (AP Photo/Anja
Niedringhaus, File)
 U.S. public health officials were
told this week to stop working with the World Health Organization,
effective immediately.
Here's a list of WHO's top donors:
U.S.: $958 million
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation: $689 million
Gavi, The Vaccine Alliance: $500 million
European Commission: $412 million
World Bank: $268 million
Germany: $324 million
United Kingdom: $215 million
Canada: $141 million
European Investment Bank: $119 million
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