Member states of the United Nations

Member states of the United Nations
source
Name	Member states of the United Nations
Caption	The UN flag flies outside the United Nations Headquarters in New York City.
Formation	24 October 1945
Type	International organization
Membership	193 sovereign states

Member states of the United Nations. The United Nations is an international organization founded in 1945, with its membership comprising sovereign states that have been admitted by the United Nations General Assembly upon the recommendation of the United Nations Security Council. As the UN's primary stakeholders, these states collectively shape the organization's agenda, fund its operations, and are bound by the principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations. The current membership stands at 193 states, representing the vast majority of the world's sovereign nations and populations.

Overview and membership criteria

Admission to the United Nations is governed by Article 4 of the Charter of the United Nations, which states that membership is open to all "peace-loving states" that accept the obligations contained in the Charter and are judged able and willing to carry them out. The process requires a recommendation from the United Nations Security Council, where the five permanent members—China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States—hold veto power. This recommendation is then voted upon by a two-thirds majority in the United Nations General Assembly. Key criteria include statehood as defined under the Montevideo Convention, a commitment to peaceful dispute resolution, and adherence to principles such as those outlined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

History of membership

The United Nations was established by 51 original member states following the San Francisco Conference that concluded the Second World War. Major founding participants included the United States, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, China, and France. The first major wave of expansion occurred during the decolonization period of the 1950s and 1960s, with newly independent nations like India, Ghana, and Algeria joining. Significant changes in membership have reflected geopolitical shifts, such as the admission of both East Germany and West Germany in 1973, the replacement of the Republic of China by the People's Republic of China in 1971, and the admission of Russia as the successor state to the Soviet Union in 1991. The most recent member is South Sudan, which joined in 2011.

Current member states

As of 2024, there are 193 member states, encompassing nations from every inhabited continent. This includes all widely recognized sovereign states except for the Holy See (which holds observer status) and states with limited recognition such as Kosovo and Taiwan. Members range from founding states like Canada and Brazil to microstates like Monaco and Nauru. The membership includes all G20 nations, permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, and parties to major treaties like the Paris Agreement and the Geneva Conventions. Regional groups, such as the African Union and the European Union, often coordinate the positions of their member states within the UN system.

Former member states and observers

While membership is typically permanent, some states have ceased to exist due to unification, dissolution, or succession. Examples include Czechoslovakia, which dissolved into the Czech Republic and Slovakia in 1993, and Yugoslavia, which broke apart into states like Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Republic of China was a founding member but effectively lost its seat in 1971. Several non-member entities participate as Permanent Observers, including the Holy See and the State of Palestine. Other entities, like the Cook Islands and Niue, are in free association with New Zealand and are not full members.

Rights and obligations of membership

Member states possess the right to participate in the deliberations and voting of the United Nations General Assembly, with each state having one vote. They can seek election to various UN bodies, such as the United Nations Economic and Social Council or the United Nations Security Council. Key obligations include the peaceful settlement of disputes as outlined in Chapter VI of the Charter, refraining from the threat or use of force against other states, and providing financial contributions as assessed by the Committee on Contributions. Members are also obligated to cooperate with UN decisions, including those made under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter regarding actions with respect to threats to the peace.

Membership in UN organs and bodies

Member states are represented across the UN's six principal organs. All are members of the United Nations General Assembly, while only 15 serve on the United Nations Security Council at any time. States are elected by the General Assembly to serve on the United Nations Economic and Social Council and the United Nations Trusteeship Council. The International Court of Justice is composed of judges elected by the General Assembly and the Security Council. Furthermore, member states participate in numerous specialized agencies, such as the World Health Organization, the International Monetary Fund, and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, often through designated national delegations or permanent missions based in New York City or Geneva.

Category:United Nations