Last updated: October 27, 2026. Reference guide, reviewed when the underlying official data changes.
The UN Security Council has 15 members in 2026: five permanent members (China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States) and 10 elected members. The elected seats are held by Bahrain, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Greece, Latvia, Liberia, Pakistan, Panama and Somalia, the UN lists.
All 15 Security Council members
| Country | Seat | Term ends | Regional group |
|---|---|---|---|
| China | Permanent | – | – |
| France | Permanent | – | – |
| Russia | Permanent | – | – |
| United Kingdom | Permanent | – | – |
| United States | Permanent | – | – |
| Bahrain | Elected | 2027 | Africa and Asia-Pacific |
| Colombia | Elected | 2027 | Latin America and Caribbean |
| DR Congo | Elected | 2027 | Africa and Asia-Pacific |
| Latvia | Elected | 2027 | Eastern Europe |
| Liberia | Elected | 2027 | Africa and Asia-Pacific |
| Denmark | Elected | 2026 | – |
| Greece | Elected | 2026 | – |
| Pakistan | Elected | 2026 | – |
| Panama | Elected | 2026 | – |
| Somalia | Elected | 2026 | – |
Regional groups for the 2026–27 class come from the UN’s election record; a dash means the group was not stated in the sources used here. Latvia is serving for the first time in its history.
The veto
Each permanent member can block any substantive resolution on its own, regardless of majority support, UN News explains. Its decisions bind every UN member: under Article 25 of the UN Charter, members “agree to accept and carry out the decisions of the Security Council.” For a recent example of a council vote, see Haiti sanctions renewed.
How elected members are chosen
The 193-member General Assembly elects five members each year to staggered two-year terms by secret ballot. Seats are allocated by regional group, and a candidate needs a two-thirds majority even when it runs unopposed. In June 2025, the Assembly elected Bahrain (186 votes), the DR Congo (183), Liberia (181), Colombia (180) and Latvia (178) for 2026–27. They replaced Algeria, Guyana, South Korea, Sierra Leone and Slovenia. More than 50 UN members have never served on the council.
Frequently asked questions
Who are the five permanent members of the UN Security Council?
China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States.
How many members does the Security Council have?
15: five permanent and 10 elected for two-year terms.
Is India on the UN Security Council in 2026?
No. India is not among the 15 members listed for 2026.
When do the next members join?
Five new members begin two-year terms each January 1, replacing those whose terms end in December.
Related on Peter’s World
Sources
Additional sources
- UN Charter, Chapter V: The Security Council (Article 25)
- UN News: New faces, old tensions as five nations take their seats (January 2026)
By Peter. This guide was prepared with AI assistance and checked against the sources listed above.
