List of Important International Organisations and Their Headquarters 2023
By BYJU'S Exam Prep
Updated on: November 14th, 2023
International organizations are institutions established by multiple countries to address global challenges, promote cooperation, and foster international relations. These organizations serve as platforms for member countries to collaborate on various issues such as peacekeeping, economic development, public health, and environmental sustainability. Here are some important International organizations and their headquarters:
- The headquarters of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is located in Washington DC, USA.
- The headquarters of the United Nations Organisation is situated in New York, United States.
- World Trade Organisation (WTO) is based in Geneva, Switzerland.
The complete list of International organisations and their headquarters is shared below on which questions are often asked in various competitive exams including UPSC Civil Services.
Table of content
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1.
What are International Organizations?
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2.
List of International Organizations
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3.
International Organizations and Their Headquarters
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4.
India’s Membership in International Organizations
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5.
Tricks to Remember World Organisations and Their Headquarters
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6.
International Organisations and their Headquarters in Geneva
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7.
International Organizations UPSC
What are International Organizations?
International organizations are institutions drawing membership from a minimum of three states. They have activities in several states, including members from more than one nation. There are very large international organizations as well as small organizations as well. Some of the organizations have specific purposes, such as the conservation of species, etc.
International Organizations and Their Headquarters PDF
There are two types of international organizations: Governmental and non-governmental.
- International Governmental Organizations (IGOs) are the associations of states established by treaty that aims to pursue the goals of the member states.
- Non-Governmental Organization (NGOs) operates independently of any government. They address social or political issues. NGOs don’t enter into treaties or other international agreements.
List of International Organizations
Here is the list of important international organizations which provides support to the developing nations and bring peace and harmony among member countries:
- United Nations (UN): The United Nations is an intergovernmental organization established to promote peace, security, and cooperation among nations. It addresses global challenges, such as poverty, climate change, and human rights, and provides a platform for member countries to discuss and coordinate on various issues.
- World Bank: The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans and grants to developing countries for development projects. It focuses on reducing poverty, promoting sustainable economic growth, and improving living standards through investments in infrastructure, education, and healthcare.
- International Monetary Fund (IMF): The IMF fosters global monetary cooperation, financial stability, and sustainable economic growth. It provides financial assistance, policy advice, and technical support to member countries, aiming to maintain macroeconomic stability and promote sound economic policies.
- World Trade Organization (WTO): The WTO deals with global trade rules, resolves trade disputes, and facilitates negotiations among member countries. It promotes free and fair trade by reducing trade barriers, enforcing trade agreements, and providing a platform for negotiations on various trade-related issues.
- World Health Organization (WHO): The WHO is a specialized agency of the United Nations that focuses on international public health. It leads global efforts to prevent disease outbreaks, improve healthcare systems, promote health equity, and provide guidance on health-related policies and initiatives.
- International Labor Organization (ILO): The ILO promotes labor rights, decent work, and social justice globally. It sets international labor standards, promotes employment opportunities, supports workers’ rights, and facilitates dialogue between governments, employers, and workers to address labor-related challenges.
- United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO): UNESCO aims to promote international collaboration in education, science, culture, and communication. It focuses on preserving cultural heritage, promoting inclusive education, fostering scientific cooperation, and encouraging freedom of expression and media development.
- United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF): UNICEF works to protect the rights and well-being of children worldwide. It provides humanitarian assistance, promotes child survival, nutrition, education, and protection, and advocates for policies and programs that benefit children and their families.
- Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO): The FAO is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to eliminate hunger, promote food security, and ensure sustainable agriculture. It provides assistance, knowledge, and policy support to help countries improve agricultural practices and enhance food production.
- International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA): The IAEA promotes the peaceful use of nuclear energy, verifies the compliance of member states with nuclear non-proliferation treaties, and provides technical assistance in nuclear applications for energy, health, agriculture, and the environment.
International Organizations and Their Headquarters
We have provided the list of International organizations and their headquarters below.
| International Organizations and their Headquarters | |
| United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) | New York, USA |
| UN Women | New York, USA |
| United Nations Security Council (UNSC) | New York, USA |
| United Nations Organisation | New York, USA |
| United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) | New York, USA |
| International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Washington DC, United States |
| World Bank Group (WBG) | Washington DC, United States |
| International Committee of the Red Cross | Geneva, Switzerland |
| World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) | Geneva, Switzerland |
| International Organization for Standardization | Geneva, Switzerland |
| World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) | Geneva, Switzerland |
| World Trade Organisation | Geneva, Switzerland |
| International Labour Organisation | Geneva, Switzerland |
| UNAIDS | Geneva, Switzerland |
| World Health Organisation (WHO) | Geneva, Switzerland |
| United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) | Vienna, Austria |
| International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) | Vienna, Austria |
| United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) | Paris, France |
| Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) | Paris, France |
| Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) | Vienna, Austria |
| Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) | Queenstown, Singapore |
| Transparency International | Berlin, Germany |
| International Renewable Energy Agency | Abu Dhabi (UAE) |
| Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) | Rome, Italy |
| North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) | Brussels, Belgium |
| Universal Postal Union | Berne, Switzerland |
| Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) | Jakarta, Indonesia |
| International Maritime Organisation (IMO) | London, United Kingdom |
| Amnesty International | London, United Kingdom |
| Commonwealth of Nations | London, United Kingdom |
| South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation | Kathmandu, Nepal |
| International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry | North Carolina |
| Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons | The Hague, The Netherlands |
| United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) | Vienna, Austria |
| Organization of Islamic Cooperation | Jeddah, Saudi Arabia |
| Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation | Ebene, Mauritius |
| Worldwide Fund for Nature | Gland, Switzerland |
| United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) | New York, USA |
| International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) | Gland, Switzerland |
| International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) | Paris, France |
| United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI) | Turin, Italy |
| UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) | Geneva, Switzerland |
| International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) | Montreal, Canada |
| United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) | Nairobi, Kenya |
| United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) | Geneva, Switzerland |
| International Olympic Committee | Lausanne, Switzerland |
| World Economic Forum | Cologny-Geneva, Switzerland |
| International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) | Rome, Italy |
| United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) | Madrid, Spain |
| United Nations University (UNU) | Tokyo, Japan |
| UN-OHRLLS | New York, USA |
| Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) | Geneva, Switzerland |
| United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) | Geneva, Switzerland |
| International Telecommunication Union (ITU) | Geneva, Switzerland |
| UN-Habitat | Nairobi, Kenya |
| World Food Programme (WFP) | Rome, Italy |
| International Court of Justice (ICJ) | The Hague, Netherlands |
| United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) | Geneva, Switzerland |
India’s Membership in International Organizations
India is a member of various international organizations across different sectors, reflecting its active participation in global affairs. Below mentioned is the complete list of Important Organisations and their Headquarters to which India is a member.
| International Organizations List with Headquarters | |
| FAO – Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations | Rome, Itlay |
| IBRD – International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (World Bank) | Washington DC, US |
| ASEAN Regional Forum – The Association of Southeast Asian Nations | Jakarta, Indonesia |
| BIMSTEC – Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation | Dhaka, Bangladesh |
| BIS – Bank for International Settlements | Basel, Switzerland |
| AG – Australia Group | Brussels, Belgium |
| CERN – European Organization for Nuclear Research | Geneva, Switzerland |
| AALCO – Asian-African Legal Consultative Organization | New Delhi |
| ADB – Asian Development Bank | Manila, Philippines |
| AfDB – African Development Bank (non-regional members) | Tunis, Tunisia |
| CP – Colombo Plan | Colombo, Srilanka |
| EAS – East Asia Summit | Colombo, Sri Lanka |
| BRICS – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa | Shanghai, China |
| CoN – Commonwealth of Nations | London, UK |
| ICAO – International Civil Aviation Organization | Montreal, Canada |
| ICC – International Chamber of Commerce | Paris, France |
| IDA – International Development Association | Washington DC |
| G-15 – Group of 15 | Geneva, Switzerland |
| G-20 – Group of 20 | Cancun, Mexico |
| G-77 – Group of 77 | New York |
| IAEA – International Atomic Energy Agency | Vienna, Austria |
| IEA – International Energy Agency | Paris, France |
| IFAD – International Fund for Agricultural Development | Rome, Italy |
| IFC – International Finance Corporation | Washington DC, US |
| ILO – International Labour Organization | Geneva, Switzerland |
| IMF – International Monetary Fund | Washington DC, US |
| UNAIDS – United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS | New York |
| UNESCO – United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation | London, Uk |
| ITUC – International Trade Union Confederation (the successor to ICFTU (International Confederation of Free Trade Unions) and the WCL (World Confederation of Labour)) | Brussels, Belgium |
| MTCR Missile Technology Control Regime | Japan |
| SCO – Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (member) | Beijing, China |
| UN – United Nations | New York |
| IMO – International Maritime Organization | London, UK |
| IMSO – International Mobile Satellite Organization | London, UK |
| Interpol – International Criminal Police Organization | Lyon, France |
| PIF – Pacific Islands Forum (partner) | Suva, Fiji |
| SAARC – South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation | Kathmandu, Nepal |
| SACEP – South Asia Co-operative Environment Programme | Colombo, Sri Lanka |
| IPEEC – International Partnership for Energy Efficiency Cooperation | Paris, France |
| IOC – International Olympic Committee | Lausanne, Switzerland |
| NAM – Non-Aligned Movement | Jakarta, Indonesia |
| OPCW – Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons | Hague, Netherland |
| PCA – Permanent Court of Arbitration | Hague, Netherland |
| ISO – International Organization for Standardization | Geneva, Switzerland |
| ITSO – International Telecommunications Satellite Organization | Washington DC |
| ITU – International Telecommunication Union | Geneva, Switzerland |
| WHO- World Health Organization | Geneva, Switzerland |
Tricks to Remember World Organisations and Their Headquarters
World organizations and their headquarters are important GS topics. It holds relevance in the UPSC Exam. To make things easier for the candidates, we have provided tricks to remember the international organization and their headquarters below.
- The international institutions starting with World and ending with Organization are headquartered in Geneva, for example – WHO and WMP. WIPO.
- International organizations related to petroleum, industrial development, and atomic research have their headquarters in Vienna, such as UNIDO, OPEC, and International Atomic Energy Agency.
- The international institutions related to money are headquartered in Washington DC- World Bank and International Monetary Fund.
- World organizations related to economy and education are headquartered in Paris, e.g. ICOMOS, UNESCO, and OECD.
International Organisations and their Headquarters in Geneva
The following International Organizations List have headquarters in Geneva. We have compiled a separate list of International Organizations and Headquarters in Geneva for better comprehension and revision.
| World Organisations and Their Headquarters | |
| International Committee of the Red Cross | Geneva, Switzerland |
| World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) | Geneva, Switzerland |
| International Organization for Standardization | Geneva, Switzerland |
| World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) | Geneva, Switzerland |
| World Trade Organisation | Geneva, Switzerland |
| International Labour Organisation | Geneva, Switzerland |
| UNAIDS | Geneva, Switzerland |
| World Health Organisation (WHO) | Geneva, Switzerland |
| UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) | Geneva, Switzerland |
| United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) | Geneva, Switzerland |
| World Economic Forum | Cologny-Geneva, Switzerland |
| International Telecommunication Union (ITU) | Geneva, Switzerland |
| United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) | Geneva, Switzerland |
| CERN – European Organization for Nuclear Research | Geneva, Switzerland |
| G-15 – Group of 15 | Geneva, Switzerland |
International Organizations UPSC
The International organizations and their headquarters find their relevance in the UPSC Syllabus, which is a crucial topic from the GK point of view. So candidates need to have in-depth knowledge on this topic for both UPSC Prelims and Mains exams. Additionally, they can also go through the previous year papers and mock tests to have an idea of the type of questions asked about International organisations in the exam. Try to answer the following questions important for the UPSC and other competitive exams:
Question 1: Which international organization has its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland? – (a) International Monetary Fund, (b) World Trade Organization, (c) United Nations, (d) World Bank
Answer: b) World Trade Organization (WTO)
Question 2: The headquarters of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is located in which city? – (a) Paris, France, (b) Tokyo, Japan, (c) Washington, D.C., United States, (d) London, United Kingdom
Answer: c) Washington, D.C., United States
Question 3: The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has its headquarters in: (a) New York City, United States, (b) Geneva, Switzerland, (c) Vienna, Austria, (d) Paris, France
Answer: d) Paris, France
Question 4: The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is headquartered in which city? – (a) Vienna, Austria, (b) Rome, Italy, (c) The Hague, Netherlands, (d) Berlin, Germany
Answer: a) Vienna, Austria
Question 5: Which international organization’s headquarters is located in New York City, United States? – (a) World Bank, (b) International Labor Organization, (c) United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), (d) Food and Agriculture Organization
Answer: c) United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
