The United Nations (UN) is a global intergovernmental organization founded on October 24, 1945, after World War II. Its mission is to maintain international peace and security, develop friendly relations among nations, promote international cooperation, and harmonize actions of states to achieve these goals. The UN Charter, signed on June 26, 1945, serves as the organization's cornerstone document, outlining its objectives and principles. The UN has 193 member states and two observer states. The UN headquarters is in New York City, with other offices in Geneva, Nairobi, Vienna, and The Hague.
The UN's work covers five main areas: maintaining international peace and security, protecting human rights, delivering humanitarian aid, supporting sustainable development and climate action, and upholding international law. The UN system includes the UN itself and numerous funds, programs, and specialized agencies. The UN has six official languages: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish. The UN was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2001. The annual UN budget for 2025 is $3.72 billion, with a separate budget of $5.9 billion for peacekeeping missions.
