193 UN members · October 2026

Which countries recognize Palestine?

As of October 2026, 154 of the 193 UN member states recognize the State of Palestine. Belgium announced recognition in September 2025 but has not completed the legal formalities. Hungary and Papua New Guinea are on the Palestinian side's lists, but Hungary's previous government and Papua New Guinea's government have cast doubt on recognition. Palestine declared independence on November 15, 1988, and about 80 states recognized it by the end of that year. In 2024, Spain, Ireland, Norway, Slovenia and Armenia recognized it, along with four Caribbean states. In September 2025, the United Kingdom, France, Canada, Australia and six other states followed. The United States, Germany, Italy and Japan do not recognize it. Palestine is a non-member observer state at the United Nations.

Government statements and UN records · Updated October 2026

Recognize: 154
Announced: 1
Disputed: 2
Don't: 36

Of the 193 UN members, as of October 2026.

World map of which UN members recognize Palestine

Recognizes
Announced, not in force
Disputed
Does not recognize
Palestine

Which countries don't recognize Palestine?

As of October 2026, 36 UN members do not recognize the State of Palestine. Sixteen are in Europe, including Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Austria, Denmark, Finland, Greece and the three Baltic states. Eleven are in Oceania: New Zealand and 10 Pacific island states. Four are in Asia: Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Myanmar. Israel is among them, as are Cameroon, Eritrea, the United States and Panama. Belgium (announced) and Hungary and Papua New Guinea (disputed) are counted separately.

Austria
Belgium (announced)
Cameroon
Croatia
Czechia
Denmark
Eritrea
Estonia
Fiji
Finland
Germany
Greece
Hungary (disputed)
Israel
Italy
Japan
Kiribati
Latvia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Marshall Islands
Micronesia
Moldova
Myanmar
Nauru
Netherlands
New Zealand
North Macedonia
Palau
Panama
Papua New Guinea (disputed)
Samoa
Singapore
Solomon Islands
South Korea
Switzerland
Tonga
Tuvalu
United States

When did most countries recognize Palestine?

On November 15, 1988, the Palestine National Council proclaimed the State of Palestine in Algiers. About 80 of today's UN members recognized it by the end of 1988, and nearly 90 by the end of 1989. Between 2008 and 2013, most of Latin America recognized Palestine, starting with Costa Rica in 2008. Brazil and Argentina followed in December 2010, and most of South America had done so by early 2011. In 2014, Sweden became the first European Union member to recognize Palestine while it was an EU member.

Spain, Ireland and Norway recognized it on May 28, 2024, followed by Slovenia on June 4 and Armenia on June 21. Four Caribbean states, Barbados, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and the Bahamas, recognized it earlier that spring. In September 2025, around a conference on the two-state solution co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia, 10 more states recognized Palestine. The United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and Portugal did so on September 21. France, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco and Andorra announced recognition at the conference on September 22, and San Marino decided on September 23. Belgium also announced recognition at the conference but has not given it legal effect. As of October 2026, no UN member has recognized Palestine since San Marino on September 23, 2025.

How many UN members recognize PalestineToday's UN members, by the year they recognized it. The top line is all 193.

Where do the major powers stand?

Of the five permanent members of the Security Council, four recognize Palestine. Russia and China have recognized it since 1988. France and the United Kingdom recognized it in September 2025. The United States does not. Among the G7, the United Kingdom, France and Canada recognized Palestine in September 2025. Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States do not.

In the European Union, 13 of 27 members recognize Palestine. Five, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Poland, Romania and Slovakia, recognized it in 1988 before they joined. Sweden recognized it in 2014, Spain, Ireland and Slovenia in 2024, and France, Luxembourg, Malta and Portugal in 2025. In June 2026, Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Janša said his government would freeze the 2024 decision. No such decision had been published as of October 2026. Belgium announced recognition in September 2025 but set conditions: all hostages released and Hamas removed from governance. In July 2026, Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot said he had asked his ministry to prepare formal recognition. The royal decree had not been signed as of October 2026. Twelve EU members, including Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Austria, Denmark and Finland, do not recognize Palestine, and Hungary's recognition is disputed.

United StatesNo
ChinaSince 1988
RussiaSince 1988
United KingdomSince 2025
FranceSince 2025
GermanyNo
JapanNo
ItalyNo
CanadaSince 2025
IndiaSince 1988
BrazilSince 2010
AustraliaSince 2025
South KoreaNo
Saudi ArabiaSince 1988
TurkeySince 1988
SpainSince 2024

Why do some countries not recognize Palestine?

Several governments say recognition should come at the end of negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians, not before. A United States State Department spokesperson said on September 21, 2025: "Our focus remains on serious diplomacy, not performative gestures." German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on December 7, 2025 that Germany would not recognize Palestine "in the foreseeable future" and that recognition "should come at the end" of a negotiated process. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on September 23, 2025: "I am not against the recognition of Palestine, but we should set ourselves the right priorities." In September 2025, Italy set two conditions: that all hostages be freed and that Hamas be excluded from government. As of October 2026, Italy had not recognized Palestine.

Takeshi Iwaya, then Japan's foreign minister, said on September 22, 2025 that recognition is "not a matter of 'if,' but of 'when.'" South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said on September 23, 2025 that South Korea is "committed to recognizing Palestinian statehood at a time when it would be genuinely conducive to realizing the two-state solution."

What do Israel and the Palestinians say about recognition?

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on September 21, 2025 that recognition is "a huge reward to terrorism." At the General Assembly on September 26, 2025, he said: "Israel will not allow you to shove a terrorist state down our throats." On May 22, 2024, the day Ireland, Norway and Spain announced they would recognize Palestine, Israel recalled its ambassadors to all three countries. In August 2025, Israel gave final approval to the E1 settlement plan. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said it would "bury" the idea of a Palestinian state.

The office of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said on September 21, 2025 that recognition "constitutes an important and necessary step toward achieving a just and lasting peace." Palestinian Ambassador Riyad Mansour said on September 22, 2025: "We have already recognized the right of Israel to existence in 1988 and in 1993." In a video address to the General Assembly on September 25, 2025, Abbas said the actions of Hamas on October 7, 2023 "do not represent the Palestinian people" and that "we do not want an armed state."

Is Palestine a member of the United Nations?

No. Since November 29, 2012, Palestine has been a non-member observer state at the United Nations, granted that status by resolution 67/19, which passed 138 to 9 with 41 abstentions. Full membership requires a Security Council recommendation, with at least 9 of 15 votes and no veto from any permanent member, followed by a two-thirds majority of General Assembly members present and voting.

On April 18, 2024, the United States vetoed a Security Council draft that would have recommended Palestine's admission. The vote was 12 in favor, 1 against and 2 abstentions. On May 10, 2024, the General Assembly passed resolution ES-10/23 by 143 to 9 with 25 abstentions, finding Palestine qualified for membership and asking the Security Council to "reconsider the matter favourably." Palestinian Ambassador Riyad Mansour said: "A 'yes' vote is a vote for Palestinian existence; it is not against any State." US Deputy Ambassador Robert Wood said the US vote against was "an acknowledgement that statehood will only come from a process that involves direct negotiations between the parties." From September 2024, Palestine gained additional rights but still cannot vote in the General Assembly or run for UN organs.

What does it mean to recognize a state?

Recognition is a decision made by each government individually. The Montevideo Convention of 1933 lists four criteria commonly used to define a state: a permanent population, a defined territory, a government, and the capacity to enter into relations with other states. Under the declaratory view, a state exists once it meets these criteria. Under the constitutive view, a state becomes a legal person only through recognition by other states.

Recognition is separate from opening an embassy or establishing diplomatic relations. For example, the United Kingdom recognized Palestine on September 21, 2025, and the Palestinian mission in London was upgraded to an embassy on January 5, 2026.

Which countries don't recognize Israel?

As of October 2026, at least 23 UN members have never recognized Israel or have withdrawn recognition. They include Afghanistan, Algeria, Bangladesh, Brunei, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, North Korea, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Syria, Tunisia, Yemen, Comoros, Djibouti, Oman and Sudan. Several other states, including Cuba and Venezuela, recognized Israel but later cut diplomatic relations. Venezuela restored consular ties with Israel in August 2026.

The Abraham Accords, brokered by the United States in 2020, led to normalization agreements between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan, though Sudan's normalization was never completed.

Every UN member, and since when

Dates are those of each government's announcement or the date diplomatic relations were established. Where no government statement was found, the date is from the 2024 list of Arab, Islamic and Non-Aligned groups at the UN (document A/78/846). States that recognized as part of a predecessor country are noted: for example, Russia's recognition dates to the Soviet Union in 1988, and Slovakia's to Czechoslovakia in 1988. The buttons filter by status.

Which UN members recognize it, and since when
Country	Region	Since	Status
Afghanistan	Asia	November 16, 1988	Since 1988
Albania	Europe	November 17, 1988	Since 1988
Algeria	Africa	November 15, 1988	Since 1988
Andorra	Europe	September 22, 2025	Since 2025
Angola	Africa	December 6, 1988	Since 1988
Antigua and Barbuda	Americas	September 22, 2011	Since 2011
Argentina	Americas	December 6, 2010	Since 2010
Armenia	Europe	June 21, 2024	Since 2024
Australia	Oceania	September 21, 2025	Since 2025
Austria	Europe		No
Azerbaijan	Europe	April 15, 1992	Since 1992
Bahamas	Americas	May 7, 2024	Since 2024
Bahrain	Middle East	November 15, 1988	Since 1988
Bangladesh	Asia	November 16, 1988	Since 1988
Barbados	Americas	April 19, 2024	Since 2024
BelarusRecognized in 1988 as the Byelorussian SSR, then a UN member.	Europe	November 19, 1988	Since 1988
BelgiumAnnounced on September 22, 2025. The royal decree that gives it legal effect had not been signed as of October 2026.	Europe	September 22, 2025	Announced
Belize	Americas	September 9, 2011	Since 2011
Benin	Africa	May 12, 1989	Since 1989
Bhutan	Asia	December 25, 1988	Since 1988
Bolivia	Americas	December 17, 2010	Since 2010
Bosnia and Herzegovina	Europe	May 27, 1992	Since 1992
Botswana	Africa	December 19, 1988	Since 1988
Brazil	Americas	December 1, 2010	Since 2010
Brunei	Asia	November 17, 1988	Since 1988
Bulgaria	Europe	November 25, 1988	Since 1988
Burkina Faso	Africa	November 21, 1988	Since 1988
Burundi	Africa	December 22, 1988	Since 1988
Cambodia	Asia	November 21, 1988	Since 1988
Cameroon	Africa		No
Canada	Americas	September 21, 2025	Since 2025
Cape Verde	Africa	November 24, 1988	Since 1988
Central African Republic	Africa	December 23, 1988	Since 1988
Chad	Africa	December 1, 1988	Since 1988
Chile	Americas	January 7, 2011	Since 2011
China	Asia	November 20, 1988	Since 1988
Colombia	Americas	August 3, 2018	Since 2018
Comoros	Africa	November 21, 1988	Since 1988
Costa Rica	Americas	February 5, 2008	Since 2008
Côte d'Ivoire	Africa	December 1, 2008	Since 2008
Croatia	Europe		No
Cuba	Americas	November 16, 1988	Since 1988
Cyprus	Europe	November 18, 1988	Since 1988
CzechiaCzechoslovakia recognized Palestine in 1988. Czechia's foreign ministry says that act was not a recognition.	Europe		No
Denmark	Europe		No
Djibouti	Africa	November 17, 1988	Since 1988
Dominica	Americas	September 19, 2011	Since 2011
Dominican Republic	Americas	July 15, 2009	Since 2009
DR Congo	Africa	December 18, 1988	Since 1988
Ecuador	Americas	December 24, 2010	Since 2010
Egypt	Africa	November 18, 1988	Since 1988
El Salvador	Americas	August 25, 2011	Since 2011
Equatorial Guinea	Africa	May 1989	Since 1989
Eritrea	Africa		No
Estonia	Europe		No
Eswatini	Africa	July 1, 1991	Since 1991
Ethiopia	Africa	February 4, 1989	Since 1989
Fiji	Oceania		No
Finland	Europe		No
France	Europe	September 22, 2025	Since 2025
Gabon	Africa	December 12, 1988	Since 1988
Gambia	Africa	November 18, 1988	Since 1988
Georgia	Europe	April 25, 1992	Since 1992
GermanyEast Germany recognized Palestine in 1988. Unified Germany does not.	Europe		No
Ghana	Africa	November 29, 1988	Since 1988
Greece	Europe		No
Grenada	Americas	September 25, 2011	Since 2011
Guatemala	Americas	April 9, 2013	Since 2013
Guinea	Africa	November 21, 1988	Since 1988
Guinea-Bissau	Africa	November 21, 1988	Since 1988
Guyana	Americas	January 13, 2011	Since 2011
Haiti	Americas	September 27, 2013	Since 2013
Honduras	Americas	August 26, 2011	Since 2011
HungaryRecognized in 1988 and never withdrawn, but in 2024 the government of the time said it did not agree with recognizing a Palestinian state.	Europe	November 23, 1988	Disputed
Iceland	Europe	December 15, 2011	Since 2011
India	Asia	November 18, 1988	Since 1988
Indonesia	Asia	November 15, 1988	Since 1988
Iran	Middle East	February 4, 1989	Since 1989
Iraq	Middle East	November 15, 1988	Since 1988
Ireland	Europe	May 28, 2024	Since 2024
Israel	Middle East		No
Italy	Europe		No
Jamaica	Americas	April 22, 2024	Since 2024
Japan	Asia		No
Jordan	Middle East	November 16, 1988	Since 1988
Kazakhstan	Asia	April 6, 1992	Since 1992
Kenya	Africa	May 12, 1989	Since 1989
Kiribati	Oceania		No
Kuwait	Middle East	November 15, 1988	Since 1988
Kyrgyzstan	Asia	November 1995	Since 1995
Laos	Asia	December 2, 1988	Since 1988
Latvia	Europe		No
Lebanon	Middle East	November 30, 2008	Since 2008
Lesotho	Africa	May 3, 2011	Since 2011
Liberia	Africa	July 19, 2011	Since 2011
Libya	Africa	November 15, 1988	Since 1988
Liechtenstein	Europe		No
Lithuania	Europe		No
Luxembourg	Europe	September 22, 2025	Since 2025
Madagascar	Africa	November 16, 1988	Since 1988
Malawi	Africa	October 23, 1998	Since 1998
Malaysia	Asia	November 15, 1988	Since 1988
Maldives	Asia	November 28, 1988	Since 1988
Mali	Africa	November 21, 1988	Since 1988
MaltaA 1988 letter is on the Palestinian side's list, but Malta formally recognized Palestine in 2025.	Europe	September 22, 2025	Since 2025
Marshall Islands	Oceania		No
Mauritania	Africa	November 15, 1988	Since 1988
Mauritius	Africa	November 17, 1988	Since 1988
MexicoNo single formal act. The date is from the 2024 list of Arab, Islamic and Non-Aligned groups at the UN (A/78/846).	Americas	June 2, 2023	Since 2023
Micronesia	Oceania		No
Moldova	Europe		No
Monaco	Europe	September 22, 2025	Since 2025
Mongolia	Asia	November 22, 1988	Since 1988
Montenegro	Europe	July 24, 2006	Since 2006
Morocco	Africa	November 15, 1988	Since 1988
Mozambique	Africa	December 8, 1988	Since 1988
Myanmar	Asia		No
NamibiaRecognized in 1988 by SWAPO, before Namibia's independence in 1990.	Africa	November 19, 1988	Since 1988
Nauru	Oceania		No
Nepal	Asia	December 19, 1988	Since 1988
Netherlands	Europe		No
New Zealand	Oceania		No
Nicaragua	Americas	November 16, 1988	Since 1988
Niger	Africa	November 24, 1988	Since 1988
Nigeria	Africa	November 18, 1988	Since 1988
North Korea	Asia	November 24, 1988	Since 1988
North Macedonia	Europe		No
Norway	Europe	May 28, 2024	Since 2024
Oman	Middle East	December 13, 1988	Since 1988
Pakistan	Asia	November 16, 1988	Since 1988
Palau	Oceania		No
Panama	Americas		No
Papua New GuineaListed by the Palestinian side since 1995. In 2025 its foreign secretary said he knew of no position on relations with Palestine.	Oceania	January 13, 1995	Disputed
ParaguayDiplomatic relations since 2005. Recognition within the 1967 borders in January 2011.	Americas	January 28, 2011	Since 2011
Peru	Americas	January 24, 2011	Since 2011
Philippines	Asia	September 4, 1989	Since 1989
Poland	Europe	December 14, 1988	Since 1988
Portugal	Europe	September 21, 2025	Since 2025
Qatar	Middle East	November 16, 1988	Since 1988
Republic of the Congo	Africa	December 5, 1988	Since 1988
Romania	Europe	November 24, 1988	Since 1988
RussiaRecognized in 1988 as the Soviet Union. Russia keeps the recognition.	Europe	November 19, 1988	Since 1988
Rwanda	Africa	January 2, 1989	Since 1989
Saint Kitts and Nevis	Americas	July 29, 2019	Since 2019
Saint Lucia	Americas	September 14, 2015	Since 2015
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines	Americas	August 29, 2011	Since 2011
Samoa	Oceania		No
San Marino	Europe	September 23, 2025	Since 2025
São Tomé and Príncipe	Africa	December 10, 1988	Since 1988
Saudi Arabia	Middle East	November 16, 1988	Since 1988
Senegal	Africa	November 22, 1988	Since 1988
SerbiaRecognized in 1988 as Yugoslavia. Serbia keeps the recognition.	Europe	November 16, 1988	Since 1988
Seychelles	Africa	November 18, 1988	Since 1988
Sierra Leone	Africa	December 3, 1988	Since 1988
Singapore	Asia		No
SlovakiaRecognized in 1988 as part of Czechoslovakia. Slovakia confirmed it in 1993.	Europe	November 18, 1988	Since 1988
SloveniaIn June 2026 Prime Minister Janez Janša said his government would freeze the 2024 decision. No such decision had been published as of October 2026.	Europe	June 4, 2024	Since 2024
Solomon Islands	Oceania		No
Somalia	Africa	November 15, 1988	Since 1988
South Africa	Africa	February 15, 1995	Since 1995
South Korea	Asia		No
South Sudan	Africa	July 14, 2011	Since 2011
Spain	Europe	May 28, 2024	Since 2024
Sri Lanka	Asia	November 18, 1988	Since 1988
Sudan	Africa	November 17, 1988	Since 1988
Suriname	Americas	January 26, 2011	Since 2011
Sweden	Europe	October 30, 2014	Since 2014
Switzerland	Europe		No
Syria	Middle East	July 18, 2011	Since 2011
Tajikistan	Asia	April 2, 1994	Since 1994
Tanzania	Africa	November 24, 1988	Since 1988
Thailand	Asia	January 18, 2012	Since 2012
Timor-Leste	Asia	March 1, 2004	Since 2004
Togo	Africa	November 29, 1988	Since 1988
Tonga	Oceania		No
Trinidad and Tobago	Americas	May 2, 2024	Since 2024
Tunisia	Africa	November 15, 1988	Since 1988
Turkey	Middle East	November 15, 1988	Since 1988
Turkmenistan	Asia	April 17, 1992	Since 1992
Tuvalu	Oceania		No
Uganda	Africa	December 3, 1988	Since 1988
UkraineRecognized in 1988 as the Ukrainian SSR, then a UN member.	Europe	November 19, 1988	Since 1988
United Arab Emirates	Middle East	November 16, 1988	Since 1988
United Kingdom	Europe	September 21, 2025	Since 2025
United States	Americas		No
Uruguay	Americas	March 15, 2011	Since 2011
Uzbekistan	Asia	September 25, 1994	Since 1994
Vanuatu	Oceania	August 21, 1989	Since 1989
Venezuela	Americas	April 27, 2009	Since 2009
Vietnam	Asia	November 19, 1988	Since 1988
YemenNorth and South Yemen both recognized Palestine in 1988. United Yemen keeps the recognition.	Middle East	November 15, 1988	Since 1988
Zambia	Africa	November 16, 1988	Since 1988
Zimbabwe	Africa	November 29, 1988	Since 1988

About the data

This page covers the 193 member states of the United Nations. Palestine itself is not a member. The Holy See, a non-member observer state, also recognizes Palestine and signed a treaty with it on June 26, 2015. Dates are drawn from each government's announcement or the date diplomatic relations were established. Where no government statement was found, the date is from the 2024 list of Arab, Islamic and Non-Aligned groups at the UN (A/78/846). Sources are government statements, the State of Palestine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, and news agencies. "Announced" means a government declared recognition that has not yet taken legal effect. "Disputed" means a state is on the Palestinian side's lists but its government has cast doubt on recognition. Some counts are higher. Wikipedia gives 157, counting Czechia, Hungary and Papua New Guinea but not Belgium. AFP gives "around 157", and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas cited 160 on September 24, 2026.

Governments' official statements, the State of Palestine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, UN records (resolutions 67/19 and ES-10/23, and document A/78/846), Reuters and AFP.

All UN votes →

Gaza11 votes, 2023–2026 Key General Assembly votes on Gaza since 2023 How 193 countries voted in 11 UN General Assembly votes on Gaza and Palestine since October 2023. Security Council307 vetoes since 1946 UN Security Council vetoes since 1946 The UN Dag Hammarskjöld Library lists 251 vetoed Security Council votes since 1946, with 307 vetoes in all. Russia, with the Soviet Union, has cast 144. PalestineMay 2024 Palestine's bid for UN membership 143 yes9 no25 abstained Voted that Palestine qualifies to join the UN, and asked the Security Council to think again after a US veto. PalestineSep 2025 The New York Declaration on two states 142 yes10 no12 abstained Endorsed a French-Saudi declaration backing two states, an end to the Gaza war and Hamas's handover of weapons. PalestineNov 1947 The partition plan for Palestine 33 yes13 no10 abstained The UN General Assembly voted 33-13 to recommend dividing Palestine into an Arab state and a Jewish state.