UN General Assembly Elects New ECOSOC Members

Updated June 5, 2025

The⁣ United Nations General Assembly has elected new members to the economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), one of ⁢the UN’s six principal organs. The new members will begin their terms on Jan. 1, 2026.

From the Eastern ​European regional group, Croatia, Russia, and Ukraine secured seats. Russia’s election required a second runoff vote against Belarus after neither nation initially ‌obtained the ​required two-thirds ⁣majority. North Macedonia’s ⁤candidacy did not ‍advance.

Germany and the United States were⁢ also elected ‌in a by-election, filling ⁤vacancies left by Liechtenstein‍ and Italy. Their terms are slated to run through⁣ 2026 and 2027, respectively.

Other nations elected to ECOSOC for three-year terms include Australia, Burundi, Chad, China, Ecuador, Finland, India, Lebanon, Mozambique, Norway, Peru, Sierra ⁢Leone, Saint Kitts ⁤and Nevis, Türkiye,‌ and Turkmenistan.

Vote Tallies by⁤ Region

ECOSOC’s 54 seats are distributed based on geographical representation among five ‌regional groups: African States, Asia-Pacific States,⁢ Eastern european⁢ States,‍ Latin American and Caribbean states, and Western European and other States. The General assembly’s 193 member states participate in the​ annual elections via secret⁣ ballot.

For⁣ the recent ⁤election, 189 member states participated in the first round, ‌and 187 in the runoff. A two-thirds majority of valid votes was needed for election; abstentions and invalid ballots ​were not factored‍ into the total.

African States (four seats):

• Mozambique: 186
• Sierra Leone: 186
• Burundi: 184
• Chad: 183

Asia-Pacific States (four seats):

• Lebanon: 183
• Turkmenistan: 183
• india: 181
• China: 180

Eastern European States (three seats):

First round:

• Croatia: 146
• Ukraine: 130
• Russia: 108
• Belarus: 96
• North Macedonia: 59

Second round runoff:

• Russia: 115
• Belarus: 46

Latin American and Caribbean States (three seats):

• Ecuador: 182
• Peru:‍ 182
• saint Kitts and Nevis: 180

Western European and other States (four seats):

• Türkiye: 174
• Finland: 173
• Australia: 172
• Norway: 169
• Andorra: 1

by-elections (two seats):

• Germany: 171
• United States:‌ 170
• Andorra:⁤ 1

What’s next

The newly elected members will⁣ contribute ​to ECOSOC’s work in ⁤promoting international cooperation on economic,social,and environmental issues,playing a key role in advancing the UN’s ​progress agenda.