Member states of the United Nations: Difference between revisions

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The following article helps to explain the structure of the United Nations General Assembly, the universal decision-making body of the United Nations. By definition, only states can be members, so any other intergovernmental or legal entity must be an observer - allowing them to speak, but not vote in Assembly meetings. For information on observers, see United Nations General Assembly observers.

Current Members

There are currently 191 member states.

Afghanistan - November 19, 1946
Albania - December 14, 1955
Algeria - October 8, 1962
Andorra - July 28, 1993
Angola - December 1, 1976
Antigua and Barbuda - November 11, 1981
Argentina - October 24, 1945
Armenia - March 2, 1992
Australia - November 1, 1945
Austria - December 14, 1955
Azerbaijan - March 2, 1992
Bahamas - September 18, 1973
Bahrain - September 21, 1971
Bangladesh - September 17, 1974
Barbados - December 9, 1966
Belarus - October 24, 1945
Belgium - December 27, 1945
Belize - September 25, 1981
Benin - September 20, 1960
Bhutan - September 21, 1971
Bolivia - November 14, 1945
Bosnia and Herzegovina - May 22, 1992
Botswana - October 17, 1966
Brazil - October 24, 1945
Brunei, - September 21 1984
Bulgaria - December 14, 1955
Burkina Faso - September 20, 1960
Burundi - September 18, 1962
Cambodia - December 14, 1955
Cameroon - September 20, 1960
Canada - November 9, 1945
Cape Verde - September 16, 1975
Central African Republic - September 20, 1960
Chad - September 20, 1960
Chile - October 24, 1945
China - October 24, 1945 (originally the Republic of China until 1971)
Colombia - November 5, 1945
Comoros - November 12, 1975
Congo, Democratic Republic of the - September 20, 1960
Congo, Republic of - September 20, 1960
Costa Rica - November 2, 1945
Côte d'Ivoire - September 20, 1960
Croatia - May 22, 1992
Cuba - October 24, 1945
Cyprus - September 20, 1960
Czech Republic - January 19, 1993
Denmark - October 24, 1945
Djibouti - September 20, 1977
Dominica - December 18, 1978
Dominican Republic - October 24, 1945
Ecuador - December 21, 1945
East Timor - September 27, 2002
Egypt - October 24, 1945
El Salvador - October 24, 1945
Equatorial Guinea - November 12, 1968
Eritrea - May 28, 1993
Estonia - September 17, 1991
Ethiopia - November 13, 1945
Fiji - October 13, 1970
Finland - December 14, 1955
France - October 24, 1945
Gabon - September 20, 1960
Gambia - September 21, 1965
Georgia - July 31, 1992
Germany - October 3, 1990
Ghana - March 8, 1957
Greece - October 25, 1945
Grenada - September 17, 1974
Guatemala - November 21, 1945
Guinea - December 12, 1958
Guinea-Bissau - September 17, 1974
Guyana - September 20, 1966
Haiti - October 24, 1945
Honduras - December 17, 1945
Hungary - December 14, 1955
Iceland - November 19, 1946
India - October 30, 1945
Indonesia - September 28, 1950
Iran - October 24, 1945
Iraq - December 21, 1945
Ireland - December 14, 1955
Israel - May 11, 1949
Italy - December 14, 1955
Jamaica - September 18, 1962
Japan - December 18, 1956
Jordan - December 14, 1955
Kazakhstan - March 2, 1992
Kenya - December 16, 1963
Kiribati - September 14, 1999
Kuwait - May 14, 1963
Kyrgyzstan - March 2, 1992
Laos - December 14, 1955
Latvia - September 17, 1991
Lebanon - October 24, 1945
Lesotho - October 17, 1966
Liberia - November 2, 1945
Libya - December 14, 1955
Liechtenstein - September 18, 1990
Lithuania - September 17, 1991
Luxembourg - October 24, 1945
Macedonia - April 8, 1993
Madagascar - September 20, 1960
Malawi - December 1, 1964
Malaysia - September 17, 1957
Maldives - September 21, 1965
Mali - September 28, 1960
Malta - December 1, 1964
Marshall Islands - September 17, 1991
Mauritania - October 27, 1961
Mauritius - April 24, 1968
Mexico - November 7, 1945
Micronesia - September 17, 1991
Moldova - March 2, 1992
Monaco - May 28, 1993
Mongolia - October 27, 1961
Morocco - November 12, 1956
Mozambique - September 16, 1975
Myanmar - April 19, 1948
Namibia - April 23, 1990
Nauru - September 14, 1999
Nepal - December 14, 1955
The Netherlands - December 10, 1945
New Zealand - October 24, 1945
Nicaragua - October 24, 1945
Niger - September 20, 1960
Nigeria - October 7, 1960
North Korea - September 17, 1991
Norway - November 27, 1945
Oman - October 7, 1971
Pakistan - September 30, 1947
Palau - December 15, 1994
Panama - November 13, 1945
Papua New Guinea - October 10, 1975
Paraguay - October 24, 1945
Peru - October 31, 1945
Philippines - October 24, 1945
Poland - October 24, 1945
Portugal - December 14, 1955
Qatar - September 21, 1971
Romania - December 14, 1955
Russia - December 24, 1991
Rwanda - September 18, 1962
Saint Kitts and Nevis - September 23, 1983
Saint Lucia - September 18, 1979
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines - September 16, 1980
Samoa - December 15, 1976
San Marino - March 2, 1992
São Tomé and Príncipe - September 16, 1975
Saudi Arabia - October 24, 1945
Senegal - September 28, 1960
Serbia and Montenegro - November 1, 2000
Seychelles - September 21, 1976
Sierra Leone - September 27, 1961
Singapore - September 21, 1965
Slovakia - January 19, 1993
Slovenia - May 22, 1992
Solomon Islands - September 19, 1978
Somalia - September 20, 1960
South Africa - November 7, 1945
South Korea - September 17, 1991
Spain - December 14, 1955
Sri Lanka - December 14, 1955
Sudan - November 12, 1956
Suriname - December 4, 1975
Swaziland - September 24, 1968
Sweden - November 19, 1946
Switzerland - September 10, 2002
Syria - October 24 1945
Tajikistan - March 2, 1992
Tanzania - April 26, 1964
Thailand - December 16, 1946
Togo - September 20, 1960
Tonga - September 14, 1999
Trinidad and Tobago - September 18, 1962
Tunisia - November 12, 1956
Turkey - October 24, 1945
Turkmenistan - March 2, 1992
Tuvalu - September 5, 2000
Uganda - October 25, 1962
Ukraine - October 24, 1945
United Arab Emirates - December 9, 1971
The United Kingdom - October 24, 1945
The United States - October 24, 1945
Uruguay - December 18, 1945
Uzbekistan - March 2, 1992
Vanuatu - September 15, 1981
Venezuela - November 15, 1945
Vietnam - September 20, 1977
Yemen - September 30, 1947
Zambia - December 1, 1964
Zimbabwe - August 25, 1980

Observer States and Non-members

In addition to the member states discussed above, there is also a non-member observer state: the Holy See (Vatican City State), which maintains a permanent observer mission at the UN headquarters. For several years, Switzerland was also an observer, but it became a full member in 2002.

Western Sahara maintains diplomatic ties with 70-some states and is a full member of the African Union as the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic. Because it has no effective sovereignty, administering a minority of the land in the territory of Western Sahara, with a government-in-exile headquartered in the refugee camps of Tindouf, Algeria, however, it is not represented at the UN.

Some international organizations, nongovernmental organizations, or entities whose statehood/sovereignty has not been precisely defined, such as the Palestinian Authority, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and Sovereign Military Order of Malta, have a similar observer status but not as "non-member states." See United Nations General Assembly observers for more information.

Seat of China

Main article: China and the United Nations

The Republic of China was one of the five original founders of the UN in 1945. However, at the end of the Chinese Civil War in 1949, the Kuomintang-controlled ROC government fled to Taiwan, with the Communist government of the newly declared People's Republic of China taking control of most of the country. Representatives of the Nationalist government continued to represent China at the UN, though it was often alleged that this was somewhat unfair, given the size of the ROC's jurisdiction of Taiwan (and other outlying islands) compared to the PRC's juridiction of mainland China. In October 1971, Resolution 2758 was passed by the General Assembly, effectively expelling the ROC from all UN organs and replacing the China seat on the Security Council with the PRC. Multiple attempts by the Republic of China to re-join the UN, no longer to represent "China" as a whole but the "twenty-three million people of Taiwan," have not made it past committee.

Former Members, Names, and Notes

Belarus was originally admitted as the "Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic" on October 24, 1945. It informed the United Nations of the change on September 19, 1991.
Bosnia and Herzegovina became a member after the dissolution of Yugoslavia. It was admitted by General Assembly Resolution A/RES/46/237 on May 22, 1992.
Brunei takes its seat under the name "Brunei Darussalam."
The Republic of the Congo takes its seat under the name "Congo."
Croatia became a member after the dissolution of Yugoslavia. It was admitted by General Assembly Resolution A/RES/46/238 on May 22, 1992.
Cyprus as an entire island is represented by the Repbulic of Cyprus, including the area administered by the so-called "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus".
The Czech Republic was admitted after the dissolution of Czechoslovakia. Its admission is dissimilar to that of the former Yugoslav republics, where Serbia and Montenegro took the seat of Yugoslavia, or the USSR, where the Russian Federation took its seat. There is no single successor state to Czechoslovakia, and both the Czech Republic and Slovakia had to admit for membership.
Czechoslovakia was a member from October 24, 1945 until December 31, 1992. Its seat has been taken by the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo was originally admitted as "Zaire" on September 20, 1960. It changed its name on May 17, 1997.
East Timor takes its seat under the name "Timor-Leste."
East Germany was originally admitted as the "German Democratic Repbulic" on September 18, 1973. After the reunification of Germany, its seat was taken on October 3, 1990.
Egypt was originally admitted on October 24, 1945 and its seat was taken by the United Arab Republic from February 21, 1958 through October 12, 1961. The UAR was a successor state to the seat of Egypt until it changed its long-form name to the "Arab Repbublic of Egypt" on September 2, 1971.
The Gambia takes its seat without the definite article.
Germany replaced the seats held by East Germany and West Germany (starting from September 18, 1973) on October 3, 1990.
Indonesia was admitted on September 28, 1950 and temporarily withdrew from January 20, 1965 through September 27, 1966 (inclusive), due to the upheaval of Sukarno by Suharto's coup, and the annexation of West Papua. It announced its intention to rejoin on September 19, 1966.
Iran takes its seat under the name the "Islamic Republic of Iran."
Ireland takes its seat under the name the "Republic of Ireland."
Laos takes its seat under the name the "Lao People's Democratic Republic."
Libya takes its seat under the name "Libyan Arab Jamahiriya."
Macedonia takes its seat under the name the "Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia," due to pressure from Greece. It became a member after the dissolution of Yugoslavia. It was admitted by General Assembly Resolution A/RES/47/225 on April 8, 1993, with this provision "pending settlement over the difference that had arisen over its name."
Malaysia was originally admitted as the "Federation of Malaya" on September 17, 1957.
Micronesia takes its seat under the name "Federated States of Micronesia."
Moldova takes its seat under the name the "Republic of Moldova."
Myanmar was originally admitted as "Burma" on April 19, 1948.
The Netherlands takes its seat as the "Kingdom of the Netherlands."
North Yemen (the Yemen Arab Republic) was admitted on September 30, 1947, under the name "North Yemen." Starting May 22, 1992, it also represented South Yemen (the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen).
North Korea takes its seat under the name "Democratic People's Republic of Korea."
Russia takes its seat as the "Russian Federation." It became the successor state to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics on December 24, 1991.
Serbia and Montenegro became the successor state to Yugoslavia on November 1, 2000 by General Assembly Resolution A/RES/55/12 under the name "Federal Republic of Yugoslavia." It took its seat under the name "Serbia and Montenegro" on February 4, 2003.
Slovakia was admitted after the dissolution of Czechoslovakia. Its admission is dissimilar to that of the former Yugoslav republics, where Serbia and Montenegro took the seat of Yugoslavia, or the USSR, where the Russian Federation took its seat. There is no single successor state to Czechoslovakia, and both the Czech Republic and Slovakia had to admit for membership.
Slovenia became a member after the dissolution of Yugoslavia. It was admitted by General Assembly Resolution A/RES/46/238 on May 22, 1992.
South Korea takes its seat under the name the "Republic of Korea."
South Yemen (the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen) was admitted on 14 December 1967. Starting May 22, 1992, its seat was taken by Yemen.
Switzerland was for several years an observer state, in spite of one of the United Nations headquarters being in Geneva. After a referendum, it took its seat on September 10, 2002.
Syria takes its seat as the "Syrian Arab Republic." It was originally admitted on October 24, 1945 and its seat was taken by the United Arab Republic from February 21, 1958 through October 12, 1961. It resumed its seat on October 13, 1958.
Tanganikya was a member from December 14, 1961 until April 26, 1964, when its seat was taken by Tanzania.
Tanzania takes its seat under the name the "United Republic of Tanzania." It replaced the seats held by Tanganyika (starting from December 14, 1961) and Zanzibar (starting from December 16, 1963) on April 26, 1964.
Ukraine was originally admitted as the "Ukranian Soviet Socialist Republic" on October 24 1945.
The United Arab Republic was a member from February 21, 1958 through September 2, 1971, when Egypt changed its long-form name to the "Arab Repbublic of Egypt."
The United Kingdom takes its seat under the name the "United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland."
The United Soviet Socialist Repbulic was a member from October 24, 1945 through December 23, 1991. Its seat was taken by Russia on December 24, 1991.
The United States takes its seat under the name the "United States of America."
Vietnam takes its seat under the name "Viet Nam."
West Germany was originally admitted as the "Federal Republic of Germany" on September 18, 1973. After the reunification of Germany, its seat was taken on October 3, 1990.
Yemen was admitted on September 30, 1947 to represent North Yemen (the Yemen Arab Republic). Starting May 22, 1992, it also represented South Yemen (the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen).
Yugoslavia (the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia) was a member from October 19, 1945 through November 10, 2000. Its seat was taken by Serbia and Montenegro.
Zanzibar was a member from December 16, 1963 until April 26, 1964, when its seat was taken by Tanzania.

External links

Official list of member states, including membership history