Member states of the UN
United Nations

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Fields of activity

As an association of practically all states and their territories, the UN is primarily concerned with the observance of world peace, human rights and international law. These predominantly humanitarian goals of the international governmental organization are discussed in the UN General Assembly and recommendations are made to the states concerned. If a country does not comply with these decisions, recommendations for sanctions or embargoes against the affected state can also be made to other countries. This instrument can be quite frightening in combination with UN Security Council resolutions that are binding under international law and the deployment of UN peacekeeping forces (blue helmets).

Other organs of the UN are the International Court of Justice in The Hague, the UN Security Council and the UN Economic and Social Council. There are also a number of subordinate councils, programs and specialized agencies. The headquarters is located in New York City. Important representations are also located in Geneva, Vienna and Nairobi. It is financed by contributions from the member countries, i.e., ultimately from their taxpayers.

Non-members of the United Nations

With 193 member states and their additionally dependent external territories, it would almost be easier to list only the countries that are not members. These are the following countries or territories:

• Northern Cyprus is actually a Turkish republic according to all UN member states. Turkey does not recognize Northern Cyprus.
• Taiwan is claimed by China and was a regular member of the UN until 1971. Due to foreign policy constraints with China several states were forced to no longer recognize Taiwan and to consider it part of China in the future.
• The status of Western Sahara under international law has not yet been clarified. There are still disputes between Morocco and the Sahrawis that do not currently allow recognition as an independent country.
• The status of Kosovo under international law is also still controversial. Although more than half of the UN members now recognize Kosovo as a sovereign state, it is still under the administrative jurisdiction of the United Nations.
• Vatican City and Palestine have the role of permanent observer. They are treated as members, but have no voting rights in the General Assembly.
• The Cook Islands, Niue and Northern Mariana Islands are smaller Pacific island states with a total population of less than 70,000. They are freely associated with New Zealand and the USA respectively, but are monitored by the UN.
• Curaçao is an island in the Caribbean and has actually become a sovereign state since the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles in 2010. It is considered an "independent country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands" by the United Nations.

Dependent territories

Some of the above-mentioned member states have other external territories dependent on them. These are not independent states, but they do have some economic and political autonomy. The UN treaties apply to them at least in part. These countries are not listed as official member states.