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Countries that are Members of the United Nations
How did the United Nations begin?
United Nations Peacekeeping Operation
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How did the United Nations begin?
The name "United Nations" was devised by United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt and was first used in the "Declaration by United Nations" of 1 January 1942, during the Second World War, when representatives of 26 nations pledged their Governments to continue fighting together against the Axis Powers.
The United Nations Charter was drawn up by the representatives of 50 countries at the United Nations Conference on International Organization, which met at San Francisco from 25 April to 26 June 1945. Those delegates deliberated on the basis of proposals worked out by the representatives of China, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom and the United States at Dumbarton Oaks in August-October 1944. The Charter was signed on 26 June 1945 by the representatives of the 50 countries. Poland, which was not represented at the Conference, signed it later and became one of the original 51 Member States.
The United Nations officially came into existence on 24 October 1945, when the Charter had been ratified by China, France, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, the United States and by a majority of other signatories. United Nations Day is celebrated on 24 October each year.
Countries that are Members of the United Nations
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V Y Z
Member -- (Date of Admission)
Afghanistan -- (19 Nov. 1946)
Albania -- (14 Dec. 1955)
Algeria -- (8 Oct. 1962)
Andorra -- (28 July 1993)
Angola -- (1 Dec. 1976)
Antigua and Barbuda -- (11 Nov. 1981)
Argentina -- (24 Oct. 1945)
Armenia -- (2 Mar. 1992)
Australia -- (1 Nov. 1945)
Austria-- (14 Dec. 1955)
Azerbaijan -- (9 Mar. 1992)
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Bahamas -- (18 Sep. 1973)
Bahrain -- (21 Sep. 1971)
Bangladesh -- (17 Sep. 1974)
Barbados -- (9 Dec. 1966)
Belarus -- (24 Oct. 1945)
| On 19 September 1991, Byelorussia informed the United Nations that it had changed its name to Belarus. |
Belgium -- (27 Dec. 1945) 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. Botswana -- (17 Oct. 1966) 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. Cuba -- (24 Oct. 1945) Democratic People's Republic of Korea -- (17 Sep.
1991) El Salvador -- (24 Oct. 1945) Ghana -- (8 Mar. 1957)
Belize -- (25 Sep. 1981)
Benin -- (20 Sep. 1960)
Bhutan -- (21 Sep. 1971)
Bolivia -- (14 Nov. 1945)
Bosnia and Herzegovina -- (22 May 1992)
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.
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 -- (9 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 -- (5 Nov. 1945)
Comoros -- (12 Nov. 1975)
Congo -- (20 Sep. 1960)
Costa Rica -- (2 Nov. 1945)
Côte d'Ivoire -- (20 Sep. 1960)
Croatia -- (22 May 1992)
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.
Cyprus -- (20 Sep. 1960)
Czech Republic-- (19 Jan. 1993)
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.
Democratic Republic of the Congo -- (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 -- (24 Oct. 1945)
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.
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 -- (18 Sep. 1973)
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.
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)
Hungary -- (14 Dec. 1955)
Iceland -- (19 Nov. 1946)
India -- (30 Oct. 1945)
Indonesia -- (28 Sep. 1950)
| 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. |
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-- (2 Mar. 1992)
Kenya -- (16 Dec. 1963)
Kiribati -- (14 Sept. 1999)
Kuwait -- (14 May 1963)
Kyrgyzstan -- (2 Mar. 1992)
Lao People's Democratic Republic -- (14 Dec. 1955)
Latvia -- (17 Sep. 1991)
Lebanon -- (24 Oct. 1945)
Lesotho -- (17 Oct. 1966)
Liberia -- (2 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 -- (1 Dec. 1964)
Malaysia-- (17 Sep. 1957)
| 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. |
Maldives-- (21 Sep. 1965)
Mali -- (28 Sep. 1960)
Malta -- (1 Dec. 1964)
Marshall Islands -- (17 Sep. 1991)
Mauritania -- (7 Oct. 1961)
Mauritius -- (24 Apr. 1968)
Mexico -- (7 Nov. 1945)
Micronesia (Federated States of)-- (17 Sep. 1991)
Monaco -- (28 May 1993)
Mongolia -- (27 Oct. 1961)
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 -- (7 Oct. 1960)
Norway -- (27 Nov. 1945)
Oman -- (7 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)
Portugal -- (14 Dec. 1955)
Qatar -- (21 Sep. 1971)
Republic of Korea -- (17 Sep. 1991)
Republic of Moldova -- (2 Mar. 1992)
Romania -- (14 Dec. 1955)
Russian Federation -- (24 Oct. 1945)
| 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. |
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 -- (2 Mar. 1992)
Sao Tome and Principe -- (16 Sep. 1975)
Saudi Arabia -- (24 Oct. 1945)
Senegal -- (28 Sep. 1960)
Seychelles -- (21 Sep. 1976)
Sierra Leone -- (27 Sep. 1961)
Singapore -- (21 Sep. 1965)
Slovakia -- (19 Jan. 1993)
| 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. |
Slovenia -- (22 May 1992)
| 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. |
Solomon Islands -- (19 Sep. 1978)
Somalia -- (20 Sep. 1960)
South Africa -- (7 Nov. 1945)
Spain -- (14 Dec. 1955)
Sri Lanka -- (14 Dec. 1955)
Sudan -- (12 Nov. 1956)
Suriname -- (4 Dec. 1975)
Swaziland -- (24 Sep. 1968)
Sweden -- (19 Nov. 1946)
Syrian Arab Republic -- (24 Oct. 1945)
| 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. |
Tajikistan -- (2 Mar. 1992)
Thailand -- (16 Dec. 1946)
The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia -- (8 Apr. 1993)
| 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. |
Togo -- (20 Sep. 1960)
Tonga -- (14 Sept. 1999)
Trinidad and Tobago -- (18 Sep. 1962)
Tunisia -- (12 Nov. 1956)
Turkey -- (24 Oct. 1945)
Turkmenistan -- (2 Mar. 1992)
Tuvalu -- (5 Sept. 2000)
Uganda -- (25 Oct. 1962)
Ukraine-- (24 Oct. 1945)
United Arab Emirates -- (9 Dec. 1971)
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland-- (24 Oct. 1945)
United Republic of Tanzania -- (14 Dec. 1961)
| 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. |
United States of America -- (24 Oct. 1945)
Uruguay -- (18 Dec. 1945)
Uzbekistan -- (2 Mar. 1992)
Vanuatu -- (15 Sep. 1981)
Venezuela -- (15 Nov. 1945)
Viet Nam -- (20 Sep. 1977)
Yemen -- (30 Sep. 1947)
| 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". |
Yugoslavia -- (24 Oct. 1945) The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was admitted as a Member of the
United Nations by General Assembly resolution A/RES/55/12 of 1 November
2000.
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.
Back to alphabetical
index
Zambia -- (1 Dec. 1964)
United Nations Peacekeeping Operation
| The United Nations has no army. Each peacekeeping operation must be designed to meet the requirements of each new situation; and each time the Security Council calls for the creation of a new operation, its components must be assembled "from scratch". |
| The 15-member Security Council authorizes the deployment of a peacekeeping operation, and determines its mandate. Such decisions require at least nine votes in favour and are subject to a veto by the negative vote of any of the Council's five permanent members (China, France, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, the United States). The Secretary-General makes recommendations on how the operation is to be launched and carried out, and reports on its progress; the Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) is responsible for day-to-day executive direction, management and logistical support for United Nations peacekeeping operations worldwide. |
| The Secretary-General chooses the Force Commander and asks Member
States to contribute troops, civilian police or other personnel.
Supplies, equipment, transportation and logistical support must also be
secured from Member States or from private contractors. Civilian support
staff include personnel assigned from within the UN system, loaned by
Member States and individuals recruited internationally or locally to
fill specific jobs.
The lead-time required to deploy a mission varies, and depends primarily upon the will of Member States to contribute troops to a particular operation. The timely availability of financial resources and strategic lift capacity also affect the time necessary for deployment. In 1973, for example, elements of the second UN Emergency Force (UNEF II) were deployed in the Middle East within 24 hours. However, for some missions with highly complex mandates or difficult logistics, or where peacekeepers face significant risks, it may take months to assemble and deploy the necessary elements. During this process, intensive contacts take place among Member States, the Secretariat and the parties on the ground. Members of the Security Council, particularly the five permanent members, and countries contributing personnel play a particularly important role. Regional organizations may also be involved. Consultation begins with the planning stage of an operation and continues throughout its duration. |