Regional and Political Groupings of States
[click on acronym to see list of member states]

ECOSOC Regional Commissions
UN preparatory meetings are often held at the regional level, and thus, in the purvue of the following commissions:

ECA: Economic Commission of Africa; Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
ECLAC: Economic Commission of Latin America and the Caribbean; Santiago de Chile, Chile
ECE: Economic Commission of Europe (and North America); Geneva, Switzerland
ESCAP: Economic and Social Commission of Asia and the Pacific; Bangkok, Thailand
ESCWA: Economic and Social Commission of Western Asia; Amman, Jordan

Political Groupings of States

AU: African Union
NEPAD: New Partnership for Africa's Development
NAM: Non-Aligned Movement
G-77: Group of 77
EU: European Union
WEOG: Western Europe and Other Group
JUSCANZ: Japan, US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand
OIC: Organization of the Islamic Conference
P5: Permanent 5 members of the Security Council
E10: Elected 10 members of the Security Council

Economic/Trade Groupings of States

OECD: Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development
NAFTA: North American Free Trade Agreement
APEC: Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation
MERCOSUR: Southern Common Market
WTO: World Trade Organisation

Military Security Alliances

NATO: North Atlantic Treaty Organization
ANZUS: Australia, New Zealand and United States
OSCE: Organization for the Security and Cooperation of Europe

ANZUS - Regional military agreement
Australia, New Zealand and United States

APEC - Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation
Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, United States, Viet Nam

AU - African Union
Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe

ECA - Economic Commission of Africa
Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cape-Verde, Comoros Cameroon, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Uganda, United Republic Of Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Rep. Du Congo, Dem. Rep. Du Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Gabon, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea Equatorial, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Central African Republic, Rwanda, Sao Tome-Et-Principe, Senegal, Chad, Togo, Tunisia, Libya, Morocco

ECE - Economic Commission of Europe (and North America)
Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, Uzbekistan, Yugoslavia

ECLAC - Economic Commission of Latin America & the Caribbean
Antigua & Barbuda, Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, France, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Italy, Jamaica, Mexico, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, Saint Kitts And Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and Grenadines, Spain, Suriname, Trinidad And Tobago, United Kingdom Of Great Britain And Northern, Ireland, United States Of America, Uruguay, Venezuela
Associate Members: Anguilla, Aruba, British Virgin Islands, Montserrat, Netherlands Antilles, Puerto Rico,
United States Virgin Islands

ESCAP - Economic and Social Commission of Asia and the Pacific
Afghanistan, Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, China, Fiji, France, Georgia, India, Indonesia, Islamic Republic Of Iran, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kiribati, Korea (DPR), Kyrgyzstan, Lao Peoples Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Pakistan, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Russian Federation, Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Thailand, Tonga, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, United Kingdom, United States, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Viet Nam
Associated Members: American Samoa, Cook Islands, French Polynesia, Guam, Hong Kong, China, Macao, China, New Caledonia, Niue, Northern Mariana Islands

ESCWA - Economic and Social Commission of Western Asia
Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syrian Arab Republic, United Arab Republic, Yemen

EU - European Union
Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Germany, Greece, Finland, France, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, The Netherlands, United Kingdom

G-77- Group of 77
Afganistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Micronesia (Federated States of), Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Palestine, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

JUSCANZ
Japan, US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand

MERCOSUR: Southern Common Market
Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay
Associated States: Bolivia, Chile

NAFTA - North American Free Trade Agreement
Canada, Mexico, United States

NAM - Non-Aligned Movement
Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Korea (DPR), Democratic Republic Of Congo, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran, Islamic Republic Of Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait ,Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome And Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Timor L'este, Togo, Trinidad And Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Yugoslavia is an observer.

NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organization
Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States

NEPAD - New Partnership for Africa's Development
Algeria, Angola, Benin, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo Braziville, Cote d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea Bissua, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Lybia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Western Sahara, Zambia

OECD - Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development
Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States

OIC - Organization of the Islamic Conference
Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Brunei Dar-Us-Salaam, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Gabon, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Surinam, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Yemen
Observer States: Bosnia & Herzegovina, Central African Republic, Cote d’Ivoire, Thailand

OSCE - Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe
Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Holy See, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Former Yugoslav Republic Of Macedonia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, Uzbekistan, Yugoslavia

P5 - Permament 5 Members of the Security Council (also known as the N5, the Nuclear 5)
China, France, Russia, United Kingdom, United States of America

WEOG- Western Europe and Other Group
Western European countries, United States, Canada, Australia, Israel (temporary)

United Nations Regional Groups

Africa (53)
Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire), Djibouti, Egypt, Equitorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana , Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Asia (49)
Afghanistan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei-Darassalam, Cambodia, China, Cyprus, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgystan, Laos, Lebanon, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Mongolia, Myanmar (formerly Burma), Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Syria, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Viet Nam, Yemen

Eastern Europe (21)
Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Georgia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Russian Federation, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Ukraine, Yugoslavia (some rights of membership in suspension)

Latin America and Caribbean (33)
Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Christopher and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, Venezuela

Western Europe and other States (27)
Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Israel Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States

World Trade Organisation (142) with dates each country achieved membership

Albania 8 September 2000, Angola 23 November 1996, Antigua and Barbuda 1 January 1995, Argentina 1 January 1995, Australia 1 January 1995, Austria 1 January 1995, Bahrain 1 January 1995, Bangladesh 1 January 1995, Barbados 1 January 1995, Belgium 1 January 1995, Belize 1 January 1995, Benin 22 February 1996 Bolivia 12 September 1995 Botswana 31 May 1995, Brazil 1 January 1995, Brunei Darussalam 1 January 1995, Bulgaria 1 December 1996, Burkina Faso 3 June 1995, Burundi 23 July 1995, Cameroon 13 December 1995, Canada 1 January 1995, Central African Republic 31 May 1995, Chad 19 October 1996, Chile 1 January 1995, Colombia 30 April 1995, Congo 27 March 1997, Congo, Democratic Republic of the 1 January 1997, Costa Rica 1 January 1995, C¸te d'Ivoire 1 January 1995, Croatia 30 November 2000, Cuba 20 April 1995, Cyprus 30 July 1995, Czech Republic 1 January 1995, Denmark 1 January 1995, Djibouti 31 May 1995, Dominica 1 January 1995, Dominican Republic 9 March 1995, Ecuador 21 January 1996, Egypt 30 June 1995, El Salvador 7 May 1995, Estonia 13 November 1999, European Communities 1 January 1995, Fiji 14 January 1996, Finland 1 January 1995, France 1 January 1995, Gabon 1 January 1995, The Gambia 23 October 1996, Georgia 14 June 2000, Germany 1 January 1995, Ghana 1 January 1995, Greece 1 January 1995, Grenada 22 February 1996, Guatemala 21 July 1995, Guinea Bissau 31 May 1995, Guinea 25 October 1995, Guyana 1 January 1995, Haiti 30 January 1996, Honduras 1 January 1995, Hong Kong, China 1 January 1995, Hungary 1 January 1995, Iceland 1 January 1995, India 1 January 1995, Indonesia 1 January 1995, Ireland 1 January 1995, Israel 21 April 1995, Italy 1 January 1995, Jamaica 9 March 1995, Japan 1 January 1995, Jordan 11 April 2000, Kenya 1 January 1995, Korea, Republic of 1 January 1995, Kuwait 1 January 1995, The Kyrgyz Republic 20 December 1998, Latvia 10 February 1999, Lesotho 31 May 1995, Liechtenstein 1 September 1995, Lithuania 31 May 2001, Luxembourg 1 January 1995, Macao, China 1 January 1995, Madagascar 17 November 1995, Malawi 31 May 1995, Malaysia 1 January 1995, Maldives 31 May 1995, Mali 31 May 1995, Malta 1 January 1995, Mauritania 31 May 1995, Mauritius 1 January 1995, Mexico 1 January 1995, Moldova 27 July 2001, Mongolia 29 January 1997, Morocco 1 January 1995, Mozambique 26 August 1995, Myanmar 1 January 1995, Namibia 1 January 1995, Netherlands § For the Kingdom in Europe and for the Netherlands Antilles 1 January 1995, New Zealand 1 January 1995, Nicaragua 3 September 1995, Niger 13 December 1996, Nigeria 1 January 1995, Norway 1 January 1995, Oman, Sultanate of 9 November 2000, Pakistan 1 January 1995, Panama 6 September 1997, Papua New Guinea 9 June 1996, Paraguay 1 January 1995, Peru 1 January 1995, Philippines 1 January 1995, Poland 1 July 1995, Portugal 1 January 1995, Qatar 13 January 1996, Romania 1 January 1995, Rwanda 22 May 1996, Saint Kitts and Nevis 21 February 1996, Saint Lucia 1 January 1995, Saint Vincent & the Grenadines 1 January 1995, Senegal 1 January 1995, Sierra Leone 23 July 1995, Singapore 1 January 1995, Slovak Republic 1 January 1995, Slovenia 30 July 1995, Solomon Islands 26 July 1996, South Africa 1 January 1995, Spain 1 January 1995, Sri Lanka 1 January 1995, Suriname 1 January 1995, Swaziland 1 January 1995, Sweden 1 January 1995, Switzerland 1 July 1995, Tanzania 1 January 1995, Thailand 1 January 1995, Togo 31 May 1995, Trinidad and Tobago 1 March 1995, Tunisia 29 March 1995, Turkey 26 March 1995, Uganda 1 January 1995, United Arab Emirates 10 April 1996, United Kingdom 1 January 1995, United States of America 1 January 1995, Uruguay 1 January 1995, Venezuela 1 January 1995, Zambia 1 January 1995, Zimbabwe 5 March 1995

Observer governments of the WTO: Algeria, Andorra, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Belarus, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cambodia, Cape Verde, China, People's Republic of Ethiopia, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Holy See (Vatican), Kazakstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Nepal, Russian Federation, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Sudan, The Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu, Tonga, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Yemen, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia

Note: With the exception of the Holy See, observers must start accession negotiations within five years of becoming observers.

International organizations observers to General Council of the WTO: back to top (observers in other councils and committees differ) United Nations (UN) United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) International Monetary Fund (IMF) World Bank Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)