Member state

Australia at the United Nations

Flag of Australia
Flag of Australia (converted).svg by Unknown <br> (Vector graphics image by Ian Fieggen) (only minor code changes by uploader.) (Public domain) — Wikimedia Commons
Admitted
1945-11-01
ISO 3166-1
AU / AUS
Charter signed
1945-06-26
Charter ratified
1945-11-01

A founding Member State: one of the fifty-one that signed the Charter at San Francisco in 1945.

International organisations

Every organisation this state belongs to that is compiled here, with the date it joined. Membership is resolved against this site’s own list of member states rather than taken from a query.

OrganisationJoined
United Nations 1945-11-01

Service on principal organs

Elected terms as recorded by the Dag Hammarskjöld Library. A year marked pending is one the Library publishes as a partial list because its elections have not yet been held.

Economic and Social Council

2028 pending 2027 pending 2026 2025 2021 2020 2017 2016 2015 2012 2011 2010 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1988 1987 1986 1982 1981 1976 1975 1974 1964 1963 1962 1955 1954 1953 1950 1949 1948

Human Rights Council

2020 2019 2018

Security Council

2014 2013 1986 1985 1974 1973 1957 1956 1947 1946

Permanent representatives

3 recorded. Full list

NameFromTo
Mitch Fifield 2019-10-172023-07-01
Gillian Bird 2015-022019-10-17
Robert Hill 2006-03-272009-05

Permanent mission

Mission
Permanent Mission of Australia to the United Nations
Address
Permanent Mission of Australia to the United Nations, 150 East 42nd Street, 33rd Floor, New York, NY 10017
National holiday
Australia Day, 26 January
Accredited diplomats
16

Accredited diplomats

The numbers

IndicatorLatestYearSince 1970
CO2 emissions per capita 14.0987 2024
GDP 1.79852e+12 2025
GNI per capita 64,120 2025
Life expectancy at birth 83.0512 2024
Military expenditure (% of GDP) 1.88379 2024
Population 2.76144e+07 2025
Refugees hosted (UNHCR mandate) 33,415 2025
Refugees originating (UNHCR mandate) 41 2025

World Bank, World Development Indicators, CC BY 4.0. The sparkline shows the shape of each run from its first reported year; the number beside it carries the magnitude, and there is deliberately no axis on it.

General Debate statements

79 statements to the General Debate since 1946, 298,511 words in all. The longest was 1959, at 6,981 words, delivered by Mr. Casey.

Of the 31 statements since 1994 whose speaker’s post the record gives: Minister for Foreign Affairs ×14, Prime Minister ×9, UN Representative ×4, Minister of Foreign Affairs ×3. Earlier years are excluded because UN records do not consistently identify a speaker’s post before 1994, and counting those years as though they did would make any state look as though it sent nobody senior.

2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971 1970 1969 1968 1967 1966 1965 1964 1963 1962 1961 1960 1959 1958 1957 1956 1955 1954 1953 1952 1951 1950 1948 1947 1946

Emblems and location

Coat of arms of Australia
Coat of arms. Coat of arms of the Commonwealth of Australia.svg by Sodacan (Public domain) — Wikimedia Commons
Location of Australia
Location. AUS orthographic.svg by David Ayala (CC BY-SA) — Wikimedia Commons

Treaties joined

101 actions recorded by the Secretary-General as depositary. Only treaties whose participant counts match the depositary’s own stated totals contribute rows.

TreatySignedRatified or acceded
Charter of the United Nations - 1 Nov 1945
Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations - 2 Mar 1949 a
Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the Specialized Agencies - 9 May 1986 a
Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations 30 Mar 1962 26 Jan 1968
Optional Protocol to the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, concerning the Compulsory Settlement of Disputes - 26 Jan 1968 a
Vienna Convention on Consular Relations 31 Mar 1964 12 Feb 1973
Optional Protocol to the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations concerning the Compulsory Settlement of Disputes - 12 Feb 1973 a
Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide 11 Dec 1948 8 Jul 1949
Convention on the Rights of the Child 22 Aug 1990 17 Dec 1990
Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, aiming at the abolition of the death penalty - 2 Oct 1990 a
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 30 Mar 2007 17 Jul 2008
International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination 13 Oct 1966 30 Sep 1975
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights 18 Dec 1972 10 Dec 1975
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights 18 Dec 1972 13 Aug 1980
Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights - 25 Sep 1991 a
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women 17 Jul 1980 28 Jul 1983
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women 17 Jul 1980 28 Jul 1983
Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment 10 Dec 1985 8 Aug 1989
Constitution of the World Health Organization 22 Jul 1946 2 Feb 1948 A
Protocol concerning the Office international d'hygiène publique 22 Jul 1946 8 May 1947 A
WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control 5 Dec 2003 27 Oct 2004
WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control 5 Dec 2003 27 Oct 2004
Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness - 13 Dec 1973 a
Protocol relating to the Status of Refugees - 13 Dec 1973 a
Protocol relating to the Status of Refugees - 13 Dec 1973 a
Protocol amending the Agreements, Conventions and Protocols on Narcotic Drugs, concluded at The Hague on 23 January 1912, at Geneva on 11 February 1925 and 19 February 1925, and 13 July 1931, at Bangkok on 27 November 1931 and at Geneva on 26 June 1936 11 Dec 1946 28 Aug 1947 A
Protocol Bringing under International Control Drugs Outside the Scope of the Convention of 13 July 1931 for Limiting the Manufacture and Regulating the Distribution of Narcotic Drugs, as amended by the Protocol signed at Lake Success, New York, on 11 December 1946 - 19 Nov 1948 s
Protocol for Limiting and Regulating the Cultivation of the Poppy Plant, the Production of, International and Wholesale Trade in, and use of Opium - 13 Jan 1955 a
Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961 30 Mar 1961 1 Dec 1967
Convention on psychotropic substances 23 Dec 1971 19 May 1982
Protocol amending the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961 22 Nov 1972 22 Nov 1972
United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances 14 Feb 1989 16 Nov 1992
Protocol signed at Lake Success, New York, on 12 November 1947, to amend the Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Women and Children, concluded at Geneva on 30 September 1921, and the Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Women of Full Age, concluded at Geneva on 11 October 1933 - 13 Nov 1947 s
Protocol amending the International Agreement for the Suppression of the White Slave Traffic, signed at Paris on 18 May 1904, and the International Convention for the Suppression of the White Slave Traffic, signed at Paris on 4 May 1910 - 8 Dec 1949 s
Protocol amending the International Agreement for the Suppression of the White Slave Traffic, signed at Paris on 18 May 1904, and the International Convention for the Suppression of the White Slave Traffic, signed at Paris on 4 May 1910 - 8 Dec 1949 s
Protocol to amend the Convention for the suppression of the circulation of, and traffic in, obscene publications, concluded at Geneva on 12 September 1923 - 13 Nov 1947 s
Protocol amending the Agreement for the Suppression of the Circulation of Obscene Publications, signed at Paris, on 4 May 1910 - 8 Dec 1949 s
United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods - 17 Mar 1988 a
Charter of the Asian and Pacific Development Centre - 11 Oct 1983 s
Convention on Transit Trade of Land-locked States - 2 May 1972 a
Agreement establishing the Asian Development Bank 4 Dec 1965 19 Sep 1966
Agreement establishing the International Fund for Agricultural Development [30 Mar 1977 ] [21 Oct 1977 ] (withdrawn)
Constitution of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization [ 3 Mar 1980 ] [ 1 Jan 1992 a] (withdrawn)
European Convention on Customs Treatment of Pallets used in International Transport - 1 Oct 1969 a
Customs Convention on Containers, 1972 - 10 Nov 1975 a
Convention concerning Customs Facilities for Touring - 6 Jan 1967 a
Additional Protocol to the Convention concerning Customs Facilities for Touring, relating to the Importation of Tourist Publicity Documents and Material - 6 Jan 1967 a
Customs Convention on the Temporary Importation of Private Road Vehicles - 6 Jan 1967 a
Customs Convention on Containers - 6 Jan 1967 a
Convention on the Taxation of Road Vehicles for Private Use in International Traffic - 3 May 1961 a
Agreement concerning the adoption of harmonized technical United Nations Regulations for wheeled vehicles, equipment and parts which can be fitted and/or be used on wheeled vehicles and the conditions for reciprocal recognition of approvals granted on the basis of these United Nations Regulations - 25 Feb 2000 a
Agreement concerning the Establishing of Global Technical Regulations for Wheeled Vehicles, Equipment and Parts which can be fitted and/or be used on Wheeled Vehicles - 8 Apr 2008 a
Convention on the International Maritime Organization 6 Mar 1948 13 Feb 1952 A
Protocol amending the International Convention relating to Economic Statistics, signed at Geneva on 14 December 1928 - 9 Dec 1948 s
Agreement on the Importation of Educational, Scientific and Cultural Materials - 5 Mar 1992 A
International Convention for the Protection of Performers, Producers of Phonograms and Broadcasting Organisations - 30 Jun 1992 a
Convention for the Protection of Producers of Phonograms against Unauthorized Duplication of their Phonograms - 12 Mar 1974 a
Protocol to the Agreement on the Importation of Educational, Scientific and Cultural Materials of 22 November 1950 - 5 Mar 1992 a
International Sugar Agreement, 1992 24 Dec 1992 24 Dec 1992
International Tropical Timber Agreement, 2006 30 Jun 2008 24 Sep 2008
Food Assistance Convention 21 Dec 2012 24 Jun 2014
Convention on the Political Rights of Women - 10 Dec 1974 a
Protocol amending the Slavery Convention signed at Geneva on 25 September 1926 - 9 Dec 1953 s
Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court 9 Dec 1998 1 Jul 2002
International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism 15 Oct 2001 26 Sep 2002
United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime 13 Dec 2000 27 May 2004
United Nations Convention against Corruption 9 Dec 2003 7 Dec 2005
United Nations Convention against Cybercrime; Strengthening International Cooperation for Combating Certain Crimes Committed by Means of Information and Communications Technology Systems and for the Sharing of Evidence in Electronic Form of Serious Crimes 25 Oct 2025 -
International Convention Against the Taking of Hostages - 21 May 1990 a
Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Crimes against Internationally Protected Persons, including Diplomatic Agents 30 Dec 1974 20 Jun 1977
Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel 22 Dec 1995 4 Dec 2000
International Convention for the Suppression of Terrorist Bombings - 9 Aug 2002 a
Convention on the Territorial Sea and the Contiguous Zone 30 Oct 1958 14 May 1963
Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction 20 Sep 2023 -
Convention on the High Seas 30 Oct 1958 14 May 1963
Convention on Fishing and Conservation of the Living Resources of the High Seas 30 Oct 1958 14 May 1963
Convention on the Continental Shelf 30 Oct 1958 14 May 1963
Optional Protocol of Signature concerning the Compulsory Settlement of Disputes - 14 May 1963 s
Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks 4 Dec 1995 23 Dec 1999
Agreement on the Privileges and Immunities of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea 26 May 1999 11 May 2001
Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards - 26 Mar 1975 a
United Nations Convention on Transparency in Treaty-based Investor-State Arbitration 18 Jul 2017 17 Sep 2020
United Nations Convention on International Settlement Agreements Resulting from Mediation 10 Sep 2021 -
Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties between States and International Organizations or between International Organizations - 16 Jun 1993 a
Agreement governing the Activities of States on the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies - 7 Jul 1986 a
Convention relating to the distribution of programme-carrying signals transmitted by satellite - 26 Jul 1990 a
Constitution of the Asia-Pacific Telecommunity 26 Jul 1977 26 Jul 1977
Convention on the prohibition of military or any other hostile use of environmental modification techniques 31 May 1978 7 Sep 1984
Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons which may be deemed to be Excessively Injurious or to have Indiscriminate Effects (with Protocols I, II and III) 8 Apr 1982 29 Sep 1983
Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction 13 Jan 1993 6 May 1994
Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty 24 Sep 1996 9 Jul 1998
Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction 3 Dec 1997 14 Jan 1999
Convention on Cluster Munitions 3 Dec 2008 8 Oct 2012
Arms Trade Treaty 3 Jun 2013 3 Jun 2014
United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa 14 Oct 1994 15 May 2000
Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade 6 Jul 1999 20 May 2004
Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants 23 May 2001 20 May 2004
Minamata Convention on Mercury 10 Oct 2013 7 Dec 2021
Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer - 16 Sep 1987 a
Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal - 5 Feb 1992 a
Convention on Biological Diversity 5 Jun 1992 18 Jun 1993

Recorded votes

ResolutionDateVote
A/RES/80/282 - yes
A/RES/80/286 - yes
A/RES/80/296 - yes
A/RES/80/293 B - yes
A/RES/80/294 - yes
A/RES/80/293 A - yes
A/RES/80/297 - yes
A/RES/80/299 - abstain

Provenance

Every fact on this page, with where it came from and how sure we are.

AttributeValueSourceConfidenceFetched
iso2AU wikidata 1.02026-08-26T06:55:17.906017+00:00
iso3AUS wikidata 1.02026-08-26T06:55:17.906030+00:00
m4936 un_sdg 1.02026-08-26T06:55:41.141816+00:00
nameAustralia wikidata 1.02026-08-26T06:55:17.905998+00:00
un_admission_date1945-11-01 wikidata 1.02026-08-26T06:55:17.906008+00:00
unsd_nameAustralia un_sdg 1.02026-08-26T06:55:41.141827+00:00

Where this page comes from