IAEA

The IAEA — the International Atomic Energy Agency — is the world’s nuclear watchdog and promoter, under the motto “Atoms for Peace and Development.” Its Statute was adopted in 1956 and entered into force on 29 July 1957. It is headquartered in Vienna.

The IAEA has 182 member states. It reports to the UN General Assembly and Security Council. In 2005 it shared the Nobel Peace Prize with its then Director General, Mohamed ElBaradei, for work against the spread of nuclear weapons.

The General Conference, where every member sits, meets annually. A 35-member Board of Governors sets policy between conferences. A Director General runs the secretariat and its laboratories at Seibersdorf, Austria: Rafael Grossi of Argentina has held the post since 2019.

The IAEA verifies that nuclear material is not diverted to weapons — safeguards under the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) — sets safety and security standards, and runs technical cooperation: cancer radiotherapy, pest control, crop breeding, water mapping. It also monitors high-risk sites, including the Zaporizhzhia plant in the Ukraine war.

• IAEA, iaea.org — Statute, members, safeguards.
• IAEA Statute, 1956 — in force 29 July 1957.
• Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), 1968.
• Nobel Peace Prize, 2005.

IAEA has 182 member countries, ranked by national power. The strongest members are United States, China, and Russia. The Bureau lists every member with its power score, from the most powerful to the least. Membership reflects the Factbook's country coverage as of October 2026.