How Many Countries Are in the United Nations?
193 or 195? Search online and you will find both numbers. So let me clear it up.The United Nations has 193 Member States, according to the UN's own membership list. That number hasn't changed since July 2011, when South Sudan became the newest member. The 195 figure simply adds the UN's two observer states.
If you are preparing for any exam with a GK section, these are facts you should know without thinking. And with UN Day coming up on 24 October, here is everything worth remembering, as of October 2026.
Why do some sources say 195?
The UN has two non-member observer states: the Holy See and the State of Palestine. Palestine received this status through General Assembly resolution 67/19 on 29 November 2012. According to the UN, permanent observers get free access to most meetings and relevant documents. But they are not Member States. So the official count stays at 193.Which country joined the UN most recently?
South Sudan, admitted on 14 July 2011. It is the 193rd Member State. Before that, the most recent new members were Montenegro (28 June 2006) and Timor-Leste (27 September 2002).When was the UN founded, and with how many members?
The UN Charter was drafted and signed in San Francisco at a conference held from 25 April to 26 June 1945. The UN officially came into existence on 24 October 1945, once the Charter had been ratified. That is why 24 October is celebrated as UN Day. The UN had 51 founding members.Is India a founding member of the UN?
Yes. India signed the Charter on 26 June 1945 and ratified it on 30 October 1945.This is a common exam trap. Some UN lists show India's admission date as 30 October 1945, which is after the UN came into existence. Don't let that confuse you. India is still one of the 51 founding members.
How many times has India been on the UN Security Council?
India has been elected a non-permanent member of the Security Council eight times: 1950-51, 1967-68, 1972-73, 1977-78, 1984-85, 1991-92, 2011-12 and 2021-22. The five permanent members are China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States.What are the official languages of the UN?
There are six: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish.Who is the UN Secretary-General?
António Guterres of Portugal. He is serving his second five-year term, which runs from January 2022 to December 2026. As of 15 October 2026, the selection of his successor is still under way. The Security Council recommends a candidate and the General Assembly makes the appointment.Quick facts
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| UN Member States | 193 |
| Non-member observer states | 2 (Holy See, State of Palestine) |
| Newest member | South Sudan (14 July 2011) |
| UN came into existence | 24 October 1945 (UN Day) |
| Founding members | 51, including India |
| Official languages | 6 |
| India's Security Council terms | 8 (latest 2021-22) |
| Secretary-General | António Guterres (term ends 31 December 2026) |
Test Yourself
Now let's see how much you remember.1. How many Member States does the United Nations have?
(A) 191 (B) 192 (C) 193 (D) 195
2. Which country became the newest UN Member State in 2011?
(A) Montenegro (B) South Sudan (C) Timor-Leste (D) Kosovo
3. How many times has India been elected to the UN Security Council?
(A) 6 (B) 7 (C) 8 (D) 9
Answers:
1. (C) 193. The figure 195 includes the two observer states.
2. (B) South Sudan, on 14 July 2011. Montenegro joined in 2006 and Timor-Leste in 2002; Kosovo is not a UN member.
3. (C) 8 times, most recently for 2021-22.
1. (C) 193. The figure 195 includes the two observer states.
2. (B) South Sudan, on 14 July 2011. Montenegro joined in 2006 and Timor-Leste in 2002; Kosovo is not a UN member.
3. (C) 8 times, most recently for 2021-22.
