Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
Official Development Assistance (ODA) is financial aid from official providers to support low- and middle-income countries in sectors such as health, education, sanitation, and infrastructure. This assistance primarily takes the form of grants or concessional loans, accounting for over two-thirds of external finance to least-developed countries.
In 2025, ODA from Development Assistance Committee (DAC) member countries totaled USD 174.3 billion, reflecting a 23.1% decline from 2024. This decrease is the largest annual reduction ever recorded and marks the second consecutive year of ODA contraction, bringing aid levels back to those seen at the start of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Bilateral ODA fell 26.4% to USD 126.4 billion, with grants decreasing more sharply (-29.1%) than loans (-10.3%). Multilateral ODA declined by 12.7% to USD 47.9 billion, with core contributions to the United Nations system dropping by 27%, the largest annual decline on record. However, contributions to the World Bank and regional development banks increased during this period.
The OECD projects a further 5.8% decline in net ODA in 2026. These projections do not yet include potential additional demands from ongoing crises such as in the Middle East.