Member states of the United Nations
The United Nations officially came into existence on the 24th of October 1945. This date marked the ratification of the Charter by five permanent members of the Security Council: France, the Soviet Union, China, the United Kingdom, and the United States. A total of 51 original states joined that year to form the organization's first roster. Fifty of these nations signed the Charter at the United Nations Conference on International Organization in San Francisco on the 26th of June 1945. Poland was the exception. It did not attend the conference but signed the document later on the 15th of October 1945.
Among the founding group were diverse entities like Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Egypt, Ethiopia, Greece, India, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Liberia, Luxembourg, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Syria, Turkey, Ukraine, Uruguay, Venezuela, and Yugoslavia. Some of these states held different political titles at the time. For instance, Belarus appeared as the Byelorussian SSR while Ukraine was listed as the Ukrainian SSR. The British Raj represented India before its partition in 1947. The Philippine Commonwealth existed until full independence in 1946. New Zealand gained full capacity to enter relations with other states only in 1947 after passing the Statute of Westminster Adoption Act.
Chapter II, Article 4 of the UN Charter defines the rules for admitting new members. Membership is open to all states that accept the obligations contained in the present Charter. These states must also be able and willing to carry out those obligations according to the Organization's judgment. A recommendation for admission from the Security Council requires affirmative votes from at least nine of the council's fifteen members. None of the five permanent members can use their veto power during this process.
The Security Council's recommendation must then be approved by a two-thirds majority vote in the General Assembly. In principle, only sovereign states can become UN members. Currently, all UN members are sovereign states. Although five original members were not fully sovereign when they joined, they all became independent between 1946 and 1991. Some entities considered sovereign under the Montevideo Convention remain outside the UN due to lack of international recognition or opposition from a permanent member. Non-member states may be invited as observer states to participate in meetings without voting rights.
The start of the Cold War led to membership conflicts almost immediately after the organization began operations. The United States refused to admit countries in Eastern Europe while the Soviet Union blocked applications from Western Europe. Starting as early as January 1946, the US used its automatic majority on the Security Council to refuse Albania's application. The Soviet Union vetoed Ireland, Portugal, and Finland. It also rejected Jordan and Ceylon because it doubted their independence from the UK.
By September 1949, the Soviet Union began vetoing neutral countries like Nepal. Both superpowers demanded that applicants from their preferred blocs be voted on first. They refused to allow multiple applicants to be processed simultaneously. This impasse continued until Stalin died and caused a brief thaw in relations. By that time, eighteen applications had been blocked. The remaining sixteen countries were admitted simultaneously on the 14th of December 1955 through what was described as a package deal. These nations included Albania, Jordan, Ireland, Portugal, Italy, Austria, Finland, Ceylon, Nepal, Libya, Cambodia, Laos, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, and Spain.
Historical entities have dissolved or merged over decades, creating complex succession issues for UN membership. Czechoslovakia joined as an original member but ceased to exist on the 31st of December 1992. Its Permanent Representative informed the Secretary-General that the Czech Republic and Slovakia would apply for membership separately. Both states were readmitted on the 19th of January 1993 without seeking sole successor status.
The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia disintegrated into five independent states by 1992. Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, and Slovenia were admitted on the 22nd of May 1992. North Macedonia followed on the 8th of April 1993 under a provisional name pending settlement with Greece. The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia applied for membership only after Slobodan Milošević was ousted from office in 2000. Montenegro declared independence on the 3rd of June 2006 following a referendum held on the 21st of May 2006. It was admitted to the UN on the 28th of June 2006 while Serbia continued the membership of Serbia and Montenegro. The Soviet Union also dissolved, leading Russia to take over its Security Council seat on the 24th of December 1991 through a letter from Boris Yeltsin.
The Republic of China joined the UN as an original member on the 24th of October 1945. It became one of the five permanent members of the Security Council. In 1949, the Kuomintang-led ROC government lost control of mainland China and relocated to Taiwan. The Communist Party-led People's Republic of China took control of the mainland on the 1st of October 1949. The UN was notified of the PRC formation on the 18th of November 1949. Despite this change, the ROC continued representing China at the UN.
On the 25th of October 1971, United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 recognized the representatives of the Government of the People's Republic of China as the only lawful representatives of China. This resolution expelled the representatives of Chiang Kai-shek from their place in the UN. It effectively transferred the permanent seat from the ROC to the PRC. The Secretary-General concluded that Taiwan is considered a province of China under this resolution. Subsequent attempts by the ROC to rejoin separately failed between 1993 and 2006 due to strong opposition from the PRC.
No member state has been suspended or expelled from the UN under Articles 5 or 6 since its inception. However, South Africa faced suspension from participation in the Assembly's work on the 12th of November 1974 due to apartheid policies. A Security Council draft resolution to expel it had been vetoed by France, the UK, and the US. The suspension lasted until South Africa returned to full participation on the 23rd of June 1994 after successful democratic elections.
Indonesia represents the only instance where a member attempted unilateral withdrawal. On the 20th of January 1965, Indonesia informed the Secretary-General of its decision to withdraw during the Malaysia confrontation. Following President Sukarno's overthrow, Indonesia notified the UN on the 19th of September 1966 that it would resume cooperation. The General Assembly took note of this decision on the 28th of September 1966. The organization treated Indonesia's actions as a temporary cessation rather than a true withdrawal. No express provision exists in the Charter regarding legal withdrawal procedures.
Two non-member observer states participate in the UN General Assembly: the Holy See and the State of Palestine. The Holy See gained all rights of full membership except voting on the 1st of July 2004. It has maintained diplomatic relations with 180 other states since becoming an observer on the 6th of April 1964. The Palestine Liberation Organization received observer status as a non-member entity on the 22nd of November 1974. The designation changed to State of Palestine effective the 15th of December 1988 following a proclamation by the Palestine National Council.
On the 29th of November 2012, the General Assembly passed Resolution 67/19 recognizing Palestine as an observer state by a vote of 138 to 9. This granted additional rights including sitting among other states alphabetically. However, Palestine does not have voting rights or the ability to put forward candidatures for UN organs. The Sovereign Military Order of Malta also holds observer status despite not being a sovereign state. Associated states like the Cook Islands and Niue remain non-members but participate in specialized agencies such as WHO and UNESCO.
Common questions
When did the United Nations officially come into existence?
The United Nations officially came into existence on the 24th of October 1945. This date marked the ratification of the Charter by five permanent members of the Security Council: France, the Soviet Union, China, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Which countries were the original member states of the United Nations in 1945?
A total of 51 original states joined that year to form the organization's first roster. Fifty nations signed the Charter at the United Nations Conference on International Organization in San Francisco on the 26th of June 1945 while Poland signed later on the 15th of October 1945.
How does a country become a member state of the United Nations today?
Membership is open to all states that accept the obligations contained in the present Charter and are able and willing to carry out those obligations according to the Organization's judgment. A recommendation for admission from the Security Council requires affirmative votes from at least nine of the council's fifteen members followed by approval by a two-thirds majority vote in the General Assembly.
When did the People's Republic of China replace the Republic of China as the UN representative?
On the 25th of October 1971, United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 recognized the representatives of the Government of the People's Republic of China as the only lawful representatives of China. This resolution expelled the representatives of Chiang Kai-shek from their place in the UN and effectively transferred the permanent seat from the ROC to the PRC.
Which non-member entities hold observer status at the United Nations?
Two non-member observer states participate in the UN General Assembly: the Holy See and the State of Palestine. The Sovereign Military Order of Malta also holds observer status despite not being a sovereign state while associated states like the Cook Islands and Niue remain non-members but participate in specialized agencies such as WHO and UNESCO.