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Countries Not in the United Nations 2024

Snapshot

  • The United Nations, established in 1945 with 51 founding members including the US, UK, and China, now comprises 193 member states and two observer states.

  • To join the UN, states must adhere to its Charter, secure unanimous Security Council approval, including all five permanent members, and gain a two-thirds majority in the General Assembly.

  • Vatican City and Palestine, as observer states, along with regions like Kosovo, Taiwan, and Western Sahara, face unique political challenges or disputes hindering their full UN membership.

  • The names column below is labeleld ""Countries"" for database purposes only. As of 2023, none of the listed nations are considered countries (technically ""sovereign states"") by the United Nations.
  • However, each nation listed has the potential to be considered a country (and allowed to join the UN) if recognized as a sovereign state by enough UN member states and upon passing votes by both the UN Security Council and the UN General Assembly.

35 countries

Country
Parent Country
Current Legal Status
Puerto RicoUnited StatesUnincorporated organized territory
GuamUnited StatesUnincorporated organized territory
United States Virgin IslandsUnited StatesUnincorporated organized territory
American SamoaUnited StatesUnincorporated unorganized territory
Northern Mariana IslandsUnited StatesUnincorporated organized territory
Isle of ManUnited KingdomCrown dependency
Cayman IslandsUnited KingdomOverseas territory
BermudaUnited KingdomOverseas territory
Turks and Caicos IslandsUnited KingdomOverseas territory
British Virgin IslandsUnited KingdomOverseas territory
GibraltarUnited KingdomOverseas territory
AnguillaUnited KingdomOverseas territory
MontserratUnited KingdomOverseas territory
Falkland IslandsUnited KingdomOverseas territory
Cook IslandsNew ZealandSelf-governing state in free association
TokelauNew ZealandDependent Territory
NiueNew ZealandSelf-governing state in free association
ArubaNetherlandsConstituent country
Sint MaartenNetherlandsConstituent country
ReunionFranceOverseas department and region
GuadeloupeFranceOverseas department and region
MartiniqueFranceOverseas department and region
MayotteFranceOverseas department and region
French GuianaFranceOverseas department and region
New CaledoniaFranceSui generis collectivity
French PolynesiaFranceOverseas collective
Saint MartinFranceOverseas collective
Wallis and FutunaFranceOverseas collective
Saint Pierre and MiquelonFranceOverseas collective
GreenlandDenmarkSelf-governing territory
Faroe IslandsDenmarkSelf-governing territory
TaiwanChinaPartially recognized state (16 UN members)
Hong KongChinaSpecial administrative region
MacauChinaSpecial administrative region
PalestinePartially recognized state (138 UN members) w UN observer status

What countries are not in the UN?

Two permanent non-member states are not members of the UN; Holy See/Vatican City and Palestine. However, Kosovo, Taiwan, and Western Sahara are also non-members, even though several members do recognize them as countries.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources