Japan's contribution to the United Nations budget will likely fall below 10 percent in the three-year review cycle starting next year, down from a peak of over 20 percent more than a decade ago, according to a recent assessment by the organization's Committee on Contributions.
Japan has accounted for more than 10 percent of the U.N. budget since 1983, cresting at 20.57 percent in 2000. Its share, however, has been on the decline in recent years, which may raise concerns about the country's presence within the global body. By contrast, China has been considerably increasing its budget quota.
Tokyo's share is estimated to drop to 9.68 percent in the regular annual budgets from 2016 to 2018, down from 10.83 percent in 2015. But it will remain the second-largest contributor after the United States, which has been providing just over 20 percent.
China's contribution is projected to rise to 7.92 percent from 5.15 percent in the same period, elevating it to the third-largest donor from the sixth.
National contributions are revised once every three years based on economic indicators such as gross national income, with added input sought from developed countries while burdens are mitigated on developing economies. China's share is set to increase even though it is a beneficiary of mitigation measures.
U.N. member nations will start negotiations on contributions in October and expect to finalize their share of the budget by the end of the year, a diplomat said.