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| WMO member states | |
|---|---|
| Name | World Meteorological Organization member states |
| Caption | WMO headquarters, Geneva |
| Established | 1873 (as International Meteorological Organization); 1950 (as WMO) |
| Membership | 193 Members and Territories (as of 2026) |
| Headquarters | Geneva, Switzerland |
WMO member states
WMO member states are the sovereign states and territories that belong to the World Meteorological Organization; they participate in international programs such as Global Atmosphere Watch, World Weather Watch, and Global Framework for Climate Services. The membership links national services—such as the United States National Weather Service, Météo-France, Met Office (United Kingdom), and Japan Meteorological Agency—with regional bodies like the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, World Climate Research Programme, and Committee on Space Research. Member states engage with multilateral institutions including the United Nations and specialized agencies like the International Civil Aviation Organization and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
The WMO traces institutional roots to the International Meteorological Organization of 1873 and was established as a United Nations specialized agency by the WMO Convention in 1950, succeeding earlier cooperative arrangements among services such as Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute, Deutscher Wetterdienst, Servizio Meteorologico (Italy), and Russian Hydrometeorological Service. Membership comprises nation-states and territories from all continents—ranging from the United States, China, India, Brazil, Russia, and South Africa to smaller members such as Iceland, Fiji, Barbados, and Seychelles—and interfaces with research organizations including National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, European Space Agency, NASA, NOAA National Centers for Environmental Prediction, and the International Telecommunication Union.
Admission to the WMO requires a formal application by a state or territory recognized under relevant international instruments and acceptance by the World Meteorological Congress, which meets every four years. Criteria emphasize the capacity to operate national meteorological and hydrological services such as Servicio Meteorológico Nacional (Argentina), Meteorological Service of Canada, Bureau of Meteorology (Australia), and Korea Meteorological Administration. The Congress, guided by the Executive Council (WMO) and technical commissions like the Commission for Basic Systems and the Commission for Atmospheric Sciences, evaluates matters involving Convention on the Law of the Sea interfaces, aviation obligations to International Civil Aviation Organization, and data exchange agreements with bodies such as the World Weather Watch and Global Telecommunications System.
The WMO roster includes most UN member states—Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia (country), Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, North Korea, North Macedonia, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of the Congo, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, South Korea, South Sudan, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vatican City, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. In addition, several territories and associated states maintain separate WMO status and participate as territories linked to metropolitan members.
Members exercise voting rights in the World Meteorological Congress and nominate candidates for leadership posts including the Secretary-General of the WMO and the President of the World Meteorological Congress. They are responsible for operating national meteorological and hydrological services such as Servicio Nacional de Meteorología e Hidrología (SENAMHI), submitting observations to the Global Observing System, cooperating with aviation through the International Civil Aviation Organization, and contributing data to the Global Telecommunication System. Financial contributions support WMO programs and technical commissions such as the Commission for Hydrology and the Commission for Basic Systems, and members must adhere to technical standards like the International System of Units where applicable in meteorological practice.
Representation in WMO organs follows regional divisions (Regional Associations I–VI) and includes elected bodies: the Congress, the Executive Council (WMO), and technical commissions. National Members appoint Permanent Representatives often drawn from agencies such as national meteorological services, ministries, or academic institutions like University of Reading, Peking University, Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, University of Cape Town, and link with research programs including Coupled Model Intercomparison Project and WCRP. The WMO Secretariat, headquartered in Geneva, implements Congress decisions and coordinates with entities like the World Meteorological Centre network, Global Producing Centres for Long‑Range Forecasts, and regional specialized meteorological centers.
The WMO engages with observer states, intergovernmental organizations such as the United Nations Environment Programme, World Health Organization, International Maritime Organization, and non-governmental scientific bodies including the World Climate Research Programme, Global Climate Observing System, International Council for Science, and the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research. It accepts observers, including territories, private firms, and research consortia like European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites and EUMETSAT, for technical cooperation. Partnerships extend to philanthropic and development agencies such as the World Bank, Green Climate Fund, and regional development banks.
Notable accessions include major post‑war changes when states such as India and Pakistan joined after independence, the inclusion of former states like Czechoslovakia and the subsequent recognition of successor states Czech Republic and Slovakia, and the admission of newly independent countries after the dissolution of the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia. The WMO has adapted to geopolitical shifts—engaging with entities formed after treaties and agreements such as the Treaty on European Union era—and incorporated services from nations joining international scientific collaborations like International Geophysical Year participants. Over time, expansion of satellite meteorology and global forecasting—driven by organizations including NASA, NOAA, ESA, and EUMETSAT—has shaped membership roles and technical cooperation.