What countries are in the United Nations?
In 1945, representatives of 50 countries met in San Francisco to draw up the United Nations Charter. The Organization officially came into existence on 24 October 1945, with a core group of 51 countries signing up to it straight away.
The United Nations Charter
The UN Charter is the document that describes, among other things, what the organisation is supposed to do, how it should do it, how members join and what their rights and responsibilities are. All the member countries have to agree with the Charter.
What does the United Nations Do?
The purposes of the United Nations are to...
- maintain international peace and security;
- develop friendly relations among nations;
- cooperate in solving international economic, social, cultural and humanitarian problems
- promote respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms;
- be a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations in attaining these objectives
.
The number of member countries has often changed since the beginnings of the UN, with more countries joining, and some older ones leaving as they were broken up to form newer countries
This list shows all the member countries up to the middle of 2006, showing the name of the country and the date on which it became a member.
| Country or State | Date of Joining the United Nations |
 Afghanistan |
19 Nov. 1946 |
 Albania |
14 Dec. 1955 |
 Algeria |
08 Oct. 1962 |
 Andorra |
28 July 1993 |
 Angola |
01 Dec. 1976 |
 Antigua and Barbuda |
11 Nov. 1981 |
 Argentina
|
24 Oct. 1945 |
 Armenia |
2 Mar. 1992 |
 Australia |
01 Nov. 1945 |
 Austria |
14 Dec. 1955 |
 Azerbaijan |
02 Mar. 1992 |
 Bahamas |
18 Sep. 1973 |
 Bahrain |
21 Sep. 1971 |
 Bangladesh |
17 Sep. 1974 |
 Barbados |
09 Dec. 1966 |
 Belarus (formerly Byelorussia) |
24 Oct. 1945 |
 Belgium |
27 Dec. 1945 |
 Belize |
25 Sep. 1981 |
 Benin |
20 Sep. 1960 |
 Bhutan |
21 Sep. 1971 |
 Bolivia |
14 Nov. 1945 |
 Bosnia and Herzegovina (note 1) |
22 May 1992 |
 Botswana |
17 Oct. 1966 |
 Brazil |
24 Oct. 1945 |
 Brunei Darussalam |
21 Sep. 1984 |
 Bulgaria |
14 Dec. 1955 |
 Burkina Faso |
20 Sep. 1960 |
 Burundi |
18 Sep. 1962 |
 Cambodia |
14 Dec. 1955 |
 Cameroon |
20 Sep. 1960 |
 Canada |
09 Nov. 1945 |
 Cape Verde |
16 Sep. 1975 |
 Central African Republic |
20 Sep. 1960 |
 Chad |
20 Sep. 1960 |
 Chile |
24 Oct. 1945 |
 China |
24 Oct. 1945 |
 Colombia |
05 Nov. 1945 |
 Comoros |
12 Nov. 1975 |
 Congo (Republic of the) |
20 Sep. 1960 |
 Costa Rica |
02 Nov. 1945 |
 Cote d'Ivoire |
20 Sep. 1960 |
 Croatia (note 1) |
22 May 1992 |
 Cuba |
24 Oct. 1945 |
 Cyprus |
20 Sep. 1960 |
 Czech Republic (note 2) |
19 Jan. 1993 |
 Democratic People's Republic of Korea |
17 Sep. 1991 |
 Democratic Republic of the Congo (note 3) |
20 Sep. 1960 |
 Denmark |
24 Oct. 1945 |
 Djibouti |
20 Sep. 1977 |
 Dominica |
18 Dec. 1978 |
 Dominican Republic |
24 Oct. 1945 |
 Ecuador |
21 Dec. 1945 |
 Egypt (note 4) |
24 Oct. 1945 |
 El Salvador |
24 Oct. 1945 |
 Equatorial Guinea |
12 Nov. 1968 |
 Eritrea |
28 May 1993 |
 Estonia |
17 Sep. 1991 |
 Ethiopia |
13 Nov. 1945 |
 Fiji |
13 Oct. 1970 |
 Finland |
14 Dec. 1955 |
 France |
24 Oct. 1945 |
 Gabon |
20 Sep. 1960 |
 Gambia |
21 Sep. 1965 |
 Georgia |
31 July 1992 |
 Germany (note 5) |
18 Sep. 1973 |
 Ghana |
08 Mar. 1957 |
 Greece |
25 Oct. 1945 |
 Grenada |
17 Sep. 1974 |
 Guatemala |
21 Nov. 1945 |
 Guinea |
12 Dec. 1958 |
 Guinea-Bissau |
17 Sep. 1974 |
 Guyana |
20 Sep. 1966 |
 Haiti |
24 Oct. 1945 |
 Honduras |
17 Dec. 1945 |
 Hungary |
14 Dec. 1955 |
 Iceland |
19 Nov. 1946 |
 India |
30 Oct. 1945 |
 Indonesia (note 6) |
28 Sep. 1950 |
 Iran (Islamic Republic of) |
24 Oct. 1945 |
 Iraq |
21 Dec. 1945 |
 Ireland |
14 Dec. 1955 |
 Israel |
11 May 1949 |
 Italy |
14 Dec. 1955 |
 Jamaica |
18 Sep. 1962 |
 Japan |
18 Dec. 1956 |
 Jordan |
14 Dec. 1955 |
 Kazakhstan |
02 Mar. 1992 |
 Kenya |
16 Dec. 1963 |
 Kiribati |
14 Sept. 199 |
 Kuwait |
14 May 1963 |
 Kyrgyzstan |
02 Mar. 1992 |
 Lao People's Democratic Republic |
14 Dec. 1955 |
 Latvia |
17 Sep. 1991 |
 Lebanon |
24 Oct. 1945 |
 Lesotho |
17 Oct. 1966 |
 Liberia |
02 Nov. 1945 |
 Libyan Arab Jamahiriya |
14 Dec. 1955 |
 Liechtenstein |
18 Sep. 1990 |
 Lithuania |
17 Sep. 1991 |
 Luxembourg |
24 Oct. 1945 |
 Madagascar |
20 Sep. 1960 |
 Malawi |
01 Dec. 1964 |
 Malaysia (note 7) |
17 Sep. 1957 |
 Maldives |
21 Sep. 1965 |
 Mali |
28 Sep. 1960 |
 Malta |
01 Dec. 1964 |
 Marshall Islands |
17 Sep. 1991 |
 Mauritania |
27 Oct. 1961 |
 Mauritius |
24 Apr. 1968 |
 Mexico |
07 Nov. 1945 |
 Micronesia (Federated States of) |
17 Sep. 1991 |
 Monaco |
28 May 1993 |
 Mongolia |
27 Oct. 1961 |
 Montenegro (note 8) |
28 June 2006 |
 Morocco |
12 Nov. 1956 |
 Mozambique |
16 Sep. 1975 |
 Myanmar |
19 Apr. 1948 |
 Namibia |
23 Apr. 1990 |
 Nauru |
14 Sept. 1999 |
 Nepal |
14 Dec. 1955 |
 Netherlands |
10 Dec. 1945 |
 New Zealand |
24 Oct. 1945 |
 Nicaragua |
24 Oct. 1945 |
 Niger |
20 Sep. 1960 |
 Nigeria |
07 Oct. 1960 |
 Norway |
27 Nov. 1945 |
 Oman |
07 Oct. 1971 |
 Pakistan |
30 Sep. 1947 |
 Palau |
15 Dec. 1994 |
 Panama |
13 Nov. 1945 |
 Papua New Guinea |
10 Oct. 1975 |
 Paraguay |
24 Oct. 1945 |
 Peru |
31 Oct. 1945 |
 Philippines |
24 Oct. 1945 |
 Poland |
24 Oct. 1945 |
 Portugal |
14 Dec. 1955 |
 Qatar |
21 Sep. 1971 |
 Republic of Korea |
17 Sep. 1991 |
 Republic of Moldova |
02 Mar. 1992 |
 Romania |
14 Dec. 1955 |
 Russian Federation (note 9) |
24 Oct. 1945 |
 Rwanda |
18 Sep. 1962 |
 Saint Kitts and Nevis |
23 Sep. 1983 |
 Saint Lucia |
18 Sep. 1979 |
 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines |
16 Sep. 1980 |
 Samoa |
15 Dec. 1976 |
 San Marino |
02 Mar. 1992 |
 Sao Tome and Principe |
16 Sep. 1975 |
 Saudi Arabia |
24 Oct. 1945 |
 Senegal |
28 Sep. 1960 |
 Serbia (note 10) |
01 Nov. 2000 |
 Seychelles |
21 Sep. 1976 |
 Sierra Leone |
27 Sep. 1961 |
 Singapore |
21 Sep. 1965 |
 Slovakia (note 11) |
19 Jan. 1993 |
 Slovenia (note 12) |
22 May 1992 |
 Solomon Islands |
19 Sep. 1978 |
 Somalia |
20 Sep. 1960 |
 South Africa |
07 Nov. 1945 |
 Spain |
14 Dec. 1955 |
 Sri Lanka |
14 Dec. 1955 |
 Sudan |
12 Nov. 1956 |
 Suriname |
04 Dec. 1975 |
 Swaziland |
24 Sep. 1968 |
 Sweden |
19 Nov. 1946 |
 Switzerland |
10 Sep. 2002 |
 Syrian Arab Republic (note 13) |
24 Oct. 1945 |
 Tajikistan |
02 Mar. 1992 |
 Thailand |
16 Dec. 1946 |
 Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (note 14) |
08 Apr. 1993 |
 Timor-Leste |
27 Sep. 2002 |
 Togo |
20 Sep. 1960 |
 Tonga |
14 Sep. 1999 |
 Trinidad and Tobago |
18 Sep. 1962 |
 Tunisia |
12 Nov. 1956 |
 Turkey |
24 Oct. 1945 |
 Turkmenistan |
02 Mar. 1992 |
 Tuvalu |
05 Sept. 2000 |
 Uganda |
25 Oct. 1962 |
 Ukraine |
24 Oct. 1945 |
 United Arab Emirates |
09 Dec. 1971 |
 United Kingdom of Great Britain & Northern Ireland |
24 Oct. 1945 |
 United Republic of Tanzania (note 15) |
14 Dec. 1961 |
 United States of America |
24 Oct. 1945 |
 Uruguay |
18 Dec. 1945 |
 Uzbekistan |
02 Mar. 1992 |
 Vanuatu |
15 Sep. 1981 |
 Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) |
15 Nov. 1945 |
 Viet Nam |
20 Sep. 1977 |
 Yemen (note 16) |
30 Sep. 1947 |
 Zambia |
01 Dec. 1964 |
 Zimbabwe |
25 Aug. 1980 |
1. The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was an original Member of the United Nations, the Charter having been signed on its behalf on 26 June 1945 and ratified 19 October 1945, until its dissolution following the establishment and subsequent admission as new members of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Republic of Croatia, the Republic of Slovenia, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
The Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina was admitted as a Member of the United Nations by General Assembly resolution A/RES/46/237 of 22 May 1992.
The Republic of Croatia was admitted as a Member of the United Nations by General Assembly resolution A/RES/46/238 of 22 May 1992.
2. Czechoslovakia was an original Member of the United Nations from 24 October 1945. In a letter dated 10 December 1992, its Permanent Representative informed the Secretary-General that the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic would cease to exist on 31 December 1992 and that the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic, as successor States, would apply for membership in the United Nations. Following the receipt of its application, the Security Council, on 8 January 1993, recommended to the General Assembly that the Czech Republic be admitted to United Nations membership. The Czech Republic was thus admitted on 19 January of that year as a Member State.
3. Zaire joined the United Nations on 20 September 1960. On 17 May 1997, its name was changed to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
4. Egypt and Syria were original Members of the United Nations from 24 October 1945. Following a plebiscite on 21 February 1958, the United Arab Republic was established by a union of Egypt and Syria and continued as a single Member. On 13 October 1961, Syria, having resumed its status as an independent State, resumed its separate membership in the United Nations. On 2 September 1971, the United Arab Republic changed its name to the Arab Republic of Egypt.
5. The Federal Republic of Germany and the German Democratic Republic were admitted to membership in the United Nations on 18 September 1973. Through the accession of the German Democratic Republic to the Federal Republic of Germany, effective from 3 October 1990, the two German States have united to form one sovereign State.
6. By letter of 20 January 1965, Indonesia announced its decision to withdraw from the United Nations "at this stage and under the present circumstances". By telegram of 19 September 1966, it announced its decision "to resume full cooperation with the United Nations and to resume participation in its activities". On 28 September 1966, the General Assembly took note of this decision and the President invited representatives of Indonesia to take seats in the Assembly.
7. The Federation of Malaya joined the United Nations on 17 September 1957. On 16 September 1963, its name was changed to Malaysia, following the admission to the new federation of Singapore, Sabah (North Borneo) and Sarawak. Singapore became an independent State on 9 August 1965 and a Member of the United Nations on 21 September 1965.
8. The membership of the State Union Serbia and Montenegro in the United Nations, including all organs and organizations of the United Nations system, is continued by the Republic of Serbia on the basis of Article 60 of the Constitutional Charter of Serbia and Montenegro, activated by the Declaration of Independence adopted by the National Assembly of Montenegro on 3 June 2006.
The Republic of Montenegro was admitted as a Member of the United Nations by General Assembly resolution 60/264 of 28 June 2006.
9. The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics was an original Member of the United Nations from 24 October 1945. In a letter dated 24 December 1991, Boris Yeltsin, the President of the Russian Federation, informed the Secretary-General that the membership of the Soviet Union in the Security Council and all other United Nations organs was being continued by the Russian Federation with the support of the 11 member countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States.
10. The membership of the State Union Serbia and Montenegro in the United Nations, including all organs and organizations of the United Nations system, is continued by the Republic of Serbia on the basis of Article 60 of the Constitutional Charter of Serbia and Montenegro, activated by the Declaration of Independence adopted by the National Assembly of Montenegro on 3 June 2006.
The Republic of Montenegro was admitted as a Member of the United Nations by General Assembly resolution 60/264 of 28 June 2006.
11. Czechoslovakia was an original Member of the United Nations from 24 October 1945. In a letter dated 10 December 1992, its Permanent Representative informed the Secretary-General that the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic would cease to exist on 31 December 1992 and that the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic, as successor States, would apply for membership in the United Nations. Following the receipt of its application, the Security Council, on 8 January 1993, recommended to the General Assembly that the Slovak Republic be admitted to United Nations membership. The Slovak Republic was thus admitted on 19 January of that year as a Member State.
12. The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was an original Member of the United Nations, the Charter having been signed on its behalf on 26 June 1945 and ratified 19 October 1945, until its dissolution following the establishment and subsequent admission as new members of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Republic of Croatia, the Republic of Slovenia, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
The Republic of Slovenia was admitted as a Member of the United Nations by General Assembly resolution A/RES/46/236 of 22 May 1992.
13. Egypt and Syria were original Members of the United Nations from 24 October 1945. Following a plebiscite on 21 February 1958, the United Arab Republic was established by a union of Egypt and Syria and continued as a single Member. On 13 October 1961, Syria, having resumed its status as an independent State, resumed its separate membership in the United Nations.
14. The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was an original Member of the United Nations, the Charter having been signed on its behalf on 26 June 1945 and ratified 19 October 1945, until its dissolution following the establishment and subsequent admission as new members of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Republic of Croatia, the Republic of Slovenia, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
By resolution A/RES/47/225 of 8 April 1993, the General Assembly decided to admit as a Member of the United Nations the State being provisionally referred to for all purposes within the United Nations as "The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia" pending settlement of the difference that had arisen over its name.
15. Tanganyika was a Member of the United Nations from 14 December 1961 and Zanzibar was a Member from 16 December 1963. Following the ratification on 26 April 1964 of Articles of Union between Tanganyika and Zanzibar, the United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar continued as a single Member, changing its name to the United Republic of Tanzania on 1 November 1964.
16. Yemen was admitted to membership in the United Nations on 30 September 1947 and Democratic Yemen on 14 December 1967. On 22 May 1990, the two countries merged and have since been represented as one Member with the name "Yemen".
Source: UN Press Release ORG/1360/Rev.1 (10 February 2004)
