UN Marks 80 Years, Faces Crisis Over Unread Reports

A United Nations report has found that most of its 1,100 annual reports go largely unread, with only the top 5% downloaded over 5,500 times and 20% receiving fewer than 1,000 downloads. Secretary-General António Guterres noted the immense strain on the system and staff from 27,000 meetings per year across 240 entities, warning that the organization is being pushed to a breaking point. The findings were released as the UN marks its 80th anniversary and faces a liquidity crisis worsened by late or incomplete member state dues. In March, Guterres launched the UN80 Taskforce to reduce meetings and reports while increasing their impact and alignment with mandates. Calls for structural reform have intensified amid a credibility crisis, with member states such as Russia and India pushing for a more relevant and representative UN. The report highlights a significant disconnect between the UN's prolific output and actual global engagement.