UNESCO member state dependent territory with separate NOC
UNESCO associates
UNESCO observers
As of July 2023[update], UNESCO members include 194 member states and 12 associate members.[1] Some members have additional National Organizing Committees (NOCs) for some of their dependent territories.[2] The associate members are non-independent states.
Kosovo was approved for membership by UNESCO's executive board in 2015,[6] but the proposal did not receive the required 2/3 of votes in favour at the general conference.[7]
Member states
The 194 UNESCO member states, as of July 2023[update], with the date on which they became members, are:[8][9][1][2]
Both Israel and the United States withdrew claiming that the organization had an anti-Israel bias,[3][13] with the United States moving to rejoin in 2023.[5]
Associate members
The 12 associate members of UNESCO and the date on which they became associate members:[1]
^ abThe former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY) became a Member State on 31 March 1950. The participation of Yugoslavia in meetings of governing bodies and conferences of UNESCO was suspended following Resolution 47/1 adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on 22 September 1992, which stated that the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro) could not continue automatically the membership of the former SFRY. Accordingly, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, which became a Member State on 20 December 2000, could not automatically succeed the former SFRY as a member of the Organization. Following the adoption of the Constitutional Charter of Serbia and Montenegro by the Assembly of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia on 4 February 2003, the name of the State of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia has been changed to "Serbia and Montenegro". Further to the Declaration of Independence adopted by the Parliament of Montenegro on 3 June 2006, UNESCO has been informed that the membership of the State Union Serbia and Montenegro in UNESCO is continued by the Republic of Serbia on the basis of Article 60 of the Constitutional Charter of Serbia and Montenegro.
^Niue does not have a National Organizing Committee established.[2]
^As "The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia" before 2019
^On 31 October 2011, the UNESCO General Conference in Parisadmitted Palestine as a UNESCO member state, with 107 votes in favour of admission and 14 votes against, with 52 abstentions (a two-thirds majority vote in favour by member states is required). The decision took effect on 23 November 2011 when Palestine ratified UNESCO’s constitution.[10]
^Previously a Member State from 11 March 1965 to 31 December 1972.
^Membership was founded as the Soviet Union to 1991.
^Previously a Member State from 28 October 1965 to 31 December 1985.[11]
^Previously a Member State from 4 November 1946 (founding member) to 31 December 1956.
^Previously a Member State from 4 November 1946 (founding member) to 31 December 1985.
^ abThe Netherlands Antilles became associate member of UNESCO on 26 October 1983. On Sunday 10 October 2010, a new status of the Netherlands Antilles came into effect within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, by which the country-status Dutch: land of the Netherlands Antilles ceased to exist. Under the new status, Curacao and Sint Maarten become countries (enjoying internal self-government within the Kingdom), joining Aruba, which gained similar status in 1986. Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba have become part of the country "the Netherlands". The Netherlands retains responsibility for e.g. defence and foreign policy.
