The Council of Europe (CoE), founded in 1949 and based in Strasbourg, France, is an international organization that promotes human rights, democracy, and the rule of law. Free speech, assembly, press freedom, and racial and religious equality are all core principles of the Council of Europe.
Its many goals include ensuring the protection of minorities and children and combating widespread social ills, including corruption, terrorism, racism, and domestic abuse.
Countries in the Council of Europe do not use the death penalty to deter crime. The Council of Europe (CoE) contains all of the EU’s 27 members, although they are separate organizations (EU). As a historical truth, no nation has ever entered the European Union without first joining the Council of Europe.

Table of Contents
The expulsion of Russia from the Council of Europe
The Council of Europe has 47 members and six non-member observers at the beginning of 2022. However, Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022.
The next day, on February 25, the Council of Europe suspended Russia’s membership because the country’s conduct violated the CoE’s humanitarian norms.
Since then, Russia has said it would no longer participate in the Council of Europe. On the other hand, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe decided that day to end Russia’s participation in the organization without further delay.
Also See: Countries Not in the United Nations 2022
On February 28, 1996, Russia became a member of the Council of Europe.
Countries on the Council of Europe
Country | Date Joined | Country | Date Joined | Country | Date Joined | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Albania | 13 July 1995 | Greece | 09 Aug. 1949 | Netherlands | 05 May 1949 | ||
Andorra | 10 Nov 1994 | Holy See (observer) | 07 Mar 1970 | North Macedonia | 09 Nov 1995 | ||
Armenia | 25 Jan 2001 | Hungary | 06 Nov 1990 | Norway | 05 May 1949 | ||
Austria | 16 Apr 1956 | Iceland | 07 Mar 1950 | Poland | 26 Nov 1991 | ||
Azerbaijan | 25 Jan 2001 | Ireland | 05 May 1949 | Portugal | 22 Sep 1976 | ||
Belgium | 05 May 1949 | Israel (observer) | 02 Dec 1957 | Romania | 07 Oct 1993 | ||
Bosnia and Herzegovina | 24 Apr 2002 | Italy | 05 May 1949 | San Marino | 16 Nov 1988 | ||
Bulgaria | 07 May 1992 | Japan (observer) | 20 Nov 1996 | Serbia | 03 Apr 2003 | ||
Canada (observer) | 03 Apr 1996 | Latvia | 10 Feb 1995 | Slovakia | 30 Jun 1993 | ||
Croatia | 06 Nov 1996 | Liechtenstein | 23 Nov 1978 | Slovenia | 14 May 1993 | ||
Cyprus | 24 May 1961 | Lithuania | 14 May 1993 | Spain | 24 Nov 1977 | ||
Czech Republic | 30 Jun 1993 | Luxembourg | 05 May 1949 | Sweden | 05 May 1949 | ||
Denmark | 05 May 1949 | Malta | 29 Apr 1949 | Switzerland | 06 May 1963 | ||
Estonia | 14 May 1993 | Mexico (observer) | 01 Dec 1999 | Turkey | 13 Apr 1950 | ||
Finland | 05 May 1989 | Monaco | 05 Oct 2004 | Ukraine | 09 Nov 1995 | ||
France | 05 May 1949 | Montenegro | 11 May 2007 | United Kingdom | 05 May 1949 | ||
Georgia | 27 Apr 1999 | Moldova | 13 Jul 1995 | United States (observer) | 07 Dec 1995 | ||
Germany | 13 Jul 1950 |
Country | Membership | Join Date | 2022 Population |
---|---|---|---|
Albania | Full | 13 July 1995 | 2842.3210 |
Andorra | Full | 10 November 1994 | 79.8240 |
Armenia | Full | 25 January 2001 | 2780.4690 |
Austria | Full | 16 April 1956 | 8939.6170 |
Azerbaijan | Full | 25 January 2001 | 10358.0740 |
Belgium | Full | 5 May 1949 | 11655.9300 |
Bosnia and Herzegovina | Full | 24 April 2002 | 3233.5260 |
Bulgaria | Full | 7 May 1992 | 6781.9530 |
Canada | Non-Member Observer | 3 April 1996 | 38454.3270 |
Croatia | Full | 6 November 1996 | 4030.3580 |
Cyprus | Full | 24 May 1961 | 1251.4880 |
Czech Republic | Full | 30 June 1993 | 10493.9860 |
Denmark | Full | 5 May 1949 | 5882.2610 |
Estonia | Full | 14 May 1993 | 1326.0620 |
Finland | Full | 5 May 1989 | 5540.7450 |
France | Full | 5 May 1949 | 64626.6280 |
Georgia | Full | 27 April 1999 | 3744.3850 |
Germany | Full | 13 July 1950 | 83369.8430 |
Greece | Full | 9 August 1949 | 10384.9710 |
Hungary | Full | 6 November 1990 | 9967.3080 |
Iceland | Full | 7 March 1950 | 372.8990 |
Ireland | Full | 5 May 1949 | 5023.1090 |
Israel | Non-Member Observer | 2 December 1957 | 9038.3090 |
Italy | Full | 5 May 1949 | 59037.4740 |
Japan | Non-Member Observer | 20 November 1996 | 123951.6920 |
Latvia | Full | 10 February 1995 | 1850.6510 |
Liechtenstein | Full | 23 November 1978 | 39.3270 |
Lithuania | Full | 14 May 1993 | 2750.0550 |
Luxembourg | Full | 5 May 1949 | 647.5990 |
Malta | Full | 29 April 1965 | 533.2860 |
Mexico | Non-Member Observer | 1 December 1999 | 127504.1250 |
Moldova | Full | 13 July 1995 | 3272.9960 |
Monaco | Full | 5 October 2004 | 36.4690 |
Montenegro | Full | 11 May 2007 | 627.0820 |
Netherlands | Full | 5 May 1949 | 17564.0140 |
North Macedonia | Full | 9 November 1995 | 2093.5990 |
Norway | Full | 5 May 1949 | 5434.3190 |
Poland | Full | 26 November 1991 | 39857.1450 |
Portugal | Full | 22 September 1976 | 10270.8650 |
Romania | Full | 7 October 1993 | 19659.2670 |
San Marino | Full | 16 November 1988 | 33.6600 |
Serbia | Full | 3 April 2003 | 7221.3650 |
Slovakia | Full | 30 June 1993 | 5643.4530 |
Slovenia | Full | 14 May 1993 | 2119.8440 |
Spain | Full | 24 November 1977 | 47558.6300 |
Sweden | Full | 5 May 1949 | 10549.3470 |
Switzerland | Full | 6 May 1963 | 8740.4720 |
Turkey | Full | 13 April 1950 | 85341.2410 |
Ukraine | Full | 9 November 1995 | 39701.7390 |
United Kingdom | Full | 5 May 1949 | 67508.9360 |
United States | Non-Member Observer | 7 December 1995 | 338289.8570 |
Vatican City | Non-Member Observer | 7 March 1970 | 0.5100 |