Member states of the United Nations - wikipedia Member states of the United Nations For League of Nations, see member states of the League of Nations. Map of the United Nations ( UN ) member states as of August 2017, with their territories ( including dependent territories ) recognized by the UN in green. Flags of the member states of the United Nations, in front of the Palace of Nations ( Geneva, Switzerland ). Since 2015, the flags of the two non-member observer states are raised alongside those of the 193 member states. The United Nations member states are the 193 sovereign states that are members of the United Nations ( UN ) and have equal representation in the UN General Assembly. The UN is the world 's largest intergovernmental organization. The criteria for admission of new members to the UN are set out in Chapter II, Article 4 of the UN Charter : Membership in the United Nations is open to all peace - loving states which accept the obligations contained in the present Charter and, in the judgement 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 Security Council. A recommendation for admission from the Security Council requires affirmative votes from at least nine of the council 's fifteen members, with none of the five permanent members using their veto power. The Security Council 's recommendation must then be approved in the General Assembly by a two - thirds majority vote. In principle, only sovereign states can become UN members, and currently all UN members are sovereign states. Although five members were not sovereign when they joined the UN, all subsequently became fully independent between 1946 and 1991. Because a state can only be admitted to membership in the UN by the approval of the Security Council and the General Assembly, a number of states that are considered sovereign according to the Montevideo Convention are not members of the UN. This is because the UN does not consider them to possess sovereignty, mainly due to the lack of international recognition or due to opposition from one of the permanent members. In addition to the member states, the UN also invites non-member states to become observers at the UN General Assembly ( currently two : the Holy See and Palestine ), allowing them to participate and speak in General Assembly meetings, but not vote. Observers are generally intergovernmental organizations and international organizations and entities whose statehood or sovereignty is not precisely defined. Contents 1 Original members 2 Current members 3 Former members 3.1 Republic of China 3.1. 1 Bids for readmission as the representative of Taiwan 3.2 Czechoslovakia 3.3 German Democratic Republic 3.4 Federation of Malaya 3.5 Tanganyika and Zanzibar 3.6 Union of Soviet Socialist Republics 3.7 United Arab Republic 3.8 Yemen and Democratic Yemen 3.9 Yugoslavia 4 Suspension, expulsion, and withdrawal of members 4.1 Withdrawal of Indonesia ( 1965 -- 1966 ) 5 Observers and non-members 6 See also 7 Notes 8 References 9 External links Original members The United Nations in 1945, after World War II. In light blue, the founding members. In dark blue, protectorates and territories of the founding members. Map of the current UN member states by their dates of admission. 1945 ( original members ) 1946 -- 1959 1960 -- 1989 1990 -- present non-member observer states Further information : History of the United Nations The UN officially came into existence on 24 October 1945, after ratification of the United Nations Charter by the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council ( the Republic of China, France, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, and the United States ) and a majority of the other signatories. A total of 51 original members ( or founding members ) joined that year ; 50 of them signed the Charter at the United Nations Conference on International Organization in San Francisco on 26 June 1945, while Poland, which was not represented at the conference, signed it on 15 October 1945. The original members of the United Nations were : France, the Republic of China, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, the United States, Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Byelorussia, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, India, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Liberia, Luxembourg, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, the Philippines, Poland, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Syria, Turkey, Ukraine, Uruguay, Venezuela and Yugoslavia. Among the original members, 49 are either still UN members or had their memberships in the UN continued by a successor state ( see table below ) ; for example, the membership of the Soviet Union was continued by the Russian Federation after its dissolution ( see the section Former members : Union of Soviet Socialist Republics ). The other two original members, Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia ( i.e., the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia ), had been dissolved and their memberships in the UN not continued from 1992 by any one successor state ( see the sections Former members : Czechoslovakia and Former members : Yugoslavia ). At the time of UN 's founding, the seat of China in the UN was held by the Republic of China, but as a result of United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 in 1971, it is now held by the People 's Republic of China ( see the section Former members : Republic of China ( Taiwan ) ). A number of the original members were not sovereign when they joined the UN, and only gained full independence later : Belarus ( then the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic ) and Ukraine ( then the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic ) were both constituent republics of the Soviet Union, until gaining full independence in 1991. India ( whose territory at that time, before the Partition of India, also included the present - day territories of Pakistan and Bangladesh ) was under British colonial rule, until gaining full independence in 1947. The Philippines ( then the Philippine Commonwealth ) was a commonwealth with the United States, until gaining full independence in 1946. New Zealand, while de facto sovereign at that time, `` only gained full capacity to enter into relations with other states in 1947 when it passed the Statute of Westminster Adoption Act. This occurred 16 years after the British Parliament passed the Statute of Westminster Act in 1931 that recognised New Zealand 's autonomy. If judged by the Montevideo Convention criteria, New Zealand did not achieve full de jure statehood until 1947. '' Current members Wikisource has original text related to this article : United Nations Member States Further information : List of sovereign states The current members and their dates of admission are listed below with their official designations used by the United Nations. The alphabetical order by the member states ' official designations is used to determine the seating arrangement of the General Assembly sessions, where a draw is held each year to select a member state as the starting point. Several members use their full official names in their official designations and thus are sorted out of order from their common names : the Democratic People 's Republic of Korea, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Republic of Korea, the Republic of Moldova, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia ( a provisional reference used for all purposes within the UN, and listed under T ), and the United Republic of Tanzania. The member states can be sorted by their official designations and dates of admission by clicking on the buttons in the header of the columns. See related sections on former members by clicking on the links in the column See also. Original members are listed with blue background. Flag Member state Date of admission See also Afghanistan 19 November 1946 United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan Albania 14 December 1955 Algeria 8 October 1962 Andorra 28 July 1993 Angola 1 December 1976 Antigua and Barbuda 11 November 1981 Argentina 24 October 1945 Armenia 2 March 1992 Former member : Union of Soviet Socialist Republics Australia 1 November 1945 Australia and the United Nations Austria 14 December 1955 Azerbaijan 2 March 1992 Former member : Union of Soviet Socialist Republics Bahamas 18 September 1973 Bahrain 21 September 1971 Bangladesh 17 September 1974 Barbados 9 December 1966 Belarus 24 October 1945 Former member : Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic Belgium 27 December 1945 Belize 25 September 1981 Benin 20 September 1960 Bhutan 21 September 1971 Plurinational State of Bolivia 14 November 1945 Bosnia and Herzegovina 22 May 1992 Former member : Yugoslavia Botswana 17 October 1966 Brazil 24 October 1945 Brazil and the United Nations Brunei Darussalam 21 September 1984 Bulgaria 14 December 1955 Burkina Faso 20 September 1960 Burundi 18 September 1962 Cabo Verde 16 September 1975 Cambodia 14 December 1955 Cameroon 20 September 1960 Canada 9 November 1945 Canada and the United Nations Central African Republic 20 September 1960 Chad 20 September 1960 Chile 24 October 1945 China 24 October 1945 Former member : Republic of China and China and the United Nations Colombia 5 November 1945 Comoros 12 November 1975 Congo 20 September 1960 Costa Rica 2 November 1945 Côte d'Ivoire 20 September 1960 Croatia 22 May 1992 Former member : Yugoslavia Cuba 24 October 1945 Cyprus 20 September 1960 Czech Republic 19 January 1993 Former member : Czechoslovakia Democratic People 's Republic of Korea 17 September 1991 Korea and the United Nations Democratic Republic of the Congo 20 September 1960 Denmark 24 October 1945 Djibouti 20 September 1977 Dominica 18 December 1978 Dominican Republic 24 October 1945 Ecuador 21 December 1945 Egypt 24 October 1945 Former member : United Arab Republic El Salvador 24 October 1945 Equatorial Guinea 12 November 1968 Eritrea 28 May 1993 Estonia 17 September 1991 Former member : Union of Soviet Socialist Republics Eswatini ( the Kingdom of ) 24 September 1968 Ethiopia 13 November 1945 Fiji 13 October 1970 Fiji and the United Nations Finland 14 December 1955 France 24 October 1945 France and the United Nations Gabon 20 September 1960 Republic of The Gambia 21 September 1965 Georgia 31 July 1992 Former member : Union of Soviet Socialist Republics Germany 18 September 1973 Former member : German Democratic Republic and Germany and the United Nations Ghana 8 March 1957 Greece 25 October 1945 Grenada 17 September 1974 Guatemala 21 November 1945 Guinea 12 December 1958 Guinea - Bissau 17 September 1974 Guyana 20 September 1966 Haiti 24 October 1945 Honduras 17 December 1945 Hungary 14 December 1955 Iceland 19 November 1946 India 30 October 1945 India and the United Nations Indonesia 28 September 1950 Withdrawal of Indonesia ( 1965 -- 1966 ) and Indonesia and the United Nations Islamic Republic of Iran 24 October 1945 Iraq 21 December 1945 Ireland 14 December 1955 Israel 11 May 1949 Israel, Palestine, and the United Nations Italy 14 December 1955 Jamaica 18 September 1962 Japan 18 December 1956 Japan and the United Nations Jordan 14 December 1955 Kazakhstan 2 March 1992 Former member : Union of Soviet Socialist Republics Kenya 16 December 1963 Kiribati 14 September 1999 Kuwait 14 May 1963 Kyrgyzstan 2 March 1992 Former member : Union of Soviet Socialist Republics Lao People 's Democratic Republic 14 December 1955 Latvia 17 September 1991 Former member : Union of Soviet Socialist Republics Lebanon 24 October 1945 Lesotho 17 October 1966 Liberia 2 November 1945 Libya 14 December 1955 Liechtenstein 18 September 1990 Lithuania 17 September 1991 Former member : Union of Soviet Socialist Republics Luxembourg 24 October 1945 Luxembourg and the United Nations Madagascar 20 September 1960 Malawi 1 December 1964 Malaysia 17 September 1957 Former member : Federation of Malaya and Malaysia and the United Nations Maldives 21 September 1965 Mali 28 September 1960 Malta 1 December 1964 Marshall Islands 17 September 1991 Marshall Islands and the United Nations Mauritania 27 October 1961 Mauritius 24 April 1968 Mexico 7 November 1945 Mexico and the United Nations Federated States of Micronesia 17 September 1991 Federated States of Micronesia and the United Nations Monaco 28 May 1993 Mongolia 27 October 1961 Montenegro 28 June 2006 Former member : Yugoslavia Morocco 12 November 1956 Mozambique 16 September 1975 Myanmar 19 April 1948 Namibia 23 April 1990 Nauru 14 September 1999 Nepal 14 December 1955 Netherlands 10 December 1945 New Zealand 24 October 1945 New Zealand and the United Nations Nicaragua 24 October 1945 Niger 20 September 1960 Nigeria 7 October 1960 Norway 27 November 1945 Oman 7 October 1971 Pakistan 30 September 1947 Pakistan and the United Nations Palau 15 December 1994 Panama 13 November 1945 Papua New Guinea 10 October 1975 Paraguay 24 October 1945 Peru 31 October 1945 Philippines 24 October 1945 Philippines and the United Nations Poland 24 October 1945 Portugal 14 December 1955 Qatar 21 September 1971 Republic of Korea 17 September 1991 Korea and the United Nations Republic of Moldova 2 March 1992 Former member : Union of Soviet Socialist Republics Romania 14 December 1955 Russian Federation 24 October 1945 Former member : Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and Soviet Union and the United Nations and Russia and the United Nations Rwanda 18 September 1962 Saint Kitts and Nevis 23 September 1983 Saint Lucia 18 September 1979 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 16 September 1980 Samoa 15 December 1976 San Marino 2 March 1992 São Tomé and Príncipe 16 September 1975 Saudi Arabia 24 October 1945 Senegal 28 September 1960 Serbia 1 November 2000 Former member : Yugoslavia, Serbia and Montenegro and Serbia and the United Nations Seychelles 21 September 1976 Sierra Leone 27 September 1961 Singapore 21 September 1965 Former member : Malaysia and Singapore and the United Nations Slovakia 19 January 1993 Former member : Czechoslovakia Slovenia 22 May 1992 Former member : Yugoslavia Solomon Islands 19 September 1978 Somalia 20 September 1960 South Africa 7 November 1945 South Sudan 14 July 2011 Spain 14 December 1955 Sri Lanka 14 December 1955 Sudan 12 November 1956 Suriname 4 December 1975 Sweden 19 November 1946 Switzerland 10 September 2002 Syrian Arab Republic 24 October 1945 Former member : United Arab Republic Tajikistan 2 March 1992 Former member : Union of Soviet Socialist Republics Thailand 16 December 1946 The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 8 April 1993 Former member : Yugoslavia Timor - Leste 27 September 2002 Togo 20 September 1960 Tonga 14 September 1999 Trinidad and Tobago 18 September 1962 Trinidad and Tobago and the United Nations Tunisia 12 November 1956 Turkey 24 October 1945 Turkmenistan 2 March 1992 Former member : Union of Soviet Socialist Republics Tuvalu 5 September 2000 Tuvalu and the United Nations Uganda 25 October 1962 Ukraine 24 October 1945 Former member : Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic United Arab Emirates 9 December 1971 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 24 October 1945 United Kingdom and the United Nations United Republic of Tanzania 14 December 1961 Former member : Tanganyika and Zanzibar United States of America 24 October 1945 United States and the United Nations Uruguay 18 December 1945 Uzbekistan 2 March 1992 Former member : Union of Soviet Socialist Republics Vanuatu 15 September 1981 Vanuatu and the United Nations Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela 15 November 1945 Vietnam 20 September 1977 Yemen 30 September 1947 Former member : Yemen and Democratic Yemen Zambia 1 December 1964 Zimbabwe 25 August 1980 Former members Republic of China Further information : China and the United Nations Areas controlled by the People 's Republic of China and the Republic of China The Republic of China ( ROC ) joined the UN as an original member on 24 October 1945, and as set out by the United Nations Charter, Chapter V, Article 23, became one of the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council. In 1949, as a result of the Chinese Civil War, the Kuomintang - led ROC government lost effective control of mainland China and relocated to the island of Taiwan, and the Communist Party - led government of the People 's Republic of China ( PRC ), declared on 1 October 1949, took control of mainland China. The UN was notified on 18 November 1949 of the formation of the Central People 's Government of the People 's Republic of China ; however, the Government of the Republic of China continued to represent China at the UN, despite the small size of the ROC 's jurisdiction of Taiwan and a number of smaller islands compared to the PRC 's jurisdiction of mainland China. As both governments claimed to be the sole legitimate representative of China, proposals to effect a change in the representation of China in the UN were discussed but rejected for the next two decades, as the ROC was still recognized as the sole legitimate representative of China by a majority of UN members. Both sides rejected compromise proposals to allow both states to participate in the UN, based on the One - China policy. By the 1970s, a shift had occurred in international diplomatic circles and the PRC had gained the upper hand in international diplomatic relations and recognition count. On 25 October 1971, the 21st time the United Nations General Assembly debated on the PRC 's admission into the UN, United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 was adopted, by which it recognized that `` the representatives of the Government of the People 's Republic of China are the only lawful representatives of China to the United Nations and that the People 's Republic of China is one of the five permanent members of the Security Council, '' and decided `` to restore all its rights to the People 's Republic of China and to recognize the representatives of its Government as the only legitimate representatives of China to the United Nations, and to expel forthwith 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. '' This effectively transferred the seat of China in the UN, including its permanent seat on the Security Council, from the ROC to the PRC, and expelled the ROC from the UN. From the United Nations ' perspective the `` Republic of China '' is not a former member. No UN member was expelled in 1971. Rather, the credentials of one Chinese delegation ( from Taipei ) were rejected and the credentials of another Chinese delegation ( from Beijing ) were accepted. In addition to losing its seat in the UN, the UN Secretary - General concluded from the resolution that the General Assembly considered Taiwan to be a province of China. Consequently, the Secretary - General decided that it was not permitted for the ROC to become a party to treaties deposited with it. Bids for readmission as the representative of Taiwan Further information : Political status of Taiwan ; Four - Stage Theory of the Republic of China ; and Taiwanese United Nations membership referendums, 2008 The presidency of Ma Ying - jeou saw the first participation of the Republic of China on a United Nations body in almost 40 years. In 1993 the ROC began campaigning to rejoin the UN separately from the People 's Republic of China. A number of options were considered, including seeking membership in the specialized agencies, applying for observer status, applying for full membership, or having resolution 2758 revoked to reclaim the seat of China in the UN. Every year from 1993 -- 2006, UN member states submitted a memorandum to the UN Secretary - General requesting that the UN General Assembly consider allowing the ROC to resume participating in the United Nations. This approach was chosen, rather than a formal application for membership, because it could be enacted by the General Assembly, while a membership application would need Security Council approval, where the PRC held a veto. Early proposals recommended admitting the ROC with parallel representation over China, along with the People 's Republic of China, pending eventual reunification, citing examples of other divided countries which had become separate UN member states, such as East and West Germany and North and South Korea. Later proposals emphasized that the ROC was a separate state, over which the PRC had no effective sovereignty. These proposed resolutions referred to the ROC under a variety of names : `` Republic of China in Taiwan '' ( 1993 -- 94 ), `` Republic of China on Taiwan '' ( 1995 -- 97, 1999 -- 2002 ), `` Republic of China '' ( 1998 ), `` Republic of China ( Taiwan ) '' ( 2003 ) and `` Taiwan '' ( 2004 -- 06 ). However, all fourteen attempts were unsuccessful as the General Assembly 's General Committee declined to put the issue on the Assembly 's agenda for debate, under strong opposition from the PRC. While all these proposals were vague, requesting the ROC be allowed to participate in UN activities without specifying any legal mechanism, in 2007 the ROC submitted a formal application under the name `` Taiwan '' for full membership in the UN. However, the application was rejected by the United Nations Office of Legal Affairs citing General Assembly Resolution 2758, without being forwarded to the Security Council. Secretary - General of the United Nations Ban Ki - moon stated that : 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. 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 also criticized Ban for asserting that Taiwan is part of China and 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 ). On the other hand, the PRC government, which has stated that Taiwan is part of China and firmly opposes the application of any Taiwan authorities to join the UN either as a member or an observer, 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 principle ''. A group of UN member states put forward a draft resolution for that fall 's UN General Assembly calling on the Security Council to consider the application. The following year two referendums in Taiwan on the government 's attempts to regain participation at the UN did not pass due to low turnout. That fall the ROC took a new approach, with its allies submitting a resolution requesting that the `` Republic of China ( Taiwan ) '' be allowed to have `` meaningful participation '' in the UN specialized agencies. Again the issue was not put on the Assembly 's agenda. In 2009, the ROC chose not to bring the issue of its participation in the UN up for debate at the General Assembly for the first time since it began the campaign in 1993. In May 2009, the Department of Health of the Republic of China was invited by the World Health Organization to attend the 62nd World Health Assembly as an observer under the name `` Chinese Taipei ''. This was the ROC 's first participation in an event organized by a UN-affiliated agency since 1971, as a result of the improved cross-strait relations since Ma Ying - jeou became the President of the Republic of China a year before. The Republic of China is officially recognized by 16 UN member states and the Holy See. It maintains unofficial diplomatic relations with around 100 nations, including the United States and Japan. Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakia joined the UN as an original member on 24 October 1945, with its name changed to the Czech and Slovak Federative Republic on 20 April 1990. Upon the imminent dissolution of Czechoslovakia, in a letter dated 10 December 1992, its Permanent Representative informed the United Nations Secretary - General that the Czech and Slovak Federative Republic would cease to exist on 31 December 1992 and that the Czech Republic and Slovakia, as successor states, would apply for membership in the UN. Neither state sought sole successor state status. Both states were admitted to the UN on 19 January 1993. German Democratic Republic Both the Federal Republic of Germany ( West Germany ) and the German Democratic Republic ( East Germany ) were admitted to the UN on 18 September 1973. Through the accession of the East German federal states to the Federal Republic of Germany, effective from 3 October 1990, the territory of the German Democratic Republic became part of the Federal Republic of Germany, today simply known as Germany. Consequently, the Federal Republic of Germany continued being a member of the UN while the German Democratic Republic ceased to exist. Federation of Malaya The Federation of Malaya joined the United Nations on 17 September 1957. On 16 September 1963, its name was changed to Malaysia, following the formation of Malaysia from Singapore, North Borneo ( now Sabah ), Sarawak and the Federation of Malaya. Singapore became an independent State on 9 August 1965 and a Member of the United Nations on 21 September 1965. Tanganyika and Zanzibar Tanganyika was admitted to the UN on 14 December 1961, and Zanzibar was admitted to the UN on 16 December 1963. Following the ratification on 26 April 1964 of the Articles of Union between Tanganyika and Zanzibar, the two states merged to form the single member `` United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar '', with its name changed to the United Republic of Tanzania on 1 November 1964. Union of Soviet Socialist republics Further information : Soviet Union and the United Nations The USSR as its borders and republics were configured upon entry to the UN. Border changes and the dissolution of various republics happened over the course of its membership. The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics ( USSR ) joined the UN as an original member on 24 October 1945, and as set out by the United Nations Charter, Chapter V, Article 23, became one of the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council. Upon the imminent dissolution of the USSR, in a letter dated 24 December 1991, Boris Yeltsin, the President of the Russian Federation, informed the United Nations Secretary - General that the membership of the USSR in the Security Council and all other UN organs was being continued by the Russian Federation with the support of the 11 member countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States. The other fourteen independent states established from the former Soviet Republics were all admitted to the UN : The Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic and the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic joined the UN on 24 October 1945 together with the USSR. After declaring independence, the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic changed its name to Ukraine on 24 August 1991, and on 19 September 1991, the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic informed the UN that it had changed its name to Belarus. Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania were admitted to the UN on 17 September 1991, after regaining independence before the dissolution of the USSR. Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, the Republic of Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan were admitted to the UN on 2 March 1992. Georgia was admitted to the UN on 31 July 1992. United Arab Republic Egyptian president Gamal Abdel Nasser ( seated right ) and Syrian president Shukri al - Quwatli sign the accord to form the United Arab Republic in 1958. The short - lived political union briefly represented both states and was used as the name of Egypt following Syria 's withdrawal in 1961. Both Egypt and Syria joined the UN as original members on 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 UN. Egypt continued as a UN member under the name of the United Arab Republic, until it reverted to its original name on 2 September 1971. Syria changed its name to the Syrian Arab Republic on 14 September 1971. Yemen and Democratic Yemen Yemen ( i.e., North Yemen ) was admitted to the UN on 30 September 1947 ; Southern Yemen ( i.e., South Yemen ) was admitted to the UN on 14 December 1967, with its name changed to the People 's Democratic Republic of Yemen on 30 November 1970, and was later referred to as Democratic Yemen. On 22 May 1990, the two states merged to form the Republic of Yemen, which continued as a single member under the name Yemen. Yugoslavia Main article : Yugoslavia and the United Nations The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia disintegrated into several states starting in the early 1990s. By 2006, six UN member states existed in its former territory. Kosovo declared independence in 2008. The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, referred to as Yugoslavia, joined the UN as an original member on 24 October 1945. By 1992, it had been effectively dissolved into five independent states, which were all subsequently admitted to the UN : Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, and Slovenia were admitted to the UN on 22 May 1992. Macedonia was admitted to the UN on 8 April 1993, being provisionally referred to for all purposes within the UN as `` The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia '' pending settlement of the difference that had arisen over its name. The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia ( name later changed to Serbia and Montenegro ) was admitted to the UN on 1 November 2000. Due to the dispute over its legal successor states, the member state `` Yugoslavia '', referring to the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, remained on the official roster of UN members for many years after its effective dissolution. Following the admission of all five states as new UN members, `` Yugoslavia '' was removed from the official roster of UN members. The government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, established on 28 April 1992 by the remaining Yugoslav republics of Montenegro and Serbia, claimed itself as the legal successor state of the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia ; however, on 30 May 1992, United Nations Security Council Resolution 757 was adopted, by which it imposed international sanctions on the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia due to its role in the Yugoslav Wars, and noted that `` the claim by the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia ( Serbia and Montenegro ) to continue automatically the membership of the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in the United Nations has not been generally accepted, '' and on 22 September 1992, United Nations General Assembly Resolution A / RES / 47 / 1 was adopted, by which it considered that `` the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia ( Serbia and Montenegro ) can not continue automatically the membership of the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in the United Nations, '' and therefore decided 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 ''. The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia refused to comply with the resolution for many years, but following the ousting of President Slobodan Milošević from office, it applied for membership, and was admitted to the UN on 1 November 2000. On 4 February 2003, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia had its official name changed to Serbia and Montenegro, following the adoption and promulgation of the Constitutional Charter of Serbia and Montenegro by the Assembly of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. On the basis of a referendum held on 21 May 2006, Montenegro declared independence from Serbia and Montenegro on 3 June 2006. In a letter dated on the same day, the President of Serbia informed the United Nations Secretary - General that the membership of Serbia and Montenegro in the UN was being continued by Serbia, following Montenegro 's declaration of independence, in accordance with the Constitutional Charter of Serbia and Montenegro. Montenegro was admitted to the UN on 28 June 2006. In the aftermath of the Kosovo War, the territory of Kosovo, then an autonomous province of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, was put under the interim administration of the United Nations Mission in Kosovo on 10 June 1999. On 17 February 2008 it declared independence, but this has not been recognised by Serbia. The Republic of Kosovo is not a member of the UN, but is a member of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group, both specialized agencies in the United Nations System. The Republic of Kosovo is recognised by 113 UN member states, including three of the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council ( France, the United Kingdom, and the United States ), while the other two -- China and Russia -- do not recognise Kosovo. On 22 July 2010, the International Court of Justice, the primary judicial organ of the UN, issued an advisory opinion, ruling that Kosovo 's declaration of independence was not in violation of international law. Suspension, expulsion, and withdrawal of members See also : Withdrawal from the United Nations A member state may be suspended or expelled from the UN, according to the United Nations Charter. From Chapter II, Article 5 : A Member of the United Nations against which preventive or enforcement action has been taken by the Security Council may be suspended from the exercise of the rights and privileges of membership by the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the Security Council. The exercise of these rights and privileges may be restored by the Security Council. From Article 6 : A Member of the United Nations which has persistently violated the Principles contained in the present Charter may be expelled from the Organization by the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the Security Council. Since its inception, no member state has been suspended or expelled from the UN under Articles 5 and 6. However, in a few cases, states were suspended or expelled from participating in UN activities by means other than Articles 5 and 6 : On 25 October 1971, United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 was adopted, which recognized the People 's Republic of China instead of the Republic of China ( since 1949 controlling only Taiwan ) as the legitimate representative of China in the UN and effectively expelled the Republic of China from the UN in 1971 ( see the section Former members : Republic of China ). This act did not constitute as the expulsion of a member state under Article 6, as this would have required Security Council approval and been subjected to vetoes by its permanent members, which included the Republic of China itself and the United States, which at that time still recognized the Republic of China. In October 1974, the Security Council considered a draft resolution that would have recommended that the General Assembly immediately expel South Africa from the UN, in compliance with Article 6 of the United Nations Charter, due to its apartheid policies. However, the resolution was not adopted because of vetoes by three permanent members of the Security Council : France, the United Kingdom, and the United States. In response, the General Assembly decided to suspend South Africa from participation in the work of the Assembly 's 29th session on 12 November 1974 ; however, South Africa was not formally suspended under Article 5. The suspension lasted until the General Assembly welcomed South Africa back to full participation in the UN on 23 June 1994, following its successful democratic elections earlier that year. On 28 April 1992, the new Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was established, by the remaining republics of Serbia and Montenegro of the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. On 22 September 1992, United Nations General Assembly Resolution A / RES / 47 / 1 was adopted, by which it considered that `` the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia ( Serbia and Montenegro ) can not continue automatically the membership of the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in the United Nations, '' and therefore decided 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 ''. It did not apply for membership until Slobodan Milošević was ousted from the presidency and was admitted on 1 November 2000 ( see the section Former members : Yugoslavia ). Withdrawal of Indonesia ( 1965 -- 1966 ) Main article : CONEFO Indonesian president Sukarno 's decision to withdraw from the United Nations in 1965 is the only instance of a withdrawal of membership in UN history. Indonesia rejoined the UN a year later. Since the inception of the UN, only one member state ( excluding those that dissolved or merged with other member states ) has unilaterally withdrawn from the UN. During the Indonesia -- Malaysia confrontation, and in response to the election of Malaysia as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, in a letter dated 20 January 1965, Indonesia informed the United Nations Secretary - General that it had decided `` at this stage and under the present circumstances '' to withdraw from the UN. However, following the overthrow of President Sukarno, in a telegram dated 19 September 1966, Indonesia notified the Secretary - General of its decision `` to resume full cooperation with the United Nations and to resume participation in its activities starting with the twenty - first session of the General Assembly ''. On 28 September 1966, the United Nations General Assembly took note of the decision of the Government of Indonesia and the President invited the representatives of that country to take their seats in the Assembly. Unlike suspension and expulsion, no express provision is made in the United Nations Charter of whether or how a member can legally withdraw from the UN ( largely to prevent the threat of withdrawal from being used as a form of political blackmail, or to evade obligations under the Charter, similar to withdrawals that weakened the UN 's predecessor, the League of Nations ), or on whether a request for readmission by a withdrawn member should be treated the same as an application for membership, i.e., requiring Security Council as well as General Assembly approval. Indonesia 's return to the UN would suggest that this is not required ; however, scholars have argued that the course of action taken by the General Assembly was not in accordance with the Charter from a legal point of view. Observers and non-members Main article : United Nations General Assembly observers See also : Holy See and the United Nations, Palestine 194, and European Union and the United Nations Switzerland has been neutral in international conflicts since the early 19th century and joined the UN as a full member only in 2002. Despite this, the Palace of Nations in Geneva has hosted the United Nations Office at Geneva since 1946 and also previously served as the headquarters of the League of Nations. In addition to the member states, there are two non-member permanent observer states : the Holy See and the State of Palestine. The Holy See holds sovereignty over the state of Vatican City and maintains diplomatic relations with 180 other states. It has been an observer state since 6 April 1964, and gained all the rights of full membership except voting on 1 July 2004. The Palestine Liberation Organization was granted observer status as a `` non-member entity '' on 22 November 1974. Acknowledging the proclamation of the State of Palestine by the Palestine National Council on 15 November 1988, the United Nations General Assembly decided that, effective as of 15 December 1988, the designation `` Palestine '' should be used in place of the designation `` Palestine Liberation Organization '' in the United Nations System. On 23 September 2011, Palestinian National Authority President Mahmoud Abbas submitted the application for UN membership for the State of Palestine to United Nations Secretary - General Ban Ki - moon ; the application has not been voted on by the UN Security Council. On 31 October 2011, the General Assembly of UNESCO voted to admit Palestine as a member, becoming the first UN agency to admit Palestine as a full member. The State of Palestine was recognized as a `` non-member state '' on 29 November 2012, when the UN General Assembly passed United Nations General Assembly resolution 67 / 19 by a vote of 138 to 9, with 41 abstentions. The change in status was described by The Independent as `` de facto recognition of the sovereign state of Palestine ''. On 17 December 2012, UN Chief of Protocol Yeocheol Yoon decided that `` the designation of ' State of Palestine ' shall be used by the Secretariat in all official United Nations documents ''. The Sovereign Military Order of Malta, while not a state, has observer status at the UN and maintains diplomatic relations with 107 countries. A number of states were also granted observer status before being admitted to the UN as full members. The most recent case of an observer state becoming a member state was Switzerland, which was admitted in 2002. A European Union institution, the European Commission, was granted observer status at the UNGA through Resolution 3208 in 1974. The Treaty of Lisbon in 2009 resulted in the delegates being accredited directly to the EU. It was accorded full rights in the General Assembly, bar the right to vote and put forward candidates, via UNGA Resolution A / RES / 65 / 276 on 10 May 2011. It is the only non-state party to over 50 multilateral conventions, and has participated as a full member in every way except for having a vote in a number of UN conferences. The sovereignty status of Western Sahara is in dispute between Morocco and the Polisario Front. Most of the territory is controlled by Morocco, the remainder ( the Free Zone ) by the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, proclaimed by the Polisario Front. Western Sahara is listed by the UN as a `` non-self - governing territory ''. The Cook Islands and Niue, which are both associated states of New Zealand, are not members of the UN, but are members of specialized agencies of the UN such as WHO and UNESCO, and have had their `` full treaty - making capacity '' recognized by United Nations Secretariat in 1992 and 1994 respectively. They have since become parties to a number of international treaties which the UN Secretariat acts as a depositary for, such as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and are treated as non-member states. Both the Cook Islands and Niue have expressed a desire to become a UN member state, but New Zealand has said that they would not support the application without a change in their constitutional relationship, in particular their right to New Zealand citizenship. Per United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 and the ongoing dialogue on the political status of Kosovo, the Republic of Kosovo is not a member of the United Nations, despite having relations with a majority of member states. It is a member of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank and has applied for UNESCO membership but was narrowly rejected in 2015. See also Book : Member states of the United Nations United Nations portal Enlargement of the United Nations Member states of the League of Nations List of current Permanent Representatives to the United Nations Palestine 194 United Nations list of Non-Self - Governing Territories Notes Jump up ^ Benin : Name was changed from Dahomey on 1 December 1975. Jump up ^ Plurinational State of Bolivia : Previously referred to as Bolivia. Jump up ^ Burkina Faso : Name was changed from Upper Volta on 6 August 1984. Jump up ^ Cabo Verde : Previously referred to as Cape Verde. On 24 October 2013, Cabo Verde requested that its name no longer be translated into different languages. Jump up ^ Cambodia : Name was changed to the Khmer Republic on 7 October 1970, and back to Cambodia on 30 April 1975. Name was changed again to Democratic Kampuchea on 6 April 1976, and back to Cambodia on 3 February 1990. Jump up ^ Cameroon : Previously referred to as Cameroun ( before merging with Southern Cameroons in 1961 ). By a letter of 4 January 1974, the Secretary - General was informed that Cameroon had changed its name to the United Republic of Cameroon. Name was changed back to Cameroon on 4 February 1984. Jump up ^ Central African Republic : By a letter of 20 December 1976, the Central African Republic advised that it had changed its name to the Central African Empire. Name was changed back to the Central African Republic on 20 September 1979. Jump up ^ Congo : Previously referred to as Congo ( Brazzaville ) ( to differentiate it from Congo ( Leopoldville ) ) and the People 's Republic of the Congo. Name was changed to Congo on 15 November 1971 ( after the Democratic Republic of the Congo changed its name to Zaire ). Also referred to as Congo ( Republic of the ). Jump up ^ Côte d'Ivoire : Previously referred to as Ivory Coast. On 6 November 1985, Côte d'Ivoire requested that its name no longer be translated into different languages ; this became fully effective on 1 January 1986. Jump up ^ Democratic Republic of the Congo : Previously referred to as Congo ( Leopoldville ) ( to differentiate it from Congo ( Brazzaville ) ). Name was changed from the Democratic Republic of the Congo to Zaire on 27 October 1971, and back to the Democratic Republic of the Congo on 17 May 1997. Jump up ^ Eswatini : Name was changed from Swaziland on 19 April 2018. Jump up ^ Republic of The Gambia : Previously referred to as The Gambia. Jump up ^ Withdrew from the UN on 20 January 1965. It rejoined on 28 September 1966. Jump up ^ Islamic Republic of Iran : Previously referred to as Iran. By a communication of 5 March 1981, Iran informed the Secretary - General that it should be referred to by its complete name of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Jump up ^ Kazakhstan : Spelling was changed from Kazakstan on 20 June 1997. Jump up ^ Lao People 's Democratic Republic : Name was changed from Laos on 2 December 1975. Jump up ^ Libya : Formerly recognised as the Libyan Arab Republic from 1969 after originally being admitted as Libya. By notes verbales of 1 and 21 April 1977, the Libyan Arab Republic advised that it had changed its name to the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya. On 16 September 2011, the UN General Assembly awarded the UN seat to the National Transitional Council, thereby restoring the original name of Libya. Jump up ^ Madagascar : Previously referred to as the Malagasy Republic. Jump up ^ Maldives : Previously referred to as the Maldive Islands. Jump up ^ Myanmar : Name was changed from Burma on 18 June 1989. Jump up ^ Philippines : Previously referred to as the Philippine Commonwealth ( before becoming a republic in 1946 ) and as the Philippine Republic. Jump up ^ Republic of Moldova : Previously referred to as Moldova. Jump up ^ Saint Kitts and Nevis : Name was changed officially from Saint Christopher and Nevis on 26 November 1986 ; the UN, however, continued to use the former name throughout the year. Jump up ^ Sao Tome and Principe : The official UN designation lacks diacritics ; however, the name is constitutionally defined as São Tomé and Príncipe, with diacritics. Jump up ^ South Africa : Previously referred to as the Union of South Africa ( before becoming a republic in 1961 ). Jump up ^ Sri Lanka : Name was changed from Ceylon on 22 May 1972. Jump up ^ Suriname : Name was changed from Surinam on 23 January 1978. Jump up ^ Thailand : Previously referred to as Siam. Jump up ^ Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela : Previously referred to as Venezuela. References Jump up ^ `` The World '' ( PDF ). United Nations. The following territories are excluded as the UN does not consider them as part of any member state : Vatican City ( the Holy See is a UN non-member observer state ), the Palestinian territories ( Palestine is a UN non-member observer state ), Western Sahara ( status in dispute between Morocco and the Polisario Front ), and Antarctica ( regulated by the Antarctic Treaty System ). Territories of states not recognized by the UN are not excluded due to the UN 's position that they are part of some UN member state, including, for example, the territories governed by the Republic of China ( Taiwan and other smaller islands ), as the UN members voted to consider the People 's Republic of China as the only lawful representative of China at the UN and the UN chooses not to question its claim that Taiwan is part of China. Jump up ^ `` What are Member States ? ''. United Nations. ^ Jump up to : `` Charter of the United Nations, Chapter II : Membership ''. United Nations. 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United Nations General Assembly Session 50 Agenda item REQUEST FOR THE INCLUSION OF AN ITEM IN THE PROVISIONAL AGENDA OF THE FIFTIETH SESSION CONSIDERATION OF THE EXCEPTIONAL SITUATION OF THE REPUBLIC OF CHINA ON TAIWAN IN THE INTERNATIONAL CONTEXT, BASED ON THE PRINCIPLE OF UNIVERSALITY AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ESTABLISHED MODEL OF PARALLEL REPRESENTATION OF DIVIDED COUNTRIES AT THE UNITED NATIONS A / 50 / 145 1995 - 07 - 19. Retrieved 2016 - 04 - 18. United Nations General Assembly Session 51 Agenda item REQUEST FOR THE INCLUSION OF AN ITEM IN THE PROVISIONAL AGENDA OF THE FIFTY - FIRST SESSION CONSIDERATION OF THE EXCEPTIONAL SITUATION OF THE INABILITY, RESULTING FROM GENERAL ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION 2758 ( XXVI ), OF THE 21.3 MILLION PEOPLE ON TAIWAN, REPUBLIC OF CHINA, TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ACTIVITIES OF THE UNITED NATIONS A / 51 / 142 1996 - 07 - 18. Retrieved 2016 - 04 - 19. United Nations General Assembly Session 52 Agenda item REQUEST FOR THE INCLUSION OF AN ITEM IN THE PROVISIONAL AGENDA OF THE FIFTY - SECOND SESSION NEED TO REVIEW GENERAL ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION 2758 ( XXVI ) OF 25 OCTOBER 1971 OWING TO THE FUNDAMENTAL CHANGE IN THE INTERNATIONAL SITUATION AND TO THE COEXISTENCE OF TWO GOVERNMENTS ACROSS THE TAIWAN STRAIT A / 52 / 143 1997 - 07 - 16. Retrieved 2016 - 04 - 19. United Nations General Assembly Session 53 Agenda item Request for the inclusion of an item in the provisional agenda of the fifty - third session Need to review General Assembly resolution 2758 ( XXVI ) of 25 October 1971 owing to the fundamental change in the international situation and to the coexistence of two Governments across the Taiwan Strait A / 53 / 145 1998 - 07 - 08. Retrieved 2016 - 04 - 19. United Nations General Assembly Session 54 Agenda item Request for the inclusion of a supplementary item in the agenda of the fifty - fourth session Need to examine the exceptional international situation pertaining to the Republic of China on Taiwan, to ensure that the fundamental right of its twenty - two million people to participate in the work and activities of the United Nations is fully respected A / 54 / 194 1999 - 08 - 12. Retrieved 2016 - 04 - 20. United Nations General Assembly Session 55 Agenda item Request for the inclusion of a supplementary item in the agenda of the fifty - fifth session Need to examine the exceptional international situation pertaining to the Republic of China on Taiwan, to ensure that the fundamental right of its twenty - three million people to participate in the work and activities of the United Nations is fully respected A / 55 / 227 2000 - 08 - 04. Retrieved 2016 - 04 - 23. United Nations General Assembly Session 56 Agenda item Request for the inclusion of a supplementary item in the agenda of the fifty - sixth session Need to examine the exceptional international situation pertaining to the Republic of China on Taiwan, to ensure that the fundamental right of its twenty - three million people to participate in the work and activities of the United Nations is fully respected A / 56 / 193 2001 - 08 - 08. Retrieved 2016 - 04 - 23. United Nations General Assembly Session 57 Agenda item Request for the inclusion of a supplementary item in the agenda of the fifty - seventh session Question of the representation of the Republic of China ( Taiwan ) in the United Nations A / 57 / 191 2002 - 08 - 20. Retrieved 2016 - 04 - 23. United Nations General Assembly Session 58 Agenda item Request for the inclusion of a supplementary item in the agenda of the fifty - eighth session Question of the representation of the Republic of China ( Taiwan ) in the United Nations A / 58 / 197 2003 - 08 - 05. Retrieved 2016 - 04 - 23. United Nations General Assembly Session 59 Agenda item Request for the inclusion of a supplementary item in the agenda of the fifty - ninth session Question of the representation of the twenty - three million people of Taiwan in the United Nations A / 59 / 194 2004 - 08 - 10. Retrieved 2016 - 04 - 24. United Nations General Assembly Session 60 Agenda item Request for the inclusion of a supplementary item in the agenda of the sixtieth session Question of the representation of the twenty - three million people of Taiwan in the United Nations A / 60 / 192 2005 - 08 - 11. Retrieved 2016 - 04 - 24. United Nations General Assembly Session 61 Agenda item Request for the inclusion of a supplementary item in the agenda of the sixty - first session Question of the representation and participation of the 23 million people of Taiwan in the United Nations A / 61 / 194 2006 - 08 - 11. Retrieved 2016 - 04 - 24. ^ Jump up to : Damm, Jens ; Lim, Paul ( 2012 ). European Perspectives on Taiwan. Springer Science + Business Media. pp. 160 -- 63. 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Question: how many countries are a part of the united nations
Answer: 193