The United Nations currently has 193 full member states — but membership isn’t the only way a state can participate. Understanding UN member states vs. observer states clears up a surprisingly common point of confusion.
What Full UN Membership Means
All 193 UN member states can vote in the General Assembly, participate fully in UN bodies, and are recognized as sovereign states under the UN Charter. Membership requires approval by the Security Council and a two-thirds vote of the General Assembly.
The Two Permanent Observer States
- Vatican City (Holy See) — has held permanent observer status since 1964, participating in UN discussions and signing many UN treaties without holding a vote in the General Assembly
- Palestine — was granted non-member observer state status in 2012, allowing it to participate in debates and join certain UN bodies and treaties, though it remains outside full membership pending recognition by the Security Council
See area and population data for member states on our Rankings page.
Why a State Might Not Be a Full Member
Full UN membership requires Security Council approval, where any of the five permanent members (the US, UK, France, Russia, and China) can veto an applicant. This is why Palestine, despite broad recognition from individual UN member states, has not achieved full UN membership — its application has not secured Security Council approval. This is a different situation from partially recognized states like Kosovo or Taiwan, discussed in our piece on the newest countries in the world, which aren’t UN members or observers at all.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many countries are UN member states?
There are 193 UN member states as of the most recent admission.
Is Vatican City a UN member?
No — Vatican City (the Holy See) holds permanent observer status at the UN rather than full membership, allowing it to participate without a General Assembly vote.
Is Palestine a member of the UN?
Palestine holds non-member observer state status, granted in 2012, but has not achieved full UN membership.
Compare UN member states by population and area using our Compare tool.
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