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UN Security Council Documentation

Security Council Membership

According to the UN Charter, Article 23, "The Security Council shall consist of fifteen Members of the United Nations".

The Security Council has 15 members:

  • 5 permanent members with veto power:
    • China
    • France
    • Russian Federation
    • United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
    • United States of America
  • 10 non-permanent members, five of which are elected each year by the General Assembly for a two-year term

Originally, there were 11 members of the Security Council: 5 permanent and 6 non-permanent members. In 1963, the General Assembly recommended an amendment to the Charter to increase the membership of the Security Council:

  • A/RES/1991 (XVIII) of 17 December 1963
  • Entered into force on 31 August 1965
  • Increased membership from 11 to 15
  • Changed the number of affirmative votes required from 7 to 9
  • Set the pattern for geographic representation as follows:
    • 5 from African and Asian States
    • 1 from Eastern European States
    • 2 from Latin American States
    • 2 from Western European and other States

Rules 142-144 of the Rules of Procedure of the General Assembly (A/520/Rev.20) concern the Security Council elections.

UN Charter Article 27(3) states that votes in the Security Council on non-procedural matters "shall be made by an affirmative vote of nine members including the concurring votes of the permanent members"-- this is often called the veto power of permanent members.

Key UN research resources about Security Council voting and the veto include:

Additional Resources

Membership of the Security Council by Year

The General Assembly currently elects 5 new non-permanent or rotating members each year.

The UN Security Council Membership Dashboard allows users to visualize the data by year and by elected members.

2000-present
Year Members of Security Council Elected at
2025

Algeria, China, Denmark, France, Greece, Guyana, Pakistan, Panama, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, Somalia, United Kingdom, United States

A/78/PV.86
2024

Algeria, China, Ecuador, France, Guyana, Japan, Malta, Mozambique, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States

A/77/PV.75 (Resumption 1)
2023 Albania, Brazil, China, Ecuador, France, Gabon, Ghana, Japan, Malta, Mozambique, Russian Federation, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States A/76/PV.79
2022 Albania, Brazil, China, France, Gabon, Ghana, India, Ireland, Kenya, Mexico, Norway, Russian Federation, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States  A/75/PV.78
2021 China, Estonia, France, India, Ireland, Mexico, Niger, Norway, Kenya, Russian Federation, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Tunisia, United Kingdom, United States, Viet Nam  A/74/PV.62
2020 Belgium, China, Dominican Republic, Estonia, France, Germany, Indonesia, Niger, Russian Federation, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, South Africa, Tunisia, United Kingdom, United States, Viet Nam A/73/PV.89
2019 Belgium, China, Côte d'Ivoire, Dominican Republic, Equatorial Guinea, France, Germany, Indonesia, Kuwait, Peru, Poland, Russian Federation, South Africa. United Kingdom, United States A/72/PV.93
2018 Bolivia (Plurinational State of), China, Côte d'Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, France, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Netherlands, Peru, Poland, Russian Federation, Sweden, United Kingdom, United States A/71/PV.86
2017 Bolivia (Plurinational State of), China, Egypt, Ethiopia, France, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Russian Federation, Senegal, Sweden, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay A/70/PV.106, A/70/PV.108
2016 Angola, China, Egypt, France, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Russian Federation, Senegal, Spain, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) A/70/PV.33
2015 Angola, Chad, Chile, China, France, Jordan, Lithuania, Malaysia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Russian Federation, Spain, United Kingdom, United States, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) A/69/PV.25
2014 Argentina, Australia, Chad, Chile, China, France, Jordan, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Nigeria, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Rwanda, United Kingdom, United States A/68/PV.34, A/68/PV.61
2013 Argentina, Australia, Azerbaijan, China, France, Guatemala, Luxembourg, Morocco, Pakistan, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Togo, United Kingdom, United States A/67/PV.27
2012 Azerbaijan, China, Colombia, France, Germany, Guatemala, India, Morocco, Pakistan, Portugal, Russian Federation, South Africa, Togo, United Kingdom, United States A/66/PV.37, A/66/PV.40
2011 Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, China, Colombia, France, Gabon, Germany, India, Lebanon, Nigeria, Portugal, Russian Federation, South Africa, United Kingdom, United States A/65/PV.28
2010 Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, China, France, Gabon, Japan, Lebanon, Mexico, Nigeria, Russian Federation, Turkey, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States  A/64/PV.20
2009 Austria, Burkina Faso, China, Costa Rica, Croatia, France, Japan, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Mexico, Russian Federation, Turkey, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States, Viet Nam A/63/PV.28
2008 Belgium, Burkina Faso, China, Costa Rica, Croatia, France, Indonesia, Italy, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Panama, Russian Federation, South Africa, United Kingdom, United States, Viet Nam A/62/PV.26
2007 Belgium, China, Congo, France, Ghana, Indonesia, Italy, Panama, Peru, Qatar, Russian Federation, Slovakia, South Africa, United Kingdom, United States A/61/PV.32, A/61/PV.49
2006 Argentina, China, Congo, Denmark, France, Ghana, Greece, Japan, Peru, Qatar, Russian Federation, Slovakia, United Kingdom, United Republic of Tanzania, United States A/60/PV.29
2005 Algeria, Argentina, Benin, Brazil, China, Denmark, France, Greece, Japan, Philippines, Romania, Russian Federation, United Kingdom, United Republic of Tanzania, United States A/59/PV.32
2004 Algeria, Angola, Benin, Brazil, Chile, China, France, Germany, Pakistan, Philippines, Romania, Russian Federation, Spain, United Kingdom, United States A/58/PV.42
2003 Angola, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Chile, China, France, Germany, Guinea, Mexico, Pakistan, Russian Federation, Spain, Syrian Arab Republic, United Kingdom, United States A/57/PV.20
2002 Bulgaria, Cameroon, China, Colombia, France, Guinea, Ireland, Mauritius, Mexico, Norway, Russian Federation, Singapore, Syrian Arab Republic, United Kingdom, United States A/56/PV.23
2001 Bangladesh, China, Colombia, France, Ireland, Jamaica, Mali, Mauritius, Norway, Russian Federation, Singapore, Tunisia, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States A/55/PV.32
2000 Argentina, Bangladesh, Canada, China, France, Jamaica, Malaysia, Mali, Namibia, Netherlands, Russian Federation, Tunisia, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States A/54/PV.34

 

 

1946-1999
Year Members of Security Council Elected at
1999 Argentina, Bahrain, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Gabon, Gambia, Malaysia, Namibia, Netherlands, Russian Federation, Slovenia, United Kingdom, United States A/53/PV.33
1998 Bahrain, Brazil, China, Costa Rica, France, Gabon, Gambia, Japan, Kenya, Portugal, Russian Federation, Slovenia, Sweden, United Kingdom, United States A/52/PV.30
1997 Chile, China, Costa Rica, Egypt, France, Guinea-Bissau, Japan, Kenya, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Sweden, United Kingdom, United States A/51/PV.39
1996 Botswana, Chile, China, Egypt, France, Germany, Guinea-Bissau, Honduras, Indonesia, Italy, Poland, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, United Kingdom, United States A/50/PV.53
1995 Argentina, Botswana, China, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Honduras, Indonesia, Italy, Nigeria, Oman, Russian Federation, Rwanda, United Kingdom, United States A/49/PV.40
1994 Argentina, Brazil, China, Czech Republic, Djibouti, France, New Zealand, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Spain, United Kingdom, United States A/48/PV.43, A/48/PV.44
1993 Brazil, Cape Verde, China, Djibouti, France, Hungary, Japan, Morocco, New Zealand, Pakistan, Russian Federation, Spain, United Kingdom, United States, Venezuela A/47/PV.48
1992 Austria, Belgium, Cape Verde, China, Ecuador, France, Hungary, India, Japan, Morocco, Russian Federation, United Kingdom, United States, Venezuela, Zimbabwe A/46/PV.32
1991 Austria, Belgium, China, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic Yemen, Ecuador, France, India, Romania, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, United Kingdom, United States, Zaire, Zimbabwe A/45/PV.36
1990 Canada, China, Colombia, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic Yemen, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Malaysia, Romania, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, United Kingdom, United States, Zaire A/44/PV.34
1989 Algeria, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Malaysia, Nepal, Senegal, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, United Kingdom, United States, Yugoslavia A/43/PV.37
1988 Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, China, Federal Republic of Germany, France, Italy, Japan, Nepal, Senegal, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, United Kingdom, United States, Yugoslavia, Zambia A/42/PV.40
1987 Argentina, Bulgaria, China, Congo, Federal Republic of Germany, France, Ghana, Italy, Japan, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Venezuela, Zambia A/41/PV.40
1986 Australia, Bulgaria, China, Congo, Denmark, France, Ghana, Madagascar, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Venezuela A/40/PV.38
1985 Australia, China, Denmark, Egypt, France, India, Madagascar, Peru, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, United Kingdom, United States, Upper Volta A/39/PV.33, A/39/PV.105
1984 China, Egypt, France, India, Malta, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Peru, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, United Kingdom, United States, Upper Volta, Zimbabwe A/38/PV.40
1983 China, France, Guyana, Jordan, Malta, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Poland, Togo, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, United Kingdom, United States, Zaire, Zimbabwe A/37/PV.36
1982 China, France, Guyana, Ireland, Japan, Jordan, Panama, Poland, Spain, Togo, Uganda, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, United Kingdom, United States, Zaire A/36/PV.35
1981 China, France, German Democratic Republic, Ireland, Japan, Mexico, Niger, Panama, Philippines, Spain, Tunisia, Uganda, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, United Kingdom, United States A/35/PV.41, A/35/PV.61
1980 Bangladesh, China, France, German Democratic Republic, Jamaica, Mexico, Niger, Norway, Philippines, Portugal, Tunisia, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, United Kingdom, United States, Zambia A/34/PV.47, A/34/PV.120
1979 Bangladesh, Bolivia, China, Czechoslovakia, France, Gabon, Jamaica, Kuwait, Nigeria, Norway, Portugal, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, United Kingdom, United States, Zambia A/33/PV.50, A/33/PV.51
1978 Bolivia, Canada, China, Czechoslovakia, Federal Republic of Germany, France, Gabon, India, Kuwait, Mauritius, Nigeria, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, United Kingdom, United States, Venezuela A/32/PV.43
1977 Benin, Canada, China, Federal Republic of Germany, France, India, Libyan Arab Republic, Mauritius, Pakistan, Panama, Romania, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, United Kingdom, United States, Venezuela A/31/PV.40
1976 Benin, China, France, Guyana, Italy, Japan, Libyan Arab Republic, Pakistan, Panama, Romania, Sweden, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, United Kingdom, United Republic of Tanzania, United States A/PV.2384, A/PV.2387
1975 Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic, China, Costa Rica, France, Guyana, Iraq, Italy, Japan, Mauritania, Sweden, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, United Kingdom, United Republic of Cameroon, United Republic of Tanzania, United States A/PV.2266
1974 Australia, Austria, Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic, China, Costa Rica, France, Indonesia, Iraq, Kenya, Mauritania, Peru, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, United Kingdom, United Republic of Cameroon, United States  A/PV.2153
1973 Australia, Austria, China, France, Guinea, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Panama, Peru, Sudan, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, United Kingdom, United States,  Yugoslavia A/PV.2070
1972 Argentina, Belgium, China, France, Guinea, India, Italy, Japan, Panama, Somalia, Sudan, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, United Kingdom, United States, Yugoslavia A/PV.1993
1971 Argentina, Belgium, Burundi, China, France, Italy, Japan, Nicaragua, Poland, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Syria, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, United Kingdom, United States A/PV.1885
1970 Burundi, China, Colombia, Finland, France, Nepal, Nicaragua, Poland, Sierra Leone, Spain, Syria, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, United Kingdom, United States, Zambia A/PV.1787
1969 Algeria, China, Colombia, Finland, France, Hungary, Nepal, Pakistan, Paraguay, Senegal, Spain, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, United Kingdom, United States, Zambia A/PV.1709
1968 Algeria, Brazil, Canada, China, Denmark, Ethiopia, France, Hungary, India, Pakistan, Paraguay, Senegal, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, United Kingdom, United States A/PV.1595
1967 Argentina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Denmark, Ethiopia, France, India, Japan, Mali, Nigeria, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, United Kingdom, United States A/PV.1462
1966 Argentina, Bulgaria, China, France, Japan, Jordan, Mali, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Uganda, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay A/PV.1392, A/PV.1393
1965 Bolivia, China, France, Ivory Coast, Jordan, Malaysia, Netherlands, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay  A/PV.1313, A/PV.1314
1964 Bolivia, Brazil, China, Czechoslovakia, France, Ivory Coast, Morocco, Norway, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, United Kingdom, United States  A/PV.1246, A/PV.1254
1963 Brazil, China, France, Ghana, Morocco, Norway, Philippines, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, United Kingdom, United States, Venezuela A/PV.1154
1962 Chile, China, France, Ghana, Ireland, Romania, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, United Kingdom, United States, United Arab Republic, Venezuela A/PV.1044, A/PV.1068
1961 Ceylon, Chile, China, Ecuador, France, Liberia, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, United Arab Republic A/PV.941, A/PV.959
1960 Argentina, Ceylon, China, Ecuador, France, Italy, Poland, Tunisia, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, United Kingdom, United States A/PV.825, A/PV.857
1959 Argentina, Canada, China, France, Italy, Japan, Panama, Tunisia, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, United Kingdom, United States A/PV.775
1958 Canada, China, Colombia, France, Iraq, Japan, Panama, Sweden, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, United Kingdom, United States A/PV.695
1957 Australia, China, Colombia, Cuba, France, Iraq, Philippines, Sweden, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, United Kingdom, United States A/PV.612, A/PV.627
1956 Australia, Belgium, China, Cuba, France, Iran, Peru, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, United Kingdom, United States,  Yugoslavia A/PV.534, A/PV.560
1955 Belgium, Brazil, China, France, Iran, New Zealand, Peru, Turkey, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, United Kingdom, United States A/PV.492
1954 Brazil, China, Colombia, Denmark, France, Lebanon, New Zealand, Turkey, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, United Kingdom, United States A/PV.450
1953 Chile, China, Colombia, Denmark, France, Greece, Lebanon, Pakistan, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, United Kingdom, United States A/PV.389
1952 Brazil, Chile, China, France, Greece, Netherlands, Pakistan, Turkey, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, United Kingdom, United States A/PV.349, A/PV.356
1951 Brazil, China, Ecuador, France, India, Netherlands, Turkey, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, United Kingdom, United States,  Yugoslavia A/PV.290, A/PV.294
1950 China, Cuba, Ecuador, Egypt, France, India, Norway, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, United Kingdom, United States, Yugoslavia A/PV.231
1949 Argentina, Canada, China, Cuba, Egypt, France, Norway, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, United Kingdom, United States, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic A/PV.149
1948 Argentina, Belgium, Canada, China, Colombia, France, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, United Kingdom, United States, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, Syria A/PV.92, A/PV.109
1947 Australia, Belgium, Brazil, China, Colombia, France, Poland, Syria, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, United Kingdom, United States A/PV.48
1946 Australia, Brazil, China, Egypt, France, Mexico, Netherlands, Poland, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, United Kingdom, United States A/PV.4, A/PV.5

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