Development spending by Finland fell from 0.44percent of GDP to 0.41 percent of GDP last year, a long way short of the United Nations target of 0.7 percent.
Figures from the foreign ministry released with a global report from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) showed a 21 million euro drop in spending to 935 million euros spent in 2017.
Overall, the OECD found development spending worldwide was stable in 2017, with spending on the very poorest countries up by 4 percent and humanitarian spending up by 6 percent.
“It is good to see more money going where it is most needed, but it is still not enough. Too many donors are still far behind the 0.7% target,” said OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurría, in a statement.
Only Sweden, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Luxembourg, Norway, Denmark and Britain managed the 0.7 percent target last year. In cash terms the USA, Germany, the UK, Japan and France spent the most on aid.
The amount spent on hosting newly-arrived refugees reduced by 13.6 percent, largely due to a fall in arrivals in richer European countries.