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:
- Repertoire of the Practice of the Security Council : Voting
- Security Council Membership Dashboard
- UN Security Council website : Voting System
Additional Resources
- Search for voting for A/RES/1991(XVIII) on increase of membership
- UN Digital Library dataset: United Nations Security Council representatives
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.
| Year | Members of Security Council | Elected at |
|---|---|---|
| 2027 | (partial list pending elections): Bahrain, China, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, France, Latvia, Liberia, Russian Federation, United Kingdom, United States | |
| 2026 | Bahrain, China, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, France, Greece, Latvia, Liberia, Pakistan, Panama, Russian Federation, Somalia, United Kingdom, United States | A/79/PV.73 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
Ask DAG! Security Council FAQs
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About the Security Council Presidency
The presidency of the Security Council rotates each month in accordance with Rules 18-20 of the Provisional Rules of Procedure. Each Member State on the Council serves for a month, in English alphabetical order of the Member States names.