United Nations specialized agencies are autonomous organizations working with the United Nations (UN) and each other through the structure of the United Nations Economic and Social Council at the intergovernmental level, and through the Chief Executives Board for Coordination (CEB) at the intersecretariat level.
One of the principal objectives of the UN is to solve economic, social, cultural and humanitarian issues through international cooperation. Several specialized agencies have been set up to achieve these goals, agencies which may or may not have been created by the UN, but were incorporated into the United Nations System by the United Nations Economic and Social Council acting under Articles 57 and 63 of the United Nations Charter. At present, the UN has in total 15 specialized agencies that carry out various functions on behalf of the UN. The specialized agencies are listed below.
Tables
· Summary
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United Nations
United Nations
No.
–
Logo
Official name
United Nations
Abbreviation
UN
Location (Country)
United States
Location (City)
New York City
Established
1945
Precursor established
1920
Member states
the UN members
Other participants
observer states: Holy See, Palestine
observer entities: Order of Malta
observer regional organizations: European Union
other observer entities and organizations
Map and reference
UN
Food and Agriculture Organization
Food and Agriculture Organization
No.
1
Logo
Official name
Food and Agriculture Organization
Abbreviation
FAO
Location (Country)
Italy
Location (City)
Rome
Established
1945
Precursor established
—
Member states
the UN members except Liechtenstein
Cook Islands, Niue
Other participants
associate members: Faroe Islands, Tokelau
member organization: European Union
Map and reference
FAO
International Civil Aviation Organization
International Civil Aviation Organization
No.
2
Logo
Official name
International Civil Aviation Organization
Abbreviation
ICAO
Location (Country)
Canada
Location (City)
Montreal
Established
1947
Precursor established
—
Member states
the UN members except Liechtenstein
Cook Islands
Other participants
—
Map and reference
ICAO
International Fund for Agricultural Development
International Fund for Agricultural Development
No.
3
Logo
Official name
International Fund for Agricultural Development
Abbreviation
IFAD
Location (Country)
Italy
Location (City)
Rome
Established
1977
Precursor established
—
Member states
the UN members except Andorra, Australia, Bahrain, Belarus, Brunei, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Monaco, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Slovakia, Turkmenistan
Cook Islands, Niue
Other participants
observers: Holy See
Map and reference
IFAD
International Labour Organization
International Labour Organization
No.
4
Official name
International Labour Organization
Abbreviation
ILO
Location (Country)
Switzerland
Location (City)
Geneva
Established
1919
Precursor established
—
Member states
the UN members except Andorra, Bhutan, Liechtenstein, Micronesia, Monaco, Nauru, North Korea
Cook Islands
Other participants
observer states: Palestine
Map and reference
ILO
International Maritime Organization
International Maritime Organization
No.
5
Official name
International Maritime Organization
Abbreviation
IMO
Location (Country)
United Kingdom
Location (City)
London
Established
1959
Precursor established
—
Member states
the UN members except Afghanistan, Andorra, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Central African Republic, Chad, Eswatini, Laos, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Mali, Micronesia, Niger, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan
Cook Islands
Other participants
associate members: Faroe Islands, Hong Kong, Macao
Map and reference
IMO
International Monetary Fund
International Monetary Fund
No.
6
Logo
Official name
International Monetary Fund
Abbreviation
IMF
Location (Country)
United States
Location (City)
Washington, D.C.
Established
1945
Precursor established
—
Member states
the UN members except Cuba, Monaco, and North Korea;
Kosovo
Other participants
—
Map and reference
IMF
International Telecommunication Union
International Telecommunication Union
No.
7
Logo
Official name
International Telecommunication Union
Abbreviation
ITU
Location (Country)
Switzerland
Location (City)
Geneva
Established
1865
Precursor established
—
Member states
the UN members
Vatican City
Other participants
observers: Palestine
Map and reference
ITU
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
No.
8
Logo
Official name
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
Abbreviation
UNESCO
Location (Country)
France
Location (City)
Paris
Established
1946
Precursor established
1922
Member states
the UN members except Israel, Liechtenstein
Cook Islands, Niue, Palestine
Other participants
associate members: Anguilla, Aruba, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Curaçao, Faroe Islands, Macau, Montserrat, New Caledonia, Sint Maarten, Tokelau
observers: Holy See
NOC only: Liechtenstein, Hong Kong, Bermuda, Guam, American Samoa, Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands
Map and reference
UNESCO
United Nations Industrial Development Organization
United Nations Industrial Development Organization
No.
9
Logo
Official name
United Nations Industrial Development Organization
Abbreviation
UNIDO
Location (Country)
Austria
Location (City)
Vienna
Established
1985
Precursor established
1966
Member states
the UN members except Andorra, Australia, Belgium, Brunei, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, France, Greece, Iceland, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Nauru, New Zealand, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, United Kingdom, United States
Palestine
Other participants
observers: Holy See, Order of Malta
Map and reference
UNIDO
Universal Postal Union
Universal Postal Union
No.
10
Logo
Official name
Universal Postal Union
Abbreviation
UPU
Location (Country)
Switzerland
Location (City)
Bern
Established
1874
Precursor established
—
Member states
the UN members except Andorra, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Palau
Vatican City
Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten (as single member)
British Overseas Territories (as single member)
Other participants
observers: Palestine
Map and reference
UPU
World Bank Group
World Bank Group
No.
11
Logo
Official name
World Bank Group
Abbreviation
WBG
Location (Country)
United States
Location (City)
Washington, D.C.
Established
1945
Precursor established
—
Member states
the UN members except Andorra, Cuba, Liechtenstein, Monaco, North Korea
Kosovo
Other participants
—
Map and reference
WBG
World Health Organization
World Health Organization
No.
12
Logo
Official name
World Health Organization
Abbreviation
WHO
Location (Country)
Switzerland
Location (City)
Geneva
Established
1948
Precursor established
1907
Member states
the UN members except Liechtenstein
Cook Islands, Niue
Other participants
associate members: Puerto Rico, Tokelau
observers: Chinese Taipei (2009–2016), Holy See, Palestine, Order of Malta
Map and reference
WHO
World Intellectual Property Organization
World Intellectual Property Organization
No.
13
Logo
Official name
World Intellectual Property Organization
Abbreviation
WIPO
Location (Country)
Switzerland
Location (City)
Geneva
Established
1967
Precursor established
—
Member states
the UN members except Micronesia, Palau, South Sudan
Cook Islands, Holy See, Niue
Other participants
observers: Palestine, several intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations
Map and reference
WIPO
World Meteorological Organization
World Meteorological Organization
No.
14
Official name
World Meteorological Organization
Abbreviation
WMO
Location (Country)
Switzerland
Location (City)
Geneva
Established
1950
Precursor established
1873
Member states
the UN members except Equatorial Guinea, Grenada, Liechtenstein, Marshall Islands, Palau, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and San Marino
Cook Islands, Niue
Other participants
member territories: British Caribbean Territories, Curaçao and Sint Maartin, French Polynesia, Hong Kong, Macau, New Caledonia
Map and reference
WMO
UN Tourism
UN Tourism
No.
15
Logo
Official name
UN Tourism
Location (Country)
Spain
Location (City)
Madrid
Established
1974
Precursor established
1925
Member states
the UN members except Australia, Belgium, Belize, Canada, Denmark, Dominica, Estonia, Finland, Grenada, Guyana, Iceland, Ireland, Kiribati, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, New Zealand, Norway, Russia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Tonga, Tuvalu, United Kingdom, United States
Other participants
associate members: Aruba, Flemish Community, Hong Kong, Macau, Madeira, Puerto Rico
observers: Holy See, Palestine
Map and reference
UNWTO
Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization
Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization
No.
16
Logo
Official name
Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization
Abbreviation
CTBTO Prep Com
Location (Country)
Austria
Location (City)
Vienna
Established
1996
Precursor established
—
Member states
the UN members except Bhutan, India, Mauritius, North Korea, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, South Sudan, Syria, Tonga, Yemen
Cook Islands, Holy See, Niue
Other participants
—
Map and reference
CTBTO
International Atomic Energy Agency
International Atomic Energy Agency
No.
17
Logo
Official name
International Atomic Energy Agency
Abbreviation
IAEA
Location (Country)
Austria
Location (City)
Vienna
Established
1957
Precursor established
—
Member states
the UN members except Andorra, Bhutan, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kiribati, Maldives, Micronesia, Nauru, North Korea, São Tomé and Príncipe, Solomon Islands, South Sudan, Suriname, Timor-Leste, Tuvalu
Holy See
Other participants
observer: Palestine
Map and reference
IAEA
Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons
Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons
No.
18
Official name
Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons
Abbreviation
OPCW
Location (Country)
Netherlands
Location (City)
The Hague
Established
1997
Precursor established
—
Member states
the UN members except Egypt, Israel, North Korea and South Sudan
Cook Islands, Holy See, Niue, Palestine
Other participants
—
Map and reference
OPCW
World Trade Organization
World Trade Organization
No.
19
Logo
Official name
World Trade Organization
Abbreviation
WTO
Location (Country)
Switzerland
Location (City)
Geneva
Established
1995
Precursor established
1948
Member states
the UN members except Algeria, Andorra, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Belarus, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Iran, Iraq, Kiribati, Lebanon, Libya, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Monaco, Nauru, North Korea, Palau, San Marino, São Tomé and Príncipe, Serbia, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tuvalu, Uzbekistan
customs territory members: European Union, Hong Kong, Macau, Chinese Taipei
Other participants
observers: Algeria, Andorra, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Belarus, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, São Tomé and Príncipe, Serbia, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Holy See
Map and reference
WTO Archived 5 January 2012 at the Wayback Machine
International Organization for Migration
International Organization for Migration
No.
20
Official name
International Organization for Migration
Abbreviation
IOM
Location (Country)
Switzerland
Location (City)
Geneva
Established
1951
Precursor established
—
Member states
the UN members except Andorra, Bahrain, Bhutan, Brunei, Equatorial Guinea, Indonesia, Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Liechtenstein, Malaysia, Monaco, North Korea, Oman, Qatar, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Syria, United Arab Emirates
Cook Islands, Holy See
Other participants
observers: Bahrain, Bhutan, Indonesia, Kuwait, Malaysia, Qatar, San Marino, Saudi Arabia
over 80 global and regional IGOs and NGOs are also observers
Map and reference
IOM
Ranked list
No.
Logo
Official name
Abbreviation
Location (Country)
Location (City)
Established
Precursor established
Member states
Other participants
Map and reference
–
United Nations
UN
United States
New York City
1945
1920
the UN members
observer states: Holy See, Palestine observer entities: Order of Malta observer regional organizations: European Union other observer entities and organizations
UN
Specialized agencies
1
Food and Agriculture Organization
FAO
Italy
Rome
1945
—
the UN members except Liechtenstein Cook Islands, Niue
associate members: Faroe Islands, Tokelau member organization: European Union
FAO
2
International Civil Aviation Organization
ICAO
Canada
Montreal
1947
—
the UN members except Liechtenstein Cook Islands
—
ICAO
3
International Fund for Agricultural Development
IFAD
Italy
Rome
1977
—
the UN members except Andorra, Australia, Bahrain, Belarus, Brunei, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Monaco, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Slovakia, Turkmenistan Cook Islands, Niue
observers: Holy See
IFAD
4
International Labour Organization
ILO
Switzerland
Geneva
1919
—
the UN members except Andorra, Bhutan, Liechtenstein, Micronesia, Monaco, Nauru, North Korea Cook Islands
observer states: Palestine
ILO
5
International Maritime Organization
IMO
United Kingdom
London
1959
—
the UN members except Afghanistan, Andorra, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Central African Republic, Chad, Eswatini, Laos, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Mali, Micronesia, Niger, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan Cook Islands
associate members: Faroe Islands, Hong Kong, Macao
IMO
6
International Monetary Fund
IMF
United States
Washington, D.C.
1945
—
the UN members except Cuba, Monaco, and North Korea; Kosovo
—
IMF
7
International Telecommunication Union
ITU
Switzerland
Geneva
1865
—
the UN members Vatican City
observers: Palestine
ITU
8
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
UNESCO
France
Paris
1946
1922
the UN members except Israel, Liechtenstein Cook Islands, Niue, Palestine
associate members: Anguilla, Aruba, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Curaçao, Faroe Islands, Macau, Montserrat, New Caledonia, Sint Maarten, Tokelau observers: Holy See NOC only: Liechtenstein, Hong Kong, Bermuda, Guam, American Samoa, Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands
UNESCO
9
United Nations Industrial Development Organization
UNIDO
Austria
Vienna
1985
1966
the UN members except Andorra, Australia, Belgium, Brunei, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, France, Greece, Iceland, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Nauru, New Zealand, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, United Kingdom, United States Palestine
observers: Holy See, Order of Malta
UNIDO
10
Universal Postal Union
UPU
Switzerland
Bern
1874
—
the UN members except Andorra, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Palau Vatican City Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten (as single member) British Overseas Territories (as single member)
observers: Palestine
UPU
11
World Bank Group
WBG
United States
Washington, D.C.
1945
—
the UN members except Andorra, Cuba, Liechtenstein, Monaco, North Korea Kosovo
—
WBG
12
World Health Organization
WHO
Switzerland
Geneva
1948
1907
the UN members except Liechtenstein Cook Islands, Niue
associate members: Puerto Rico, Tokelau observers: Chinese Taipei (2009–2016), Holy See, Palestine, Order of Malta
WHO
13
World Intellectual Property Organization
WIPO
Switzerland
Geneva
1967
—
the UN members except Micronesia, Palau, South Sudan Cook Islands, Holy See, Niue
observers: Palestine, several intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations
WIPO
14
World Meteorological Organization
WMO
Switzerland
Geneva
1950
1873
the UN members except Equatorial Guinea, Grenada, Liechtenstein, Marshall Islands, Palau, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and San Marino Cook Islands, Niue
member territories: British Caribbean Territories, Curaçao and Sint Maartin, French Polynesia, Hong Kong, Macau, New Caledonia
WMO
15
UN Tourism
Spain
Madrid
1974
1925
the UN members except Australia, Belgium, Belize, Canada, Denmark, Dominica, Estonia, Finland, Grenada, Guyana, Iceland, Ireland, Kiribati, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, New Zealand, Norway, Russia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Tonga, Tuvalu, United Kingdom, United States
associate members: Aruba, Flemish Community, Hong Kong, Macau, Madeira, Puerto Rico observers: Holy See, Palestine
UNWTO
Related organizations
16
Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization
CTBTO Prep Com
Austria
Vienna
1996
—
the UN members except Bhutan, India, Mauritius, North Korea, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, South Sudan, Syria, Tonga, Yemen Cook Islands, Holy See, Niue
—
CTBTO
17
International Atomic Energy Agency
IAEA
Austria
Vienna
1957
—
the UN members except Andorra, Bhutan, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kiribati, Maldives, Micronesia, Nauru, North Korea, São Tomé and Príncipe, Solomon Islands, South Sudan, Suriname, Timor-Leste, Tuvalu Holy See
observer: Palestine
IAEA
18
Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons
OPCW
Netherlands
The Hague
1997
—
the UN members except Egypt, Israel, North Korea and South Sudan Cook Islands, Holy See, Niue, Palestine
—
OPCW
19
World Trade Organization
WTO
Switzerland
Geneva
1995
1948
the UN members except Algeria, Andorra, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Belarus, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Iran, Iraq, Kiribati, Lebanon, Libya, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Monaco, Nauru, North Korea, Palau, San Marino, São Tomé and Príncipe, Serbia, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tuvalu, Uzbekistan customs territory members: European Union, Hong Kong, Macau, Chinese Taipei
observers: Algeria, Andorra, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Belarus, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, São Tomé and Príncipe, Serbia, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Holy See
WTO Archived 5 January 2012 at the Wayback Machine
20
International Organization for Migration
IOM
Switzerland
Geneva
1951
—
the UN members except Andorra, Bahrain, Bhutan, Brunei, Equatorial Guinea, Indonesia, Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Liechtenstein, Malaysia, Monaco, North Korea, Oman, Qatar, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Syria, United Arab Emirates Cook Islands, Holy See
observers: Bahrain, Bhutan, Indonesia, Kuwait, Malaysia, Qatar, San Marino, Saudi Arabia over 80 global and regional IGOs and NGOs are also observers
IOM
References
In some sources, the UN indicates that there are 17 specialized agencies when counting the International Bank for Recons
