Member states of NATO: Difference between revisions

NATO (the North Atlantic Treaty Organization) is an international alliance that consists of 30 member states from North America and Europe. It was established at the signing of the North Atlantic Treaty on 4 April 1949. Article Five of the treaty states that if an armed attack occurs against one of the member states, it shall be considered an attack against all members, and other members shall assist the attacked member, with armed forces if necessary.^[1]

Of the 29 member countries, two are located in North America (Canada and the United States), 26 are in Europe, and one is in Europe and Asia (Turkey). All members have militaries, except for Iceland which does not have a typical army (but does, however, have a coast guard and a small unit of civilian specialists for NATO operations). Three of NATO's members are nuclear weapons states: France, the United Kingdom, and the United States. NATO has 12 original founding member nation states, and from 18 February 1952 to 6 May 1955, it added three more member nations, and a fourth on 30 May 1982. After the end of the Cold War, NATO added 13 more member nations (10 former Warsaw Pact members and three former Yugoslav republics) from 12 March 1999 to 5 June 2017.

NATO has added new members seven times since its founding in 1949, and since 2017 NATO has had 29 members. Twelve countries took part in the founding of NATO: Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, the United Kingdom, and the United States. In 1952, Greece and Turkey became members of the Alliance, joined later by West Germany (in 1955) and Spain (in 1982). In 1990, with the reunification of Germany, NATO grew to include the former country of East Germany. Between 1994 and 1997, wider forums for regional cooperation between NATO and its neighbors were set up, including the Partnership for Peace, the Mediterranean Dialogue initiative and the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council. In 1997, three former Warsaw Pact countries, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Poland, were invited to join NATO. After this fourth enlargement in 1999, the Vilnius group of the Baltics and seven East European countries formed in May 2000 to cooperate and lobby for further NATO membership. Seven of these countries joined in the fifth enlargement in 2004. The Adriatic States Albania and Croatia joined in the sixth enlargement in 2009, Montenegro in 2017. The seventh enlargement was N. Macedonia in March 2020;

United States President Donald Trump expressed interest in withdrawing from the organization during his 2016 presidential campaign, but he later stated that the United States would protect allies in the event that Article V is invoked.^[2][3][4]

Flag	Map	English common and formal names [6][7][8]	Domestic common and formal names [6][7]	Capital [8][9][10]	Date of accession[11]	Population [a][12]	Area [a][13]	Notes
		Albania[i] Republic of Albania	Albanian: Shqipëri / Shqipëria — Republika e Shqipërisë	Tirana Albanian: Tiranë	2009-04-01	2,887,000	28,748 km2 (11,100 sq mi)	Member of the rival Warsaw Pact 1955–1968.
		Belgium* Kingdom of Belgium	Dutch: België — Koninkrijk België French: Belgique — Royaume de Belgique ‹See Tfd›German: Belgien — Königreich Belgien	Brussels Dutch: Brussel French: Bruxelles ‹See Tfd›German: Brüssel	1949-08-24 (Founding member)	11,502,204	30,528 km2 (11,787 sq mi)
		Bulgaria* Republic of Bulgaria	Bulgarian: България — Република България (Bǎlgarija — Republika Bǎlgarija)	Sofia Bulgarian: София (Sofia)	2004-03-29	7,050,034	110,879 km2 (42,811 sq mi)	Member of the rival Warsaw Pact 1955–1991.
		Canada	English: Canada French: Canada	Ottawa	1949-08-24 (Founding member)	37,242,571	9,984,670 km2 (3,855,103 sq mi)
		Croatia* Republic of Croatia	Croatian: Hrvatska — Republika Hrvatska	Zagreb Croatian: Zagreb	2009-04-01	4,105,493	56,594 km2 (21,851 sq mi)	Previously part of Yugoslavia 1945–1991 (Non-aligned).
		Czechia*[j]	Czech: Česko — Česká republika	Prague Czech: Praha	1999-03-12	10,625,449	78,867 km2 (30,451 sq mi)	Member of the rival Warsaw Pact 1955–1991 as part of Czechoslovakia.
		Denmark*[f] Kingdom of Denmark	Danish: Danmark — Kongeriget Danmark	Copenhagen Danish: København	1949-08-24 (Founding member)	5,806,015	2,210,000 km2 (853,286 sq mi)	Denmark's NATO membership includes the Faroe Islands and Greenland.
		Estonia* Republic of Estonia	Estonian: Eesti — Eesti Vabariik	Tallinn Estonian: Tallinn	2004-03-29	1,315,000	45,228 km2 (17,463 sq mi)	Member of the rival Warsaw Pact 1955–1991 as part of the Soviet Union.
		France* French Republic	French: France — République française	Paris French: Paris	1949-08-24 (Founding member)	67,348,000	643,427 km2 (248,429 sq mi)	Membership extended as the Fourth French Republic (including French Algeria until 1962). France withdrew from the integrated military command in 1966 to pursue an independent defense system but returned to full participation in 2009.
		Germany* Federal Republic of Germany	‹See Tfd›German: Deutschland — Bundesrepublik Deutschland	Berlin ‹See Tfd›German: Berlin	1955-05-8	82,800,000	357,022 km2 (137,847 sq mi)	Commonly known as West Germany when it joined; it later reunited with Saarland in 1957 and with the Berlin territories and East Germany on 3 October 1990. East Germany was a member of the rival Warsaw Pact 1956–1990.
		Greece* Hellenic Republic	Greek: Ελλάς — Ελληνική Δημοκρατία (Ellás — Ellinikí Dimokratía)	Athens Greek: Αθήνα (Athína)	1952-02-18	10,816,286	131,957 km2 (50,949 sq mi)	Membership extended as the Kingdom of Greece. Greece withdrew its forces from NATO's military command structure from 1974 to 1980 as a result of Greco-Turkish tensions following the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus.
		Hungary*	Hungarian: Magyarország	Budapest Hungarian: Budapest	1999-03-12	9,771,000	93,028 km2 (35,918 sq mi)	Member of the rival Warsaw Pact 1955–1991.
		Iceland Republic of Iceland	Icelandic: Ísland — Lýðveldið Ísland	Reykjavík Icelandic: Reykjavík	1949-08-24 (Founding member)	350,710	103,000 km2 (39,769 sq mi)	Iceland, the sole member that does not have its own standing army, joined on the condition that it would not be expected to establish one. However, its strategic geographic position in the Atlantic made it an invaluable member. It has a Coast Guard and has contributed a voluntary peacekeeping force, trained in Norway for NATO.
		Italy* Italian Republic	Italian: Italia — Repubblica Italiana	Rome Italian: Roma	1949-08-24 (Founding member)	60,494,118	301,340 km2 (116,348 sq mi)
		Latvia* Republic of Latvia	Latvian: Latvija — Latvijas Republika	Riga Latvian: Rīga	2004-03-29	1,934,379	64,589 km2 (24,938 sq mi)	Member of the rival Warsaw Pact 1955–1991 as part of the Soviet Union.
		Lithuania* Republic of Lithuania	Lithuanian: Lietuva — Lietuvos Respublika	Vilnius Lithuanian: Vilnius	2004-03-29	2,797,000	65,300 km2 (25,212 sq mi)	Member of the rival Warsaw Pact 1955–1991 as part of the Soviet Union.
		Luxembourg* Grand Duchy of Luxembourg	Luxembourgish: Groussherzogtum Lëtzebuerg French: Luxembourg — Grand-Duché de Luxembourg ‹See Tfd›German: Luxemburg — Großherzogtum Luxemburg	Luxembourg Luxembourgish: Lëtzebuerg French: Luxembourg ‹See Tfd›German: Luxemburg	1949-08-24 (Founding member)	602,000	2,586 km2 (998 sq mi)
		Montenegro[i]	Montenegrin: Црна Гора, Crna Gora	Podgorica Montenegrin: Подгорица, Podgorica	2017-06-05	642,550	13,812 km2 (5,333 sq mi)	Previously part of Yugoslavia 1945–1991 (Non-aligned).
		Netherlands*[f][g][14] Kingdom of the Netherlands	Dutch: Nederland — Koninkrijk der Nederlanden West Frisian: Nederlân — Keninkryk fan de Nederlannen Papiamento: Hulandu — Reino di Hulanda	Amsterdam (capital) The Hague (seat of government) Dutch: Amsterdam West Frisian: Amsterdam Papiamento: Amsterdam Dutch: 's-Gravenhage / Den Haag West Frisian: De Haach Papiamento: Den Haag	1949-08-24 (Founding member)	17,272,990	41,543 km2 (16,040 sq mi)
		North Macedonia	Macedonian: Северна Македонија, Severna Makedonija	Skopje Macedonian: Скопје, Skopje	2020-03-27	2,077,132	25,713 km2 (9,928 sq mi)	Previously part of Yugoslavia 1945–1991 (Non-aligned).
		Norway Kingdom of Norway	Bokmål: Norge — Kongeriket Norge Nynorsk: Noreg — Kongeriket Noreg Northern Sami: Norga — Norgga gonagasriika	Oslo Norwegian: Oslo	1949-08-24 (Founding member)	5,323,933	323,802 km2 (125,021 sq mi)
		Poland* Republic of Poland	Polish: Polska — Rzeczpospolita Polska	Warsaw Polish: Warszawa	1999-03-12	38,433,600	312,685 km2 (120,728 sq mi)	Member of the rival Warsaw Pact 1955–1991.
		Portugal* Portuguese Republic	Portuguese: Portugal — República Portuguesa	Lisbon Portuguese: Lisboa	1949-08-24 (Founding member)	10,291,196	92,090 km2 (35,556 sq mi)
		Romania*	Romanian: România	Bucharest Romanian: București	2004-03-29	19,622,000	238,391 km2 (92,043 sq mi)	Member of the rival Warsaw Pact 1955–1991.
		Slovakia* Slovak Republic	Slovak: Slovensko — Slovenská republika	Bratislava Slovak: Bratislava	2004-03-29	5,445,087	49,035 km2 (18,933 sq mi)	Member of the rival Warsaw Pact 1955–1991 as part of Czechoslovakia.
		Slovenia* Republic of Slovenia	Slovene: Slovenija — Republika Slovenija	Ljubljana Slovene: Ljubljana	2004-03-29	2,070,050	20,273 km2 (7,827 sq mi)	Previously part of Yugoslavia 1945–1991 (Non-aligned).
		Spain* Kingdom of Spain	Spanish: España — Reino de España	Madrid Spanish: Madrid	1982-05-30	47,720,291	505,370 km2 (195,124 sq mi)
		Turkey[e][i] Republic of Turkey	Turkish: Türkiye — Türkiye Cumhuriyeti	Ankara Turkish: Ankara	1952-02-18	80,810,525[15]	783,562 km2 (302,535 sq mi)
		United Kingdom[h] United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland	English: United Kingdom — United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Welsh: Deyrnas Unedig — Teyrnas Unedig Prydain Fawr a Gogledd Iwerddon	London	1949-08-24 (Founding member)	66,040,229	243,610 km2 (94,058 sq mi)
		United States United States of America	English: United States of America	Washington, D.C.	1949-08-24 (Founding member)	327,167,434	9,833,520 km2 (3,796,743 sq mi)

The following list is sourced from the 2018 edition of "The Military Balance" published annually by the International Institute for Strategic Studies.

	Country	Active military	Reserve military	Paramilitary	Total	Per 1000 capita (total)	Per 1000 capita (active)
	Albania[16]	8,000	0	500	8,500	2.8	2.6
	Belgium[17]	28,800	5,000	0	33,800	2.9	2.5
	Bulgaria[18]	31,300	3,000	0	34,300	4.8	4.4
	Canada[19]	63,000	30,000	4,500	97,500	2.7	1.8
	Croatia[20]	15,650	0	3,000	18,650	4.3	3.6
	Czech Republic[21]	23,200	2,359	0	25,559	2.4	2.2
	Denmark[22]	16,100	45,700	0	61,800	11	2.9
	Estonia[23]	6,600	12,000	15,800	34,400	27.5	5.3
	France[24]	202,700	72,300	103,400	378,400	5.6	3
	Germany[25]	178,600	27,900	500	207,000	2.6	2.2
	Greece[26]	141,350	220,500	4,000	365,850	34	13.1
	Hungary[27]	27,800	44,000	12,000	83,800	8.5	2.8
	Iceland[28]	200	200	250	650	1.9	0.6
	Italy[29][Note 1]	174,500	18,300	182,350	375,150	6	2.8
	Latvia[30]	5,310	7,850	0	13,160	6.8	2.7
	Lithuania[31]	18,350	6,700	11,300	36,350	12.9	6.5
	Luxembourg[32]	900	0	600	1,500	2.5	1.5
	Montenegro[33]	1,950	0	10,100	12,050	18.8	3
	Netherlands[34]	35,410	4,660	5,900	45,970	2.7	2.1
	Norway[35]	23,950	38,590	0	62,540	11.8	4.5
	Poland[36]	105,000	0	73,400	178,400	4.6	2.7
	Portugal[37]	30,500	211,950	44,000	286,450	26.4	2.8
	Romania[38]	69,300	50,000	79,900	199,200	9.3	3.2
	Slovakia[39]	15,850	0	0	15,850	2.9	2.9
	Slovenia[40]	7,250	1,760	5,950	14,960	7.6	3.7
	Spain[41]	121,200	15,450	76,750	213,400	4.4	2.5
	Turkey[42]	355,200	378,700	156,800	890,700	11	4.4
	United Kingdom[43]	146,650	44,250	0	190,900	2.9	2.3
	United States[44]	1,348,400	857,950	0	2,206,350	6.8	4.2

The United States has a larger defense expenditure than all other members combined.^[45] Criticism of the organization by current US President Donald Trump caused various reactions from American and European political figures, ranging from ridicule to panic.^[46][47][48] Pew Research Center's 2016 survey among its member states showed that while most countries viewed NATO positively, most NATO members preferred keeping their military spending the same. The response to whether their country should militarily aid another NATO country if it were to get into a serious military conflict with Russia was also mixed. Only in the US and Canada did more than 50% of the people answer that they should.^[49][50]

Country	Population (2016 est.)	GDP (nominal) (2018, US$ millions)	Military expenditures (2019, US$ millions)[51]	Military expenditures (2019, % of GDP)[51]	Defence expenditures, (2018, US$ per capita)[52]	Total military (2017)[51]
Albania	3,038,594	15,202	198	1.26	59	6,800
Belgium	11,409,077	533,153	4,921	0.93	433	28,000
Bulgaria	7,144,653	64,963	1,079	1.61	124	25,000
Canada	35,362,905	1,711,387	21,885	1.27	641	73,000
Croatia	4,313,707	60,688	1,072	1.75	269	15,000
Czech Republic	10,644,842	242,052	2,969	1.19	260	24,000
Denmark	5,593,785	350,874	4,760	1.35	758	17,000
Estonia	1,258,545	30,312	669	2.13	412	6,200
France	66,836,154	2,775,252	50,659	1.84	788	209,000
Germany	80,722,792	4,000,386	54,113	1.36	586	180,000
Greece	10,773,253	219,097	4,844	2.24	526	106,000
Hungary	9,874,784	155,703	2,080	1.21	190	19,000
Iceland	335,878	25,882	4.5	a	14.2	0a
Italy	62,007,540	2,072,201	24,482	1.22	406	181,000
Latvia	1,965,686	34,881	724	2.01	333	5,700
Lithuania	2,854,235	53,323	1,084	1.98	353	13,000
Luxembourg	582,291	68,770	391	0.55	579	800
Montenegro	623,000	5,402	92	1.65	128	1700
Netherlands	17,016,967	912,899	12,419	1.35	745	41,000
Norway	5,265,158	434,937	7,179	1.70	2,489	20,000
Poland	38,523,261	586,015	11,971	2.01	325	111,000
Portugal	10,833,816	238,510	3,358	1.41	322	26,000
Romania	21,599,736	239,851	5,043	2.04	220	60,000
Slovakia	5,445,802	106,585	1,905	1.74	251	12,000
Slovenia	1,978,029	54,242	581	1.04	272	6,800
Spain	48,563,476	1,425,865	13,156	0.92	310	121,000
Turkey	80,274,604	766,428	13,919	1.89	253	387,000
United Kingdom	64,430,428	2,828,644	60,376	2.13	924	135,510
United States	327,465,000	20,494,050	730,149	3.42	1,846	1,320,000
NATO	932,645,526	36,211,501	1,036,077	2.51	934	3,163,000

Population data from CIA World Factbook
GDP data from IMF^[53]
Expenditure data (except Iceland) from SIPRI Military Expenditure Database,^[54] Icelandic data (2013) from Statistics Iceland^[55]
Military personnel data from NATO^[56]
a Iceland has no armed forces.
^b 2015 data.

Citations

Bibliography