United Nations member states
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223198669
2008-07-03T00:38:55Z
Chanheigeorge
376297
rv; I think Costa Rica fly the state flag at the UN
[[Image:United Nations Members.PNG|thumb|350px|A map of [[United Nations|UN]] member [[state]]s and their [[dependent territory|dependent territories]] as recognized by the UN. Regions excluded: [[Antarctica]] (regulated by the [[Antarctic Treaty System]]), [[Vatican City]] (the [[Holy See]] is a [[United Nations General Assembly observers|UN observer]]), the [[Palestinian territories]] (Palestine, represented by the [[Palestine Liberation Organization]], is a UN observer), and [[Western Sahara]] (status in dispute between [[Morocco]] and the [[Polisario Front]]). Territories of [[List of unrecognized countries|states not recognized by the UN]] are not excluded due to UN's position that they are part of some UN member state, including [[Taiwan]] as the UN considers the [[People's Republic of China]] (PRC) as "the only lawful representatives of [[China]]" at the UN (see ''[[#Seat of China|Seat of China]]'') and does not question the PRC's [[Political status of Taiwan|claim]] that Taiwan is part of China. ]]
This article lists the '''member states of the [[United Nations]] (UN)'''. There are currently 192 UN member [[state]]s, and each of them is a member of the [[United Nations General Assembly]].
According to the [[United Nations Charter]], Chapter 2, Article 4:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.un.org/aboutun/charter/chapter2.htm|title=Charter of the United Nations, Chapter 2|publisher=United Nations}}</ref>
{{Quote|
# Membership in the United Nations is open to all other peace-loving states which accept the obligations contained in the present Charter and, in the judgment of the Organization, are able and willing to carry out these obligations.
# The admission of any such state to membership in the United Nations will be effected by a decision of the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the [[United Nations Security Council|Security Council]].
}}
In principle, only [[sovereignty|sovereign]] states can become UN members, and today all UN members are fully sovereign states. However, four of the original members ([[Belarus]], [[India]], the [[Philippines]], and [[Ukraine]]) were not independent at the time of their admission. Moreover, because a state can only be admitted by the approval of the Security Council and the General Assembly, some entities which may be considered [[List of sovereign states|sovereign states]] according to the [[Montevideo Convention]] are not members due to the fact that the UN do not consider them to be sovereign states, the lack of international recognition or opposition from certain members.
[[International organization]]s, [[non-governmental organization]]s, and entities whose statehood or sovereignty are not precisely defined, can only become [[United Nations General Assembly observers]] by invitation, allowing them to speak, but not vote, in General Assembly meetings.
==Current members==
[[Image:United Nations member countries world map.PNG|thumb|350px|UN member states displayed by the decade in which they [[Enlargement of the United Nations|joined the UN]].]]
The member states are listed below with their respective dates of admission. There were 51 original members of the UN which were admitted in 1945, of which 49 are either still UN members or have their seats continued by a [[successor state]] (e.g., the [[Soviet Union|USSR]]'s seat has been continued by [[Russia]]). The other two original members were [[Czechoslovakia]] and [[Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia|Yugoslavia]], as both had dissolved and their seats were not continued by any state (see ''[[#Czechoslovakia|Former members: Czechoslovakia]]'' and ''[[#Yugoslavia|Former members: Yugoslavia]]'' respectively). For [[China and the United Nations|China's seat in the UN]], the [[Republic of China]] was replaced by the [[People's Republic of China]] on [[25 October]] [[1971]], even though the governments of both have existed well before and after this date (see ''[[#Seat of China|Seat of China]]'').
The names used below are the official names of the member states used by the UN; however, the list is sorted by the common names of the member states for ease of navigation. To sort the member states by their official names used by the UN or their dates of admissions, click on the buttons in the column headers.
<span style="background-color:#ccddff;width:50px;border:1px solid #aaaaaa"> </span> ''Indicates original member''
{{-}}
{| class="sortable wikitable"
|-
! Member state
! Date of admission
! Notes
|-
| {{flag|Afghanistan}} || <span style="display:none">19461119</span> [[1946-11-19]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Albania}} || <span style="display:none">19551214</span> [[1955-12-14]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Algeria}} || <span style="display:none">19621008</span> [[1962-10-08]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Andorra}} || <span style="display:none">19930728</span> [[1993-07-28]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Angola}} || <span style="display:none">19761201</span> [[1976-12-01]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Antigua and Barbuda}} || <span style="display:none">19811111</span> [[1981-11-11]]
|
|- style="background-color: #ccddff;"
| {{flag|Argentina}} || <span style="display:none">19451024</span> [[1945-10-24]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Armenia}} || <span style="display:none">19920302</span> [[1992-03-02]]
| see ''[[#USSR|Former members: USSR]]''
|- style="background-color: #ccddff;"
| {{flag|Australia}} || <span style="display:none">19451101</span> [[1945-11-01]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Austria}} || <span style="display:none">19551214</span> [[1955-12-14]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Azerbaijan}} || <span style="display:none">19920302</span> [[1992-03-02]]
| see ''[[#USSR|Former members: USSR]]''
|-
| {{flag|Bahamas}} || <span style="display:none">19730918</span> [[1973-09-18]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Bahrain}} || <span style="display:none">19710921</span> [[1971-09-21]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Bangladesh}} || <span style="display:none">19740917</span> [[1974-09-17]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Barbados}} || <span style="display:none">19661209</span> [[1966-12-09]]
|
|- style="background-color: #ccddff;"
| {{flag|Belarus}}<ref>'''Belarus''' was originally admitted as the [[Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic]], before declaring independence in 1991. It informed the UN that it had changed its name from Byelorussia to its current name on [[19 September]] [[1991]].</ref> || <span style="display:none">19451024</span> [[1945-10-24]]
| see ''[[#USSR|Former members: USSR]]''
|- style="background-color: #ccddff;"
| {{flag|Belgium|state}} || <span style="display:none">19451227</span> [[1945-12-27]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Belize}} || <span style="display:none">19810925</span> [[1981-09-25]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Benin}}<ref>'''Benin''' was originally admitted as Dahomey, before changing its name in 1975.</ref> || <span style="display:none">19600920</span> [[1960-09-20]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Bhutan}} || <span style="display:none">19710921</span> [[1971-09-21]]
|
|- style="background-color: #ccddff;"
| {{flag|Bolivia|state}} || <span style="display:none">19451114</span> [[1945-11-14]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Bosnia and Herzegovina}} || <span style="display:none">19920522</span> [[1992-05-22]]
| see ''[[#Yugoslavia|Former members: Yugoslavia]]''
|-
| {{flag|Botswana}} || <span style="display:none">19661017</span> [[1966-10-17]]
|
|- style="background-color: #ccddff;"
| {{flag|Brazil}} || <span style="display:none">19451024</span> [[1945-10-24]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Brunei Darussalam<!--Official name used by the UN-->}} || <span style="display:none">19840921</span> [[1984-09-21]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Bulgaria}} || <span style="display:none">19551214</span> [[1955-12-14]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Burkina Faso}}<ref>'''Burkina Faso''' was originally admitted as Upper Volta, before changing its name in 1984.</ref> || <span style="display:none">19600920</span> [[1960-09-20]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Burundi}} || <span style="display:none">19620918</span> [[1962-09-18]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Cambodia}} || <span style="display:none">19551214</span> [[1955-12-14]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Cameroon}}<ref>'''Cameroon''' was originally admitted as [[Cameroun]], before merging with [[Southern Cameroons]] in 1961.</ref> || <span style="display:none">19600920</span> [[1960-09-20]]
|
|- style="background-color: #ccddff;"
| {{flag|Canada}} || <span style="display:none">19451109</span> [[1945-11-09]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Cape Verde}} || <span style="display:none">19750916</span> [[1975-09-16]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Central African Republic}} || <span style="display:none">19600920</span> [[1960-09-20]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Chad}} || <span style="display:none">19600920</span> [[1960-09-20]]
|
|- style="background-color: #ccddff;"
| {{flag|Chile}} || <span style="display:none">19451024</span> [[1945-10-24]]
|
|- style="background-color: #ccddff;"
| {{flag|China}} || <span style="display:none">19451024</span> [[1945-10-24]]
| see ''[[#Seat of China|Seat of China]]''
|- style="background-color: #ccddff;"
| {{flag|Colombia}} || <span style="display:none">19451105</span> [[1945-11-05]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Comoros}} || <span style="display:none">19751112</span> [[1975-11-12]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Democratic Republic of the Congo<!--Official name used by the UN-->}}<ref>The '''Democratic Republic of the Congo''' was originally admitted as Congo (Leopoldville). It later changed its name to the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 1964, and then to [[Zaire]] in 1971, and back to its current name on [[17 May]] [[1997]].</ref> || <span style="display:none">19600920</span> [[1960-09-20]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Congo, Republic of the<!--Official name used by the UN-->}}<ref>The '''Republic of the Congo''' was originally admitted as Congo (Brazzaville).</ref> || <span style="display:none">19600920</span> [[1960-09-20]]
|
|- style="background-color: #ccddff;"
| {{flag|Costa Rica|state}} || <span style="display:none">19451102</span> [[1945-11-02]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Côte d'Ivoire}}<ref>'''Côte d'Ivoire''' was originally admitted as Ivory Coast, before changing its name in 1985.</ref> || <span style="display:none">19600920</span> [[1960-09-20]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Croatia}} || <span style="display:none">19920522</span> [[1992-05-22]]
| see ''[[#Yugoslavia|Former members: Yugoslavia]]''
|- style="background-color: #ccddff;"
| {{flag|Cuba}} || <span style="display:none">19451024</span> [[1945-10-24]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Cyprus}} || <span style="display:none">19600920</span> [[1960-09-20]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Czech Republic}} || <span style="display:none">19930119</span> [[1993-01-19]]
| see ''[[#Czechoslovakia|Former members: Czechoslovakia]]''
|- style="background-color: #ccddff;"
| {{flag|Denmark}} || <span style="display:none">19451024</span> [[1945-10-24]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Djibouti}} || <span style="display:none">19770920</span> [[1977-09-20]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Dominica}} || <span style="display:none">19781218</span> [[1978-12-18]]
|
|- style="background-color: #ccddff;"
| {{flag|Dominican Republic}} || <span style="display:none">19451024</span> [[1945-10-24]]
|
|- style="background-color: #ccddff;"
| {{flag|Ecuador}} || <span style="display:none">19451221</span> [[1945-12-21]]
|
|- style="background-color: #ccddff;"
| {{flag|Egypt}} || <span style="display:none">19451024</span> [[1945-10-24]]
| see ''[[#United Arab Republic|Former members: United Arab Republic]]''
|- style="background-color: #ccddff;"
| {{flag|El Salvador}} || <span style="display:none">19451024</span> [[1945-10-24]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Equatorial Guinea}} || <span style="display:none">19681112</span> [[1968-11-12]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Eritrea}} || <span style="display:none">19930528</span> [[1993-05-28]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Estonia}} || <span style="display:none">19910917</span> [[1991-09-17]]
| see ''[[#USSR|Former members: USSR]]''
|- style="background-color: #ccddff;"
| {{flag|Ethiopia}} || <span style="display:none">19451113</span> [[1945-11-13]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Fiji}} || <span style="display:none">19701013</span> [[1970-10-13]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Finland}} || <span style="display:none">19551214</span> [[1955-12-14]]
|
|- style="background-color: #ccddff;"
| {{flag|France}} || <span style="display:none">19451024</span> [[1945-10-24]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Gabon}} || <span style="display:none">19600920</span> [[1960-09-20]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Gambia}} || <span style="display:none">19650921</span> [[1965-09-21]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Georgia}} || <span style="display:none">19920731</span> [[1992-07-31]]
| see ''[[#USSR|Former members: USSR]]''
|-
| {{flag|Germany}} || <span style="display:none">19730918</span> [[1973-09-18]]
| see ''[[#East Germany and West Germany|Former members: East Germany and West Germany]]''
|-
| {{flag|Ghana}} || <span style="display:none">19570308</span> [[1957-03-08]]
|
|- style="background-color: #ccddff;"
| {{flag|Greece}} || <span style="display:none">19451025</span> [[1945-10-25]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Grenada}} || <span style="display:none">19740917</span> [[1974-09-17]]
|
|- style="background-color: #ccddff;"
| {{flag|Guatemala}} || <span style="display:none">19451121</span> [[1945-11-21]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Guinea}} || <span style="display:none">19581212</span> [[1958-12-12]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Guinea-Bissau}} || <span style="display:none">19740917</span> [[1974-09-17]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Guyana}} || <span style="display:none">19660920</span> [[1966-09-20]]
|
|- style="background-color: #ccddff;"
| {{flag|Haiti}} || <span style="display:none">19451024</span> [[1945-10-24]]
|
|- style="background-color: #ccddff;"
| {{flag|Honduras}} || <span style="display:none">19451217</span> [[1945-12-17]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Hungary}} || <span style="display:none">19551214</span> [[1955-12-14]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Iceland}} || <span style="display:none">19461119</span> [[1946-11-19]]
|
|- style="background-color: #ccddff;"
| {{flag|India}} || <span style="display:none">19451030</span> [[1945-10-30]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Indonesia}}<ref>'''Indonesia''' temporarily withdrew from the UN on [[20 January]] [[1965]] [[Indonesia-Malaysia confrontation|in response]] to the fact that Malaysia was elected as a non-permanent member of the Security Council. It announced its intention "to resume full cooperation with the United Nations and to resume participation in its activities" on [[19 September]] [[1966]], and was invited to re-join the UN on [[28 September]] [[1966]].</ref> || <span style="display:none">19500928</span> [[1950-09-28]]
|
|- style="background-color: #ccddff;"
| {{flag|Iran, Islamic Republic of<!--Official name used by the UN-->}}<ref>Originally admitted as '''Iran'''.</ref> || <span style="display:none">19451024</span> [[1945-10-24]]
|
|- style="background-color: #ccddff;"
| {{flag|Iraq}} || <span style="display:none">19451221</span> [[1945-12-21]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Ireland}} || <span style="display:none">19551214</span> [[1955-12-14]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Israel}} || <span style="display:none">19490511</span> [[1949-05-11]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Italy}} || <span style="display:none">19551214</span> [[1955-12-14]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Jamaica}} || <span style="display:none">19620918</span> [[1962-09-18]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Japan}} || <span style="display:none">19561218</span> [[1956-12-18]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Jordan}} || <span style="display:none">19551214</span> [[1955-12-14]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Kazakhstan}} || <span style="display:none">19920302</span> [[1992-03-02]]
| see ''[[#USSR|Former members: USSR]]''
|-
| {{flag|Kenya}} || <span style="display:none">19631216</span> [[1963-12-16]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Kiribati}} || <span style="display:none">19990914</span> [[1999-09-14]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Democratic People's Republic of Korea<!--Official name used by the UN-->}} || <span style="display:none">19910917</span> [[1991-09-17]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Republic of Korea<!--Official name used by the UN-->}} || <span style="display:none">19910917</span> [[1991-09-17]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Kuwait}} || <span style="display:none">19630514</span> [[1963-05-14]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Kyrgyzstan}} || <span style="display:none">19920302</span> [[1992-03-02]]
| see ''[[#USSR|Former members: USSR]]''
|-
| {{flag|Lao People's Democratic Republic<!--Official name used by the UN-->}}<ref>Originally admitted as '''Laos'''.</ref> || <span style="display:none">19551214</span> [[1955-12-14]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Latvia}} || <span style="display:none">19910917</span> [[1991-09-17]]
| see ''[[#USSR|Former members: USSR]]''
|- style="background-color: #ccddff;"
| {{flag|Lebanon}} || <span style="display:none">19451024</span> [[1945-10-24]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Lesotho}} || <span style="display:none">19661017</span> [[1966-10-17]]
|
|- style="background-color: #ccddff;"
| {{flag|Liberia}} || <span style="display:none">19451102</span> [[1945-11-02]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Libyan Arab Jamahiriya<!--Official name used by the UN-->}}<ref>Originally admitted as '''Libya'''.</ref> || <span style="display:none">19551214</span> [[1955-12-14]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Liechtenstein}} || <span style="display:none">19900918</span> [[1990-09-18]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Lithuania}} || <span style="display:none">19910917</span> [[1991-09-17]]
| see ''[[#USSR|Former members: USSR]]''
|- style="background-color: #ccddff;"
| {{flag|Luxembourg}} || <span style="display:none">19451024</span> [[1945-10-24]]
|
|-
| {{flag|The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia<!--Official name used by the UN-->}}<ref>Provisionally referred to for all purposes within the United Nations as "The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia" pending settlement of the [[Macedonia naming dispute|difference that had arisen over its name]].</ref> || <span style="display:none">19930408</span> [[1993-04-08]]
| see ''[[#Yugoslavia|Former members: Yugoslavia]]''
|-
| {{flag|Madagascar}} || <span style="display:none">19600920</span> [[1960-09-20]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Malawi}} || <span style="display:none">19641201</span> [[1964-12-01]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Malaysia}}<ref>'''Malaysia''' was originally admitted as the [[Federation of Malaya]]. On [[16 September]] [[1963]], its name was changed to Malaysia after the admission of [[Singapore]], [[Sabah]] and [[Sarawak]] to the federation. Singapore became an independent state on [[9 August]] [[1965]].</ref> || <span style="display:none">19570917</span> [[1957-09-17]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Maldives}} || <span style="display:none">19650921</span> [[1965-09-21]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Mali}} || <span style="display:none">19600928</span> [[1960-09-28]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Malta}} || <span style="display:none">19641201</span> [[1964-12-01]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Marshall Islands}} || <span style="display:none">19910917</span> [[1991-09-17]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Mauritania}} || <span style="display:none">19611027</span> [[1961-10-27]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Mauritius}} || <span style="display:none">19680424</span> [[1968-04-24]]
|
|- style="background-color: #ccddff;"
| {{flag|Mexico}} || <span style="display:none">19451107</span> [[1945-11-07]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Micronesia, Federated States of<!--Official name used by the UN-->}} || <span style="display:none">19910917</span> [[1991-09-17]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Moldova}} || <span style="display:none">19920302</span> [[1992-03-02]]
| see ''[[#USSR|Former members: USSR]]''
|-
| {{flag|Monaco}} || <span style="display:none">19930528</span> [[1993-05-28]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Mongolia}} || <span style="display:none">19611027</span> [[1961-10-27]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Montenegro}} || <span style="display:none">20060628</span> [[2006-06-28]]
| see ''[[#Yugoslavia|Former members: Yugoslavia]]''
|-
| {{flag|Morocco}} || <span style="display:none">19561112</span> [[1956-11-12]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Mozambique}} || <span style="display:none">19750916</span> [[1975-09-16]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Myanmar}}<ref>'''Myanmar''' was originally admitted as Burma, before changing its name in 1989.</ref> || <span style="display:none">19480419</span> [[1948-04-19]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Namibia}} || <span style="display:none">19900423</span> [[1990-04-23]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Nauru}} || <span style="display:none">19990914</span> [[1999-09-14]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Nepal}} || <span style="display:none">19551214</span> [[1955-12-14]]
|
|- style="background-color: #ccddff;"
| {{flag|Netherlands}} || <span style="display:none">19451210</span> [[1945-12-10]]
|
|- style="background-color: #ccddff;"
| {{flag|New Zealand}} || <span style="display:none">19451024</span> [[1945-10-24]]
|
|- style="background-color: #ccddff;"
| {{flag|Nicaragua}} || <span style="display:none">19451024</span> [[1945-10-24]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Niger}} || <span style="display:none">19600920</span> [[1960-09-20]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Nigeria}} || <span style="display:none">19601007</span> [[1960-10-07]]
|
|- style="background-color: #ccddff;"
| {{flag|Norway}} || <span style="display:none">19451127</span> [[1945-11-27]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Oman}} || <span style="display:none">19711007</span> [[1971-10-07]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Pakistan}} || <span style="display:none">19470930</span> [[1947-09-30]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Palau}} || <span style="display:none">19941215</span> [[1994-12-15]]
|
|- style="background-color: #ccddff;"
| {{flag|Panama}} || <span style="display:none">19451113</span> [[1945-11-13]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Papua New Guinea}} || <span style="display:none">19751010</span> [[1975-10-10]]
|
|- style="background-color: #ccddff;"
| {{flag|Paraguay}} || <span style="display:none">19451024</span> [[1945-10-24]]
|
|- style="background-color: #ccddff;"
| {{flag|Peru|state}} || <span style="display:none">19451031</span> [[1945-10-31]]
|
|- style="background-color: #ccddff;"
| {{flag|Philippines}}<ref>The '''Philippines''' was originally admitted as the [[Commonwealth of the Philippines|Philippine Commonwealth]], before being granted full independence in 1946.</ref> || <span style="display:none">19451024</span> [[1945-10-24]]
|
|- style="background-color: #ccddff;"
| {{flag|Poland}} || <span style="display:none">19451024</span> [[1945-10-24]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Portugal}} || <span style="display:none">19551214</span> [[1955-12-14]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Qatar}} || <span style="display:none">19710921</span> [[1971-09-21]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Romania}} || <span style="display:none">19551214</span> [[1955-12-14]]
|
|- style="background-color: #ccddff;"
| {{flag|Russian Federation<!--Official name used by the UN-->}} || <span style="display:none">19451024</span> [[1945-10-24]]
| see ''[[#USSR|Former members: USSR]]''
|-
| {{flag|Rwanda}} || <span style="display:none">19620918</span> [[1962-09-18]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Saint Kitts and Nevis}} || <span style="display:none">19830923</span> [[1983-09-23]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Saint Lucia}} || <span style="display:none">19790918</span> [[1979-09-18]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Saint Vincent and the Grenadines}} || <span style="display:none">19800916</span> [[1980-09-16]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Samoa}}<ref>'''Samoa''' was originally admitted as Western Samoa, before changing its name in 1997.</ref> || <span style="display:none">19761215</span> [[1976-12-15]]
|
|-
| {{flag|San Marino}} || <span style="display:none">19920302</span> [[1992-03-02]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Sao Tome and Principe<!--Official name used by the UN-->}} || <span style="display:none">19750916</span> [[1975-09-16]]
|
|- style="background-color: #ccddff;"
| {{flag|Saudi Arabia}} || <span style="display:none">19451024</span> [[1945-10-24]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Senegal}} || <span style="display:none">19600928</span> [[1960-09-28]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Serbia}} || <span style="display:none">20001101</span> [[2000-11-01]]
| see ''[[#Yugoslavia|Former members: Yugoslavia]]''
|-
| {{flag|Seychelles}} || <span style="display:none">19760921</span> [[1976-09-21]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Sierra Leone}} || <span style="display:none">19610927</span> [[1961-09-27]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Singapore}} || <span style="display:none">19650921</span> [[1965-09-21]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Slovakia}} || <span style="display:none">19930119</span> [[1993-01-19]]
| see ''[[#Czechoslovakia|Former members: Czechoslovakia]]''
|-
| {{flag|Slovenia}} || <span style="display:none">19920522</span> [[1992-05-22]]
| see ''[[#Yugoslavia|Former members: Yugoslavia]]''
|-
| {{flag|Solomon Islands}} || <span style="display:none">19780919</span> [[1978-09-19]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Somalia}} || <span style="display:none">19600920</span> [[1960-09-20]]
|
|- style="background-color: #ccddff;"
| {{flag|South Africa}}<ref>'''South Africa''' was originally admitted as the [[Union of South Africa]], before becoming a republic in 1961.</ref> || <span style="display:none">19451107</span> [[1945-11-07]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Spain}} || <span style="display:none">19551214</span> [[1955-12-14]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Sri Lanka}}<ref>'''Sri Lanka''' was originally admitted as Ceylon, before changing its name in 1972.</ref> || <span style="display:none">19551214</span> [[1955-12-14]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Sudan}} || <span style="display:none">19561112</span> [[1956-11-12]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Suriname}} || <span style="display:none">19751204</span> [[1975-12-04]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Swaziland}} || <span style="display:none">19680924</span> [[1968-09-24]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Sweden}} || <span style="display:none">19461119</span> [[1946-11-19]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Switzerland}} || <span style="display:none">20020910</span> [[2002-09-10]]
|
|- style="background-color: #ccddff;"
| {{flag|Syrian Arab Republic<!--Official name used by the UN-->}}<ref>Originally admitted as '''Syria'''.</ref> || <span style="display:none">19451024</span> [[1945-10-24]]
| see ''[[#United Arab Republic|Former members: United Arab Republic]]''
|-
| {{flag|Tajikistan}} || <span style="display:none">19920302</span> [[1992-03-02]]
| see ''[[#USSR|Former members: USSR]]''
|-
| {{flag|United Republic of Tanzania<!--Official name used by the UN-->}} || <span style="display:none">19611214</span> [[1961-12-14]]
| see ''[[#Tanganyika and Zanzibar|Former members: Tanganyika and Zanzibar]]''
|-
| {{flag|Thailand}}<ref>'''Thailand''' was originally admitted as Siam, before changing its name in 1949.</ref> || <span style="display:none">19461216</span> [[1946-12-16]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Timor-Leste}} || <span style="display:none">20020927</span> [[2002-09-27]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Togo}} || <span style="display:none">19600920</span> [[1960-09-20]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Tonga}} || <span style="display:none">19990914</span> [[1999-09-14]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Trinidad and Tobago}} || <span style="display:none">19620918</span> [[1962-09-18]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Tunisia}} || <span style="display:none">19561112</span> [[1956-11-12]]
|
|- style="background-color: #ccddff;"
| {{flag|Turkey}} || <span style="display:none">19451024</span> [[1945-10-24]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Turkmenistan}} || <span style="display:none">19920302</span> [[1992-03-02]]
| see ''[[#USSR|Former members: USSR]]''
|-
| {{flag|Tuvalu}} || <span style="display:none">20000905</span> [[2000-09-05]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Uganda}} || <span style="display:none">19621025</span> [[1962-10-25]]
|
|- style="background-color: #ccddff;"
| {{flag|Ukraine}}<ref>'''Ukraine''' was originally admitted as the [[Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic]], before declaring independence in 1991.</ref> || <span style="display:none">19451024</span> [[1945-10-24]]
| see ''[[#USSR|Former members: USSR]]''
|-
| {{flag|United Arab Emirates}} || <span style="display:none">19711209</span> [[1971-12-09]]
|
|- style="background-color: #ccddff;"
| {{flag|United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland<!--Official name used by the UN-->}} || <span style="display:none">19451024</span> [[1945-10-24]]
|
|- style="background-color: #ccddff;"
| {{flag|United States of America<!--Official name used by the UN-->}} || <span style="display:none">19451024</span> [[1945-10-24]]
|
|- style="background-color: #ccddff;"
| {{flag|Uruguay}} || <span style="display:none">19451218</span> [[1945-12-18]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Uzbekistan}} || <span style="display:none">19920302</span> [[1992-03-02]]
| see ''[[#USSR|Former members: USSR]]''
|-
| {{flag|Vanuatu}} || <span style="display:none">19810915</span> [[1981-09-15]]
|
|- style="background-color: #ccddff;"
| {{flag|Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of<!--Official name used by the UN-->|state}}<ref>Originally admitted as '''Venezuela'''.</ref> || <span style="display:none">19451115</span> [[1945-11-15]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Viet Nam<!--Official name used by the UN-->}} || <span style="display:none">19770920</span> [[1977-09-20]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Yemen}} || <span style="display:none">19470930</span> [[1947-09-30]]
| see ''[[#North Yemen and South Yemen|Former members: North Yemen and South Yemen]]''
|-
| {{flag|Zambia}} || <span style="display:none">19641201</span> [[1964-12-01]]
|
|-
| {{flag|Zimbabwe}} || <span style="display:none">19800825</span> [[1980-08-25]]
|
|}
==Former members==
===Czechoslovakia===
'''[[Czechoslovakia]]''' joined the UN as an original member on [[24 October]] [[1945]]. On [[10 December]] [[1992]], Czechoslovakia informed the [[United Nations Secretary-General]] that it would cease to exist after [[31 December]] [[1992]], and that both its successor states, the ''[[Czech Republic]]'' and ''[[Slovakia]]'', would apply for UN membership. They were admitted on [[19 January]] [[1993]].
===East Germany and West Germany===
Both the '''[[East Germany|German Democratic Republic]]''' (East Germany) and the '''[[West Germany|Federal Republic of Germany]]''' (West Germany) were admitted on [[18 September]] [[1973]]. ''[[Germany]]'' was reunified when the German Democratic Republic acceded to the Federal Republic of Germany on [[3 October]] [[1990]].
===North Yemen and South Yemen===
'''[[North Yemen|Yemen]]''' (North Yemen) was admitted on [[30 September]] [[1947]], and '''[[South Yemen|Democratic Yemen]]''' (South Yemen) was originally admitted as Southern Yemen on [[14 December]] [[1967]], before changing its name in 1970. ''[[Yemen]]'' was unified when the [[Yemen Arab Republic]] (North Yemen) and the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen (South Yemen) merged to form the Republic of Yemen on [[22 May]] [[1990]].
===Tanganyika and Zanzibar===
'''[[Tanganyika]]''' was admitted on [[14 December]] [[1961]], and '''[[Zanzibar]]''' was admitted on [[16 December]] [[1963]]. Tanganyika and Zanzibar merged to form the United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar on [[26 April]] [[1964]], which later changed its name to the ''[[Tanzania|United Republic of Tanzania]]'' on [[1 November]] [[1964]].
===United Arab Republic===
Both ''[[Egypt]]'' and ''[[Syria]]'' joined the UN as original members on [[24 October]] [[1945]]. The '''[[United Arab Republic]]''' was formed by a union of Egypt and Syria following a plebiscite on [[21 February]] [[1958]], and continued as a single member in the UN until [[13 October]] [[1961]], when Syria, having resumed its status as an independent state, resumed its separate membership in the UN. Egypt continued as a UN member under the name United Arab Republic until [[2 September]] [[1971]], when it changed its name to the Arab Republic of Egypt.
===USSR===
The '''[[Soviet Union|Union of Soviet Socialist Republics]]''' (USSR) was one of the five permanent members of the [[United Nations Security Council]], and joined the UN as an original member on [[24 October]] [[1945]]. On [[24 December]] [[1991]], upon the imminent dissolution of the USSR, [[Boris Yeltsin]], the [[President of Russia]], informed the [[United Nations Secretary-General]] that the membership of the USSR in the UN (including its permanent seat on the Security Council) was being continued by the ''[[Russia|Russian Federation]]'' with the support of the 11 member countries of the [[Commonwealth of Independent States]].
The remaining former Soviet Republics are currently all UN members:
*''[[Belarus]]'' and ''[[Ukraine]]'' had already joined the UN as original members on [[24 October]] [[1945]], represented by the [[Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic]] and the [[Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic]] respectively until their independence in 1991.
*''[[Estonia]]'', ''[[Latvia]]'', and ''[[Lithuania]]'' were admitted on [[17 September]] [[1991]].
*''[[Armenia]]'', ''[[Azerbaijan]]'', ''[[Kazakhstan]]'', ''[[Kyrgyzstan]]'', ''[[Moldova]]'', ''[[Tajikistan]]'', ''[[Turkmenistan]]'', and ''[[Uzbekistan]]'' were admitted on [[2 March]] [[1992]].
*''[[Georgia (country)|Georgia]]'' was admitted on [[31 July]] [[1992]].
===Yugoslavia===
'''[[Yugoslavia]]''' joined the UN as an original member on [[24 October]] [[1945]]. By 1992, the [[Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia]] had been formally dissolved, and a new state, the [[Federal Republic of Yugoslavia]], was formed on [[28 April]] [[1992]] by the former Yugoslav Republics of Serbia and Montenegro. By United Nations General Assembly Resolution A/RES/47/1 on [[22 September]] [[1992]], the UN "considers that the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro) cannot continue automatically the membership of the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in the United Nations, and therefore decides that the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro) should apply for membership in the United Nations and that it shall not participate in the work of the General Assembly."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://daccessdds.un.org/doc/RESOLUTION/GEN/NR0/023/69/IMG/NR002369.pdf?OpenElement|title=United Nations General Assembly Resolution A/RES/47/1|publisher=United Nations}}</ref>
The former Yugoslav Republics are currently all UN members:
*''[[Bosnia and Herzegovina]]'', ''[[Croatia]]'', and ''[[Slovenia]]'' were admitted on [[22 May]] [[1992]].
*''[[Republic of Macedonia|The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia]]'' was admitted on [[8 April]] [[1993]], provisionally referred to for all purposes within the United Nations as such pending settlement of the [[Macedonia naming dispute|difference that had arisen over its name]].
*The [[Federal Republic of Yugoslavia]] was admitted on [[1 November]] [[2000]], replacing, instead of continuing, the membership of Yugoslavia in the UN held by the former [[Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia]], which officially remained a UN member until that day. The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia changed its name to [[Serbia and Montenegro]] on [[4 February]] [[2003]]. Since the declaration of independence by Montenegro on [[3 June]] [[2006]], the membership of Serbia and Montenegro in the UN has been continued by ''[[Serbia]]'' on the basis of Article 60 of the [[Constitutional Charter of Serbia and Montenegro]].
*''[[Montenegro]]'' was admitted on [[28 June]] [[2006]].
([[Kosovo]], which unilaterally declared independence from Serbia on [[17 February]] [[2008]], is not expected to be admitted to the UN in the near future due to Russia's and China's resistance to recognize Kosovo, as admission to the UN requires approval from the Security Council, and Russia and China, being two of the five permanent members of the Security Council, have veto power.<ref>{{cite news|last=Tzortzi|first=Ellie|title=Serbia pledges long-haul fight over Kosovo |publisher=Reuters |date=2008-02-17|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/europeCrisis/idUSL17718644|accessdate =2008-02-17}}</ref> As of June 2008, Kosovo is [[International reaction to the 2008 Kosovo declaration of independence#States which formally recognise Kosovo as independent|recognised by 43 UN member states]].)
==Seat of China==
{{main|China and the United Nations}}
'''[[China]]''' is one of the five permanent members of the [[United Nations Security Council]], and joined the UN as an original member on [[24 October]] [[1945]], represented by the government of the '''[[Republic of China]]''' (ROC). However, as a result of the [[Chinese Civil War]], the [[Kuomintang]]-led ROC government relocated to [[Taiwan]] in 1949, with the [[Communist Party of China|Communist Party]]-led government of the '''[[People's Republic of China]]''' (PRC), declared on [[1 October]] [[1949]], taking control of [[mainland China]]. Representatives of the ROC government continued to represent China at the UN, despite the small size of the ROC's jurisdiction of [[List of islands of the Republic of China|Taiwan and a number of smaller islands]] compared to the PRC's jurisdiction of mainland China, until [[25 October]] [[1971]], when [[United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758]] was passed, recognizing that "the representatives of the People's Republic of China are the only lawful representatives of China to the United Nations", and expelling "the representatives of [[Chiang Kai-shek]] from the place which they unlawfully occupy at the United Nations and in all the organizations related to it".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://daccessdds.un.org/doc/RESOLUTION/GEN/NR0/327/74/IMG/NR032774.pdf?OpenElement|title=United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758|publisher=United Nations}}</ref> This effectively transferred the seat of China in the UN (including its permanent seat on the Security Council) from the ROC to the PRC.
===Bids for membership by Taiwan===
{{seealso|Political status of Taiwan}}
With democratic reforms in Taiwan having changed the nature of the Republic of China (ROC) government, the ROC has repeatedly petitioned to rejoin the UN since 1991, as the representative of the people of Taiwan only, instead of all of China, using the designation "Republic of China on Taiwan", "Republic of China (Taiwan)", or just "Taiwan" (as proposed by the [[Democratic Progressive Party]]-led government). However, all attempts have been denied, either because the petition failed to get sufficient votes to get on the formal agenda, or because the application was rejected by the UN, due primarily to the opposition of the People's Republic of China. The ROC has also been denied participation in the UN as an "observer state", a position held by the [[Holy See]], or as a "non-member entity", a title currently granted to [[Palestine Liberation Organization|Palestine]] (see ''[[#Observers and non-members|Observers and non-members]]'').{{Fact|date=August 2007}}
In July 2007, the [[Chen Shui-bian]]-led ROC government submitted the ROC's 15th application to join the UN, and its first under the name "Taiwan", but its application was rejected by the [[United Nations Office of Legal Affairs]], citing General Assembly Resolution 2758.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.un.org/News/briefings/docs/2007/db070723.doc.htm|title=Transcript: Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General|publisher=United Nations|date=[[23 July]] [[2007]]}}</ref> Responding to the application, [[United Nations Secretary-General]] [[Ban Ki-Moon]] stated that: {{quote|With the understanding of the Governor and the Chairman, I will briefly mention that membership into the UN ultimately needs to be decided by the Member States of the United Nations. Membership is given to a sovereign country. The position of the United Nations is that the People's Republic of China is representing the whole of China as the sole and legitimate representative Government of China. The decision until now about the wish of the people in Taiwan to join the United Nations has been decided on that basis. The resolution (General Assembly Resolution 2758) that you just mentioned is clearly mentioning that the Government of China is the sole and legitimate Government and the position of the United Nations is that Taiwan is part of China.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.un.org/apps/sg/offthecuff.asp?nid=1053|title=San Jose, California, 27 July 2007 - Secretary-General's press encounter with California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger|publisher=United Nations|date=[[27 July]] [[2007]]}}</ref>}}
Responding to the UN's rejection of its application, the ROC government has stated that Taiwan is not now nor has it ever been under the jurisdiction of the PRC, and that since General Assembly Resolution 2758 did not clarify the issue of Taiwan's representation in the UN, it does not prevent Taiwan's participation in the UN as an independent sovereign nation. The ROC government, as well as several international newspapers such as the Wall Street Journal,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB118696621693795613.html|title=King of the U.N.|publisher=The Wall Street Journal|date=[[13 August]] [[2007]]}}</ref> also criticized Ban for returning the application without passing it to the Security Council or the General Assembly, contrary to UN's standard procedure (Provisional Rules of Procedure of the Security Council, Chapter X, Rule 59),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.un.org/Docs/sc/scrules.htm|title=Provisional Rules of Procedure of the Security Council|publisher=United Nations}}</ref> and for asserting that Taiwan is part of China.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cnsnews.com/news/viewstory.asp?Page=/ForeignBureaus/archive/200708/INT20070807a.html|title=UN Head Criticized for Saying Taiwan Is 'Part of China'|publisher=CNSNews.com|date=[[7 August]] [[2007]]}}</ref> On the other hand, the PRC government, which has stated that Taiwan is part of China, praised that UN's decision "was made in accordance with the UN Charter and Resolution 2758 of the UN General Assembly, and showed the UN and its member states' universal adherence to the [[One-China policy|one-China principle]]."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-07/24/content_6425429.htm|title=China praises UN's rejection of Taiwan's application for membership|publisher=Xinhua|date=[[24 July]] [[2007]]}}</ref> While the PRC government firmly opposes the application of any Taiwan authorities to join the UN or any of its agencies, such as the [[World Health Organization]], the ROC government continues to call on the international community to recognize the right of the island's 23 million citizens to participate in the meetings and activities of the UN and its affiliates. Currently, 22 UN member states and the Holy See maintain [[Foreign relations of the Republic of China#List of countries with diplomatic relations with the ROC|diplomatic relations with the ROC]].
==Observers and non-members==
In addition to the member states listed above, there is one [[United Nations General Assembly observers#Non-member states|non-member observer state]], the ''[[Holy See]]'' (which holds sovereignty over the state of [[Vatican City]]). It has been a permanent observer state since [[6 April]] [[1964]], and gained all the rights of full membership except voting on [[1 July]] [[2004]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://daccessdds.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N03/514/70/PDF/N0351470.pdf?OpenElement|title=United Nations General Assembly Resolution A/RES/58/314|publisher=United Nations}}</ref> Non-member observer states are recognized as sovereign entities, and are free to submit a petition to join as a full member at their discretion. For example, [[Switzerland]] was also a permanent observer state from 1948 to 2002, until becoming a full member on [[10 September]] [[2002]].
The [[Palestine Liberation Organization]] (PLO) was granted observer status on [[22 November]] [[1974]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://daccessdds.un.org/doc/RESOLUTION/GEN/NR0/738/39/IMG/NR073839.pdf?OpenElement|title=United Nations General Assembly Resolution 3237|publisher=United Nations}}</ref> After the proclaimed declaration of the [[State of Palestine]] by the PLO, its designation in the UN was changed to ''Palestine'' on [[15 December]] [[1988]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://daccessdds.un.org/doc/RESOLUTION/GEN/NR0/531/56/IMG/NR053156.pdf?OpenElement|title=United Nations General Assembly Resolution A/RES/43/177|publisher=United Nations}}</ref> Palestine's status in the UN is a "non-member entity".
The sovereignty status of [[Western Sahara]] is in dispute between [[Morocco]] and the [[Polisario Front]]. Most of the territory is administered by Morocco, the remainder (the [[Free Zone (Western Sahara region)|Free Zone]]) by the [[Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic]] (SADR), proclaimed by the Polisario Front. The SADR is neither a member nor an observer of the UN, and Western Sahara is listed by the UN as a "[[United Nations list of Non-Self-Governing Territories|non-self-governing territory]]".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.un.org/Depts/dpi/decolonization/trust3.htm|title=Non-Self-Governing Territories listed by General Assembly in 2002|publisher=United Nations}}</ref>
The [[Cook Islands]] and [[Niue]], which are both [[associated state]]s of [[New Zealand]], are neither members nor observers of the UN, but are members of UN agencies such as [[World Health Organization|WHO]] and [[UNESCO]], and signatories of international treaties such as the [[United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea]]. While self-governing in their domestic affairs, most of their foreign affairs are represented by New Zealand on their behalf. They are recognized by the UN as "non-member states".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.un.org/Depts/Cartographic/map/profile/world00.pdf|title=Map of the World Today|publisher=United Nations}}</ref>
==Notes==
<div class="references-small" style="-moz-column-count:2; column-count:2;">
<references /></div>
==See also==
*[[Enlargement of the United Nations]]
*[[League of Nations members]]
*[[List of ambassadors to the United Nations|List of Permanent Representatives to the United Nations]] contains a list of all ambassadors from these member states.
==External links==
*[http://www.un.org/members/list.shtml Official list of member states]
*[http://www.un.org/members/growth.shtml Growth in United Nations membership, 1945-present]
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