List of members of the United Nations Security Council
Updated: 5/24/2026, 6:59:08 PM Wikipedia source
Membership of the United Nations Security Council is held by the five permanent members and ten elected, non-permanent members. Being elected requires a two-thirds majority vote from the United Nations General Assembly. Elected members hold their place on the council for a two-year term, with five seats contested in even years and five seats contested in odd years. An outgoing member cannot be immediately re-elected. Elections usually begin in June for a term starting January 1. Because of the two-thirds majority requirement, it is possible for two evenly matched candidates to deadlock with approximately half the vote each, sometimes needing weeks of negotiations to resolve. Non-permanent seats are distributed geographically, with a certain number of seats allocated to each of the five United Nations Regional Groups.
Tables
· Current membership
China
China
Country
China
Regional Group
Asia-Pacific Group
Member since
25 October 1971, replaced the Republic of China
France
France
Country
France
Regional Group
Western European and Others Group
Member since
24 October 1945
Russia
Russia
Country
Russia
Regional Group
Eastern European Group
Member since
26 December 1991, replaced the Soviet Union
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Country
United Kingdom
Regional Group
Western European and Others Group
Member since
24 October 1945
United States
United States
Country
United States
Regional Group
Western European and Others Group
Member since
24 October 1945
| Country | Regional Group | Member since |
| China | Asia-Pacific Group | 25 October 1971, replaced the Republic of China |
| France | Western European and Others Group | 24 October 1945 |
| Russia | Eastern European Group | 26 December 1991, replaced the Soviet Union |
| United Kingdom | Western European and Others Group | 24 October 1945 |
| United States | Western European and Others Group | 24 October 1945 |
· Current membership
Bahrain
2026
2026–2027
Bahrain
Country
Bahrain
Regional Group
Asia-Pacific Group (Arab)
Term began
2026
Term ends
2027
Colombia
2026
2026–2027
Colombia
Country
Colombia
Regional Group
Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC)
Term began
2026
Term ends
2027
Democratic Republic of the Congo
2026
2026–2027
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Country
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Regional Group
African Group
Term began
2026
Term ends
2027
Denmark
2025
2025–2026
Denmark
Country
Denmark
Regional Group
Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Term began
2025
Term ends
2026
Greece
2025
2025–2026
Greece
Country
Greece
Regional Group
Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Term began
2025
Term ends
2026
Latvia
2026
2026–2027
Latvia
Country
Latvia
Regional Group
Eastern European Group (EEG)
Term began
2026
Term ends
2027
Liberia
2026
2026–2027
Liberia
Country
Liberia
Regional Group
African Group
Term began
2026
Term ends
2027
Pakistan
2025
2025–2026
Pakistan
Country
Pakistan
Regional Group
Asia-Pacific Group
Term began
2025
Term ends
2026
Panama
2025
2025–2026
Panama
Country
Panama
Regional Group
Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC)
Term began
2025
Term ends
2026
Somalia
2025
2025–2026
Somalia
Country
Somalia
Regional Group
African Group
Term began
2025
Term ends
2026
| Country | Regional Group | Term began | Term ends |
| Bahrain | Asia-Pacific Group (Arab) | 2026 | 2027 |
| Colombia | Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC) | 2026 | 2027 |
| Democratic Republic of the Congo | African Group | 2026 | 2027 |
| Denmark | Western European and Others Group (WEOG) | 2025 | 2026 |
| Greece | Western European and Others Group (WEOG) | 2025 | 2026 |
| Latvia | Eastern European Group (EEG) | 2026 | 2027 |
| Liberia | African Group | 2026 | 2027 |
| Pakistan | Asia-Pacific Group | 2025 | 2026 |
| Panama | Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC) | 2025 | 2026 |
| Somalia | African Group | 2025 | 2026 |
· Regional Groups
African Group
African Group
Term beginning in years that are:
African Group
Odd
one member
Even
two members *
Asia-Pacific Group
Asia-Pacific Group
Term beginning in years that are:
Asia-Pacific Group
Odd
one member
Even
one member *
Eastern European Group
Eastern European Group
Term beginning in years that are:
Eastern European Group
Odd
none
Even
one member
Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC)
Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC)
Term beginning in years that are:
Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC)
Odd
one member
Even
one member
Western European and Others Group
Western European and Others Group
Term beginning in years that are:
Western European and Others Group
Odd
two members
Even
none
| Term beginning in years that are: | Odd | Even |
| African Group | one member | two members * |
| Asia-Pacific Group | one member | one member * |
| Eastern European Group | none | one member |
| Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC) | one member | one member |
| Western European and Others Group | two members | none |
· Membership by year › Permanent
1945
1945
Year
1945
Chinese seat
Republic of China
French seat
Prov. Gov. of France
Soviet/Russian seat
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
British seat
United Kingdom
American seat
United States
1946
1946
Year
1946
Chinese seat
French Fourth Republic
1949
1949
Year
1949
Chinese seat
Republic of China (Taiwan)
1958
1958
Year
1958
Chinese seat
French Fifth Republic
1971
1971
Year
1971
Chinese seat
China
1991–present
1991–present
Year
1991–present
Chinese seat
Russia
| Year | Chinese seat | French seat | Soviet/Russian seat | British seat | American seat |
| 1945 | Republic of China | Prov. Gov. of France | Union of Soviet Socialist Republics | United Kingdom | United States |
| 1946 | French Fourth Republic | ||||
| 1949 | Republic of China (Taiwan) | ||||
| 1958 | French Fifth Republic | ||||
| 1971 | China | ||||
| 1991–present | Russia |
· Membership by year › Non-permanent (1946–1965)
1946
1946
Year
1946
Latin American seats
Brazil
Latin American seats
Mexico
Commonwealth seat
Australia
Eastern European
& Asian seat
Poland
Middle Eastern seat
Egypt
Western European seat
Netherlands
1947
1947
Year
1947
Latin American seats
Colombia
Latin American seats
Syria
Commonwealth seat
Belgium
1948
1948
Year
1948
Latin American seats
Argentina
Latin American seats
Canada
Commonwealth seat
Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic
1949
1949
Year
1949
Latin American seats
Cuba
Latin American seats
Egypt
Commonwealth seat
Norway
1950
1950
Year
1950
Latin American seats
Ecuador
Latin American seats
India
Commonwealth seat
Yugoslavia
1951
1951
Year
1951
Latin American seats
Brazil
Latin American seats
Turkey
Commonwealth seat
Netherlands
1952
1952
Year
1952
Latin American seats
Chile
Latin American seats
Pakistan
Commonwealth seat
Greece
1953
1953
Year
1953
Latin American seats
Colombia
Latin American seats
Lebanon
Commonwealth seat
Denmark
1954
1954
Year
1954
Latin American seats
Brazil
Latin American seats
New Zealand
Commonwealth seat
Turkey
1955
1955
Year
1955
Latin American seats
Peru
Latin American seats
Iran
Commonwealth seat
Belgium
1956
1956
Year
1956
Latin American seats
Cuba
Latin American seats
Australia
Commonwealth seat
Yugoslavia
1957
1957
Year
1957
Latin American seats
Colombia
Latin American seats
Philippines
Commonwealth seat
Iraq
Eastern European
& Asian seat
Sweden
1958
1958
Year
1958
Latin American seats
Panama
Latin American seats
Canada
Commonwealth seat
Japan
1959
1959
Year
1959
Latin American seats
Argentina
Latin American seats
Tunisia
Commonwealth seat
Italy
1960
1960
Year
1960
Latin American seats
Ecuador
Latin American seats
Ceylon
Commonwealth seat
Poland
1961
1961
Year
1961
Latin American seats
Chile
Latin American seats
Turkey
Commonwealth seat
United Arab Republic
Eastern European
& Asian seat
Liberia
1962
1962
Year
1962
Latin American seats
Venezuela
Latin American seats
Ghana
Commonwealth seat
Romania
Eastern European
& Asian seat
Ireland
1963
1963
Year
1963
Latin American seats
Brazil
Latin American seats
Philippines
Commonwealth seat
Morocco
Eastern European
& Asian seat
Norway
1964
1964
Year
1964
Latin American seats
Bolivia
Latin American seats
Ivory Coast
Commonwealth seat
Czechoslovakia
1965
1965
Year
1965
Latin American seats
Uruguay
Latin American seats
Malaysia
Commonwealth seat
Jordan
Eastern European
& Asian seat
Netherlands
| Year | Latin American seats | Commonwealth seat | Eastern European & Asian seat | Middle Eastern seat | Western European seat | |
| 1946 | Brazil | Mexico | Australia | Poland | Egypt | Netherlands |
| 1947 | Colombia | Syria | Belgium | |||
| 1948 | Argentina | Canada | Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic | |||
| 1949 | Cuba | Egypt | Norway | |||
| 1950 | Ecuador | India | Yugoslavia | |||
| 1951 | Brazil | Turkey | Netherlands | |||
| 1952 | Chile | Pakistan | Greece | |||
| 1953 | Colombia | Lebanon | Denmark | |||
| 1954 | Brazil | New Zealand | Turkey | |||
| 1955 | Peru | Iran | Belgium | |||
| 1956 | Cuba | Australia | Yugoslavia | |||
| 1957 | Colombia | Philippines | Iraq | Sweden | ||
| 1958 | Panama | Canada | Japan | |||
| 1959 | Argentina | Tunisia | Italy | |||
| 1960 | Ecuador | Ceylon | Poland | |||
| 1961 | Chile | Turkey | United Arab Republic | Liberia | ||
| 1962 | Venezuela | Ghana | Romania | Ireland | ||
| 1963 | Brazil | Philippines | Morocco | Norway | ||
| 1964 | Bolivia | Ivory Coast | Czechoslovakia | |||
| 1965 | Uruguay | Malaysia | Jordan | Netherlands | ||
References
- Asian countries successfully contested the Eastern European seat from 1956 onwards.
- Tunisia and Morocco were treated as Middle Eastern countries due to being members of the Arab League.
- Liberia took the place of the Western European country in 1961
- Ivory Coast took the place of a member of the Commonwealth in 1964–1965.
- Part of Western Africa, not Central Africa
- At the time of election, and until 2 August 1984, the country was known as Upper Volta.
- The election was secured by Democratic Yemen, and in 22 May 1990, during its membership of the Security Council, it unif
- Table shows years completed or in progress. Each term on the Council consist of 2 years. Any odd number of years are cou
- Not a member of any regional group until joining the WEOG in 2000.
- For over 20 years after joining the UN in 1999, Kiribati was not a member of any regional group before finally joining A
- Montenegro was also a constituent state of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and of Serbia and Montenegro from 27 April
- Serbia was also a constituent state of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and of Serbia and Montenegro from 27 April 199
- The United Nations Security Council, The Green Papers Worldwidehttp://www.thegreenpapers.com/ww/UNSecurityCouncil.phtml
- What is Equitable Geographic Representation in the Twenty-First Centuryhttp://archive.unu.edu/unupress/equitable.pdf
- Bloc Politics at the United Nations: The African Group
- Le Groupe africain à l'ONU dans l'après-guerre froidehttps://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk3/ftp05/NQ65306.pdf
- "Special Research Report No. 1: UN Security Council Elections 2009"https://www.securitycouncilreport.org/research-reports/lookup-c-glkwlemtisg-b-5488243.php
- "Special Research Report No. 4: Security Council Elections 2006"https://www.securitycouncilreport.org/research-reports/lookup-c-glkwlemtisg-b-2013021.php
- "Italy, Netherlands ask to share Security Council seat"http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/06/bolivia-ethiopia-sweden-win-seats-security-council-160628161225583.html
- St. Vincent and the Grenadines breaks a record, as smallest ever Security Council seat holder, UN Newshttps://news.un.org/en/story/2019/06/1040071