Member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation


The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation is an international alliance that consists of 10 member states and 2 observers from Eurasia. It was established on 26 April 1996 as the Shanghai Five.
In addition to the 10 member states and 2 observers, the SCO currently has 14 dialogue partners and 4 guest attendance entries.

Member states

Military personnel

The following list is sourced from the 2018 edition of "The Military Balance" published annually by the International Institute for Strategic Studies.
CountryActive militaryReserve militaryParamilitaryTotalPer 1000 capita
Per 1000 capita
References

;Notes

Observer states

FlagCountry
Capital
Area

Population

Density

GDP per cap.
(PPP)
Currency
Official languagesLeadersStatus gained
MongoliaUlaanbaatar1,564,1153,475,5402$16,504Mongolian tögrög
MongolianHead of State: Ukhnaagiin Khürelsükh
Head of Government: Luvsannamsrain Oyun-Erdene
2004-06-17
AfghanistanKabul652,85741,128,77148.08$2,459Afghan AfghaniKabulDe facto Supreme Leader and Head of State: Hibatullah Akhundzada
De facto head of government: Hasan Akhund
2012

Future participation

The following countries have applied for a position in the organization:
FlagCountry
Capital
Area

Population

Density

GDP per cap.
(PPP)
HDICurrency
Official languagesLeadersStatus applied forYear applied
Bangladesh
People's Republic of Bangladesh
Dhaka148,460c169,828,9111,305Bangladeshi taka BengaliHead of State: Mohammed Shahabuddin
Chief Adviser: Muhammad Yunus
Observer2012
Syria
Syrian Arab Republic
Damascus185,180c22,933,531118.3Syrian pound ArabicHead of State: Ahmed al-Sharaa
Dialogue Partner2015
Israel
State of Israel
Jerusalem20,770c9,766,400442Israeli new shekel HebrewHead of State: Isaac Herzog
Head of Government: Benjamin Netanyahu
Dialogue Partner2016
Iraq
Republic of Iraq
Baghdad438,317c43,500,00082.7Iraqi dinar ArabicHead of State: Abdul Latif Rashid
Head of Government: Mohammed Shia' Al Sudani
Dialogue Partner2019
Algeria
People's Democratic Republic of Algeria
Algiers2,381,741c44,700,00017.7Algerian dinar ArabicHead of State: Abdelmadjid Tebboune
Head of Government: Aymen Benabderrahmane
Observer2023
Laos
Lao People’s Democratic Republic
Vientiane236,8007,749,59526.7Lao kip LaoSupreme Leader and Head of State: Thongloun Sisoulith
Head of Government: Sonexay Siphandone
Dialogue Partner2024

In 2012, Ukraine expressed interest in obtaining observer status. However, since the deposition of President Viktor Yanukovych and increased tensions with Russia, no application has been submitted and there are no current plans to incorporate Ukraine into the organization.
In 2011, Vietnam expressed interest in obtaining observer or dialogue partner status. However, it is unknown whether or not, Vietnam has submitted an application.

Guest attendance entries

Membership declined

The United States applied for observer status in the SCO, but was rejected in 2005.