The OAS is made up of 35 member states: the independent nations of North, Central and South America and the Caribbean. Nations from other parts of the world participate as permanent observers, which allow them to closely follow the issues that are critical to the Americas.

All 35 independent countries of the Americas have ratified the OAS Charter and belong to the Organization. Cuba remains a member, but its government has been excluded from participation in the OAS since 1962, thus only 34 countries participate actively.

21 Original OAS Members

The following nations met in Bogotá, Colombia, in 1948 to sign the OAS Charter: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, United States, Uruguay, Venezuela.

Subsequent Members

Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago(1967); Jamaica(1969); Grenada (1975); Suriname (1977); Dominica, Saint Lucia (1979); Antigua and Barbuda, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (1981); The Bahamas (1982); St. Kitts and Nevis (1984); Canada (1990); Belize, Guyana (1991).