Palestine has been recognised by 145 of the 193 United Nations member countries, with the recent addition of the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and Portugal. France, Belgium, and other nations are expected to extend recognition soon during the UN General Assembly.
An AFP tally confirms that 145 UN members, or roughly three-quarters of the total, recognise Palestine. The list includes Russia, all Arab states, most countries in Africa and Latin America, and key Asian nations such as India and China. Algeria was the first to grant recognition in 1988, shortly after Yasser Arafat declared the Palestinian state.
The war in Gaza has accelerated diplomatic moves, with 13 new recognitions registered recently. The UK and Canada became the first G7 countries to recognise Palestine, while Australia and Portugal followed on September 21, 2025. Other European countries, such as Norway, Spain, Ireland, and Slovenia, recognised Palestine earlier in 2024. Sweden previously stood as the sole European country with recognition.
UK, Canada & Australia have officially recognized Palestine as a state.
They join over 140 countries worldwide- including India, China, Russia, Brazil & South Africa- that already extend recognition. #Palestine #Diplomacy #Geopolitics pic.twitter.com/9eMRdiKFAq
— The Alternate Media (@AlternateMediaX) September 21, 2025At least 45 countries do not recognise Palestine. This group includes Israel, the United States, and their close allies. In Asia, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore have withheld recognition. In Africa and Latin America, Cameroon and Panama, respectively, have yet to recognise Palestine. Europe remains nearly split, with nations like Hungary and the Czech Republic declining recognition despite historical ties to the Soviet bloc.
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Recognition is largely symbolic, representing political support rather than legal statehood. There is no official registry; each state decides when and how to recognise Palestine. Professor Romain Le Boeuf characterises recognition as “halfway between politics and law.” While it does not legally create a state, recognition affirms that Palestine fulfils essential conditions.
Lawyer Philippe Sands noted in The New York Times that recognition places Palestine and Israel on equal footing under international law. He described this as a “game changer,” enhancing Palestine’s voice in global diplomacy.
