UNESCO

UNESCO — the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization — is the UN’s agency for education, science, culture and communication. Its Constitution was adopted in London on 16 November 1945 and opens with the line: “Since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defences of peace must be constructed.”

Headquartered in Paris, UNESCO counts 194 member states plus associate members. It is best known to the public for the World Heritage List — more than 1,200 cultural and natural sites, from the Great Wall to the Galápagos.

The General Conference, where every member sits, meets every two years and sets policy. A 58-member Executive Board prepares its work. A Director-General runs the secretariat: Audrey Azoulay of France has held the post since 2017.

Beyond World Heritage, UNESCO coordinates the global education agenda (SDG 4), runs biosphere reserves and geoparks, defends freedom of expression and journalists’ safety, and sets norms — including the 2021 Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence, the first global standard in the field.

• UNESCO, unesco.org — Constitution, members, World Heritage.
• UNESCO Constitution, 16 November 1945.
• World Heritage Convention, 1972.
• Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence, 2021.

UNESCO has 194 member countries, ranked by national power. The strongest members are United States, China, 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.