The ranking includes both contributions to UN's assessed budgets and voluntary contributions to UN funds, programs and agencies, and is based on the average annual contributions from 2004 to 2006.
Considerable Nordic Contributions
This is only the second time a list of donors is assembled. The top ten providers were first presented in 2006, when members to the Peacebuilding Commission, which was established that year, were elected.
One other Nordic country made the top ten along with Norway: Sweden is the 6th largest contributor. The list is based on absolute numbers, not per capita, which places Norway remarkably high on the list, with a population of roughly 4.7 million people.
Increased Development Assistance
In the Norwegian Government’s budget proposal for 2008, development assistance accounts for 0,98 percent of GNI (Gross National Income), which is more than NOK 22 billion, up NOK 1.5 billion from last year.
The Government's policy is that development assistance should account for one percent of GNI with a further increase during the rest of the current parliamentary period.
Norway’s Aspirations for the UN
The United Nations is by far the largest recipient of Norwegian multilateral development assistance. A strong United Nations that fully plays its role in accordance with the UN Charter is a cornerstone of Norwegian foreign policy, and Norway will continue to contribute more than its share to the activities of the organization.
In addition to being the 7th largest contributor over all, Norway contributed a total of USD 692 million in 2006, making it the 6th largest voluntary contributor to the United Nations funds, programmes and specialized agencies.