How many permanent members are there in the UNSC?

The number of permanent members in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is five. These permanent members, often referred to as the P5, include the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Russia, and China. This designation grants each of these nations significant influence over international security matters, as they possess veto power over substantive resolutions.

The establishment of the five permanent members dates back to the aftermath of World War II when the United Nations was formed, aimed at ensuring that the major powers responsible for maintaining international peace and security had a decisive role in the operations of the Security Council. This unique status of the P5 reflects the geopolitical realities of that time and continues to shape discussions and decisions within the UN today.

The other numbers listed—three, ten, and fifteen—do not represent the current structure of permanent membership in the UNSC. While the council does have a total of fifteen members at any given time, which includes non-permanent members, only the five are designated as permanent members with veto rights.