Regional Groups
- African Group: 3 members
- Asia-Pacific Group: 2 members
- Eastern European Group (CEIT, or Countries with Economies in Transition): 1 member
- Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC): 2 members
- Western European and Others Group (WEOG): 2 members; at least one of these must be from Western Europe
In addition, one of the non-permanent members of the council is an Arab country, alternately from the African or Asia-Pacific groups. This rule was added to the system in 1967 for it to be applied beginning with 1968, thus there was no such member elected for 1967. It should be noted that the allocation of Security Council members is unofficial and therefore subject to change.
Each year the UN General Assembly elects five new members for a two-year term; these elections always begin in October of the year, and continue until the two-thirds majority for the number of countries for each region has been reached. Re-election is allowed, but the term must not be consecutive.
- Electoral timetable
| Term beginning in years that are: | odd | even |
| African Group | one member | two members * |
| Asia-Pacific Group | one member | one member * |
| Eastern European Group | none | one member |
| Latin American & Caribbean Group | one member | one member |
| Western European and Others Group | two members | none |
* The representative of Arab nations alternates between these two elected spaces.
Read more about this topic: List Of Members Of The United Nations Security Council
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