NATO: membership history 1949–2026
NATO began in 1949 with 12 members. In 2026 it had 32 members. Membership changed in 11 years, including the 1949 founding; German reunification in 1990 also brought in the former East Germany.
Source: The groupings’ own member lists and histories, 10 Nov 20261949–2026
Greece and Türkiye joined in 1952, and Germany (as West Germany) in 1955. Spain joined in 1982, and the former East Germany became part of NATO in 1990. Czechia, Hungary and Poland joined in 1999, and Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia in 2004. Albania and Croatia joined in 2009, Montenegro in 2017, North Macedonia in 2020, Finland in 2023 and Sweden in 2024. France left NATO's integrated military command in 1966, stayed a member, and returned to the command in 2009.
Drafted with AI from cited sources and reviewed by the editorMap. Arrow keys move the map, plus and minus zoom, N and P step through the countries with data, Enter opens the one shown, Escape clears the selection.
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Borders show who controls an area in practice, as drawn by Natural Earth. Disputed borders are dashed. Borders shown do not imply endorsement. How we treat borders
Timeline
| 1949 | Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, United Kingdom, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal and United States | – | 12 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1952 | Greece and Türkiye | – | 14 | |
| 1955 | West Germany | – | 15 | West Germany joined. Countries are drawn on today’s borders, so it appears as Germany. |
| 1966 | – | – | 15 | France left NATO’s integrated military command, the joint command of the members’ forces; it stayed a member of the alliance. |
| 1982 | Spain | – | 16 | |
| 1990 | – | – | 16 | Germany reunified, and the former East Germany became part of NATO with it. |
| 1999 | Czechia, Hungary and Poland | – | 19 | |
| 2004 | Bulgaria, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia | – | 26 | |
| 2009 | Albania and Croatia | – | 28 | France returned to NATO’s integrated military command. |
| 2017 | Montenegro | – | 29 | |
| 2020 | North Macedonia | – | 30 | |
| 2023 | Finland | – | 31 | |
| 2024 | Sweden | – | 32 |
Source: The groupings’ own member lists and histories, 10 Nov 20261949–2026
Every country that has been a member
| Belgium | 1949 | 1949– |
|---|---|---|
| Canada | 1949 | 1949– |
| Denmark | 1949 | 1949– |
| France | 1949 | 1949– |
| United Kingdom | 1949 | 1949– |
| Iceland | 1949 | 1949– |
| Italy | 1949 | 1949– |
| Luxembourg | 1949 | 1949– |
| Netherlands | 1949 | 1949– |
| Norway | 1949 | 1949– |
| Portugal | 1949 | 1949– |
| United States | 1949 | 1949– |
| Greece | 1952 | 1952– |
| Türkiye | 1952 | 1952– |
| Germany | 1955 | 1955– |
| Spain | 1982 | 1982– |
| Czechia | 1999 | 1999– |
| Hungary | 1999 | 1999– |
| Poland | 1999 | 1999– |
| Bulgaria | 2004 | 2004– |
| Estonia | 2004 | 2004– |
| Lithuania | 2004 | 2004– |
| Latvia | 2004 | 2004– |
| Romania | 2004 | 2004– |
| Slovakia | 2004 | 2004– |
| Slovenia | 2004 | 2004– |
| Albania | 2009 | 2009– |
| Croatia | 2009 | 2009– |
| Montenegro | 2017 | 2017– |
| North Macedonia | 2020 | 2020– |
| Finland | 2023 | 2023– |
| Sweden | 2024 | 2024– |