As of September 23, 2025, a total of 156 United Nations member states officially recognize the State of Palestine as a sovereign nation. This represents about 80% of the UN’s 193 members and marks one of the most significant diplomatic waves in decades. Palestine, which has held non-member observer state status at the UN General Assembly since 2012, continues to face roadblocks to full UN membership, primarily due to repeated U.S. vetoes in the Security Council.
Recognition remains largely symbolic, since it does not override Israeli control on the ground, but it carries considerable diplomatic weight. Each recognition signals international backing for a two-state solution, often serving as a political rebuke to Israel’s policies in Gaza and the West Bank.
The figure of 156 reflects the most consistent count cited at recent UN-related summits, though some sources report a range between 153 and 156 depending on how disputed recognitions and microstates are counted.
Regional Breakdown of Recognition
Support for Palestine is strongest in the Global South, while divisions persist in Europe and among Western allies of Israel.
Africa: 52 out of 54 (96%) – Near-total recognition since the 1980s. Exceptions include Eritrea and Morocco, the latter recognizing with caveats tied to Western Sahara.
Asia: 45 out of 49 (92%) – Strong backing from Arab states, China, India, and Indonesia. Israel, Japan, and South Korea are the notable exceptions.
Latin America & Caribbean: 22 out of 33 (67%) – Recognition fueled by solidarity movements. Barbados joined in 2024. Holdouts include Paraguay and Panama.
Europe: 25 out of 44 (57%) – A region in flux. Eastern Europe largely recognized early, while Western Europe has been shifting. Spain, Ireland, Norway, Slovenia, Malta, the UK, France, and Belgium all recognized recently. Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands remain opposed.
Oceania: 4 out of 14 (29%) – Australia’s recognition in 2025 marked a turning point. Most Pacific islands remain aligned with U.S. and Israeli positions.
North America: 1 out of 2 (50%) – Canada recognized in 2025, but the United States does not.
Total: 156 out of 193 (80%) – Includes the Holy See (Vatican), a non-UN observer that has long recognized Palestine.
Non-Recognizing Major Powers
Several influential countries continue to resist recognition:
United States: Maintains that recognition must come through direct negotiations with Israel and Palestine. The Trump administration in its second term has been vocal that unilateral moves “reward terrorism,” especially after Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack.
Germany: Deeply tied to Israel’s security due to Holocaust history, Germany has no plans for recognition.
Italy, Japan, South Korea: Closely aligned with the U.S. position.
Israel: Completely rejects Palestinian statehood, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu calling recent recognitions a “reward to terrorism.”
War as the Turning Point
The dramatic rise in recognitions stems from the Israel-Palestine war that erupted on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a deadly attack on Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. In response, Israel launched a massive military campaign in Gaza, which has since killed over 65,000 Palestinians according to local health authorities, displaced the majority of the population, and created famine-like conditions.
The humanitarian catastrophe, combined with expanding Israeli settlements and stalled cease-fire negotiations, has galvanized the international community. Since late 2023, 20 countries have newly recognized Palestine, accelerating a “cascade effect” in global diplomacy.
Timeline of Recognitions Since October 2023
Nov 2023: Mexico – the first to move after the war began, upgrading to full recognition.
May–Jun 2024: Spain, Ireland, Norway – coordinated EU action; Spanish PM Pedro Sánchez called recognition a “moral imperative.”
Jun–Oct 2024: Slovenia, Armenia – Slovenia’s shift followed an election; Armenia aligned with broader anti-Israel positions.
Nov 2024–Feb 2025: Bahamas, Trinidad & Tobago, Jamaica, Barbados – a Caribbean wave tied to Global South solidarity.
Jul 2025: France – the first G7 nation to recognize; President Emmanuel Macron declared, “It is time to stop endless wars.”
Jul 30, 2025: Luxembourg, Malta, Andorra – small states, but symbolically important for Europe’s shifting consensus.
Sep 21, 2025: UK, Canada, Australia, Portugal – historic breakthrough, with the UK and Canada becoming the first G7 nations besides France to act. UK PM Keir Starmer said recognition was about “keeping alive the two-state hope.” Israel denounced the move as appeasement of Hamas.
Sep 22, 2025: Belgium – joined the European wave during a UN two-state summit.
Upcoming: New Zealand and Liechtenstein announced their intent to recognize at the September 22 summit, signaling momentum may continue.
Shifting Diplomatic Landscape
Before October 2023, about 139 countries recognized Palestine, a figure that had remained static since the late 1980s. The post-war surge demonstrates how the Gaza conflict has isolated Israel diplomatically, even among long-time allies.
UN General Assembly Resolution ES-10/23, adopted in May 2024, enhanced Palestine’s rights within the UN system, effectively setting the stage for this wave of recognitions.
Israel’s Response: Netanyahu vowed there would never be a Palestinian state “west of the Jordan River.”
U.S. Response: The Trump administration has repeatedly blocked Palestinian full membership bids at the UN, dismissing recognitions as “performative.”
Palestinian Response: President Mahmoud Abbas welcomed the new recognitions as crucial steps toward full UN membership. He also renewed calls for a cease-fire and Hamas disarmament.
Symbolism and Limits
While the recognition wave boosts Palestine’s diplomatic leverage and global legitimacy, analysts caution that the on-the-ground realities remain unchanged. Israel still controls borders, security, and settlements, leaving statehood largely theoretical.
The recognitions could increase pressure on Israel to agree to a cease-fire and restart peace talks, but without U.S. or Israeli buy-in, the moves remain symbolic.
Still, the momentum has created one of the broadest diplomatic alignments in UN history, with even G7 countries shifting position.
The Central Question
The global tide has turned sharply in Palestine’s favor. From 139 recognitions before October 2023 to 156 today, the rapid growth reflects both humanitarian outrage and political strategy. Leaders like Starmer and Macron frame it as keeping hope alive for a two-state solution, while Netanyahu insists it emboldens terrorism.
The question now is whether this diplomatic cascade can extend to the remaining 37 holdouts, including the U.S. and Germany. In other words: will 156 soon become 193?
Disclaimer:
This article is based on information from verified September 2025 reports, UN documents, and reputable news sources. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, geopolitical developments are subject to rapid change. Readers are encouraged to follow official UN statements and government announcements for the latest updates.
