Published on 23 March 2024

WMO Full Form: Check History, Objective, Members Countries etc.

Full Form
WMO Full Form

WMO Full Form: The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) is an intergovernmental organization with 193 Member States and Territories. It originated from the International Meteorological Organization (IMO), planted at the 1873 Vienna International Meteorological Congress. Established by the ratification of the WMO Convention on 23 March 1950, WMO became the specialized agency of the world organization for meteorology (weather and climate), operational hydrology and related geophysical sciences a year later.

WMO Overview

The WMO is an intergovernmental economic organization with 38 member countries

OMOWorld Meteorological Organization
HeadquartersGeneva, Switzerland
Formation23 March 1950; 71 years ago
Parent organizationUnited Nations Economic and Social Council
TypeUnited Nations specialized agency
Websitehttps://public.wmo.int/en
Member193 Member States and Territories

What is WMO?

World Meteorological Organization is a specific agency of the UN with 193 Member States and Territories. The UN system’s authoritative voice on the state and behaviour of the Earth’s atmosphere, its interaction with the land and oceans, the weather and climate it provides, and the resulting distribution of water resources.

History

The establishment of the World Meteorological Organization in March 1950, following the entry into force of its Convention, and the designation of WMO in 1951 as a specialized agency of the United Nations, heralded a new era for international cooperation in the field of meteorology, hydrology and related geophysical sciences.

WMO Objective

WMO works to facilitate worldwide cooperation within the design and delivery of meteorological services, foster the rapid exchange of meteorological information, advance the standardization of meteorological data, build collaboration between meteorological and hydrological services, encourage research and training in meteorology, and expand the employment of meteorology to profit other sectors like aviation, shipping, agriculture and water management.

Function of WMO

  • WMO acts as a central framework where Members, including representatives of National Meteorological and Hydrology Services (NMHSs), can effectively discuss all issues associated with weather, climate and water.
  • The WMO is governed by the planet Meteorological Congress, which consists of all WMO Members. The planet Meteorological Congress meets annually to review and provides policy guidance to WMO Programmes.
  • The Secretary-General heads the Secretariat, which relies on Geneva. The Secretariat acts as the organization’s administration, documentation and data centre.
  • Pressing issues or international emergencies that require to be addressed will be accommodated through existing programmes.

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In this section, we provide information about the WMO strategic plan with the help of a graphical chart; let’s have a look.

WMO Strategic Plan
WMO Strategic Plan

Members Countries

In this section, you will get information about the WMO member countries with the date of joining; let’s see.

Member States / TerritoriesDate JoinedMember States / TerritoriesDate Joined
Afghanistan Region II: Asia11 September 1956Latvia Region VI: Europe15 May 1992
Albania Region VI: Europe29 July 1957Lebanon Region VI: Europe22 December 1948
Algeria Region I: Africa4 April 1963Lesotho Region I: Africa3 August 1979
Andorra Region VI: Europe16 November 2018Liberia Region I: Africa7 February 1974
Angola Region I: Africa16 March 1977Libya (State of) Region I: Africa29 December 1955
Antigua and Barbuda Region IV: North America, Central America, Caribbean16 November 1988Lithuania Region VI: Europe3 June 1992
Argentina Region III: South America2 January 1951Luxembourg Region VI: Europe29 October 1952
Armenia Region VI: Europe16 September 1992Macao, China Region II: Asia24 January 1996
Australia Region V: South-West Pacific14 March 1949Madagascar Region I: Africa15 December 1960
Austria Region VI: Europe23 February 1955Malawi Region I: Africa15 February 1965
Azerbaijan Region VI: Europe27 December 1993Malaysia Region V: South-West Pacific19 May 1958
Bahamas Region IV: North America, Central America, Caribbean29 November 1973Maldives Region II: Asia1 June 1978
Bahrain Region II: Asia21 April 1980Mali Region I: Africa11 November 1960
Bangladesh Region II: Asia24 August 1973Malta Region VI: Europe28 December 1976
Barbados Region IV: North America, Central America, Caribbean22 March 1967Mauritania Region I: Africa23 January 1962
Belarus Region VI: Europe12 April 1948Mauritius Region I: Africa17 July 1969
Belgium Region VI: Europe2 February 1951Mexico Region IV: North America, Central America, Caribbean27 May 1949
Belize Region IV: North America, Central America, Caribbean25 May 1982Micronesia, Federated States of Region V: South-West Pacific20 September 1995
Benin Region I: Africa14 May 1961Monaco Region VI: Europe9 April 1996
Bhutan Region II: Asia11 February 2003Mongolia Region II: Asia4 April 1963
Bolivia, Plurinational State of Region III: South America15 May 1954Montenegro Region VI: Europe5 January 2007
Bosnia and Herzegovina Region VI: Europe1 June 1994Morocco Region I: Africa3 January 1957
Botswana Region I: Africa16 October 1967Mozambique Region I: Africa21 June 1976
Brazil Region III: South America15 March 1950Myanmar Region II: Asia19 August 1949
British Caribbean Territories Region IV: North America, Central America, Caribbean24 September 1953Namibia Region I: Africa6 February 1991
Brunei Darussalam Region V: South-West Pacific26 November 1984Nauru Region V: South-West Pacific16 May 2019
Bulgaria Region VI: Europe12 March 1952Nepal Region II: Asia12 August 1966
Burkina Faso Region I: Africa31 October 1960Netherlands Region VI: Europe12 September 1951
Burundi Region I: Africa30 October 1962New Caledonia Region V: South-West Pacific5 December 1949
Cabo Verde Region I: Africa21 October 1975New Zealand Region V: South-West Pacific2 April 1948
Cambodia Region II: Asia8 November 1955Nicaragua Region IV: North America, Central America, Caribbean27 February 1959
Cameroon Region I: Africa17 December 1960Niger Region I: Africa28 October 1960
Canada Region IV: North America, Central America, Caribbean28 July 1950Nigeria Region I: Africa30 November 1960
Central African Republic Region I: Africa28 June 1961Niue Region V: South-West Pacific31 May 1996
Chad Region I: Africa2 February 1961North Macedonia Region VI: Europe1 June 1993
Chile Region III: South America9 May 1957Norway Region VI: Europe9 December 1948
China Region II: Asia1 April 1951Oman Region II: Asia3 January 1975
Colombia Region III: South America5 January 1962Pakistan Region II: Asia11 April 1950
Comoros Region I: Africa19 March 1976Panama Region IV: North America, Central America, Caribbean12 September 1967
Congo Region I: Africa21 November 1960Papua New Guinea Region V: South-West Pacific15 December 1975
Cook Islands Region V: South-West Pacific18 October 1995Paraguay Region III: South America15 September 1950
Costa Rica Region IV: North America, Central America, Caribbean16 December 1960Peru Region III: South America30 December 1949
Côte d’Ivoire Region I: Africa31 October 1960Philippines Region V: South-West Pacific5 April 1949
Croatia Region VI: Europe9 October 1992Poland Region VI: Europe16 May 1950
Cuba Region IV: North America, Central America, Caribbean4 March 1952Portugal Region VI: Europe15 January 1951
Curaçao and Sint Maarten Region IV: North America, Central America, Caribbean12 September 1951Qatar Region II: Asia4 April 1975
Cyprus Region VI: Europe11 April 1963Republic of Korea Region II: Asia15 February 1956
Czech Republic Region VI: Europe25 January 1993Republic of Moldova Region VI: Europe21 November 1994
Democratic People’s Republic of Korea Region II: Asia27 May 1975Romania Region VI: Europe18 August 1948
The Democratic Republic of the Congo Region I: Africa5 November 1960Russian Federation Region VI: Europe2 April 1948
Denmark Region VI: Europe10 July 1951Rwanda Region I: Africa4 February 1963
Djibouti Region I: Africa30 June 1978Saint Lucia Region IV: North America, Central America, Caribbean2 March 1981
Dominica Region IV: North America, Central America, Caribbean21 February 1980Samoa Region V: South-West Pacific11 July 1995
Dominican Republic Region IV: North America, Central America, Caribbean15 September 1949Sao Tome and Principe Region I: Africa23 November 1976
Ecuador Region III: South America7 June 1951Saudi Arabia Region II: Asia26 February 1959
Egypt Region I: Africa10 January 1950Senegal Region I: Africa11 December 1960
El Salvador Region IV: North America, Central America, Caribbean27 May 1955Serbia Region VI: Europe23 March 2001
Eritrea Region I: Africa8 July 1993Seychelles Region I: Africa15 February 1977
Estonia Region VI: Europe21 August 1992Sierra Leone Region I: Africa30 March 1962
Eswatini Region I: Africa2 November 1982Singapore Region V: South-West Pacific24 January 1966
Ethiopia Region I: Africa3 December 1953Slovakia Region VI: Europe11 February 1993
Fiji Region V: South-West Pacific18 March 1980Slovenia Region VI: Europe20 August 1992
Finland Region VI: Europe7 January 1949Solomon Islands Region V: South-West Pacific6 May 1985
France Region VI: Europe5 December 1949Somalia Region I: Africa1 April 1964
French Polynesia Region V: South-West Pacific5 December 1949South Africa Region I: Africa17 January 1950
Gabon Region I: Africa5 June 1961South Sudan Region I: Africa14 December 2012
Gambia Region I: Africa1 November 1978Spain Region VI: Europe27 February 1951
Georgia Region VI: Europe1 September 1993Sri Lanka Region II: Asia23 May 1951
Germany Region VI: Europe10 June 1954Sudan Region I: Africa3 December 1956
Ghana Region I: Africa6 May 1957Suriname Region III: South America26 July 1976
Greece Region VI: Europe20 January 1950Sweden Region VI: Europe10 November 1948
Guatemala Region IV: North America, Central America, Caribbean21 March 1952Switzerland Region VI: Europe23 February 1949
Guinea Region I: Africa27 March 1959Syrian Arab Republic Region VI: Europe16 July 1952
Guinea-Bissau Region I: Africa15 December 1977Tajikistan Region II: Asia10 August 1993
Guyana Region III: South America22 November 1966Thailand Region II: Asia11 July 1949
Haiti Region IV: North America, Central America, Caribbean14 August 1951Timor-Leste Region V: South-West Pacific4 December 2009
Honduras Region IV: North America, Central America, Caribbean10 October 1960Togo Region I: Africa28 October 1960
Hong Kong, China Region II: Asia14 December 1948Tonga Region V: South-West Pacific25 February 1996
Hungary Region VI: Europe15 February 1951Trinidad and Tobago Region IV: North America, Central America, Caribbean1 February 1963
Iceland Region VI: Europe16 January 1948Tunisia Region I: Africa22 January 1957
India Region II: Asia27 April 1949Turkey Region VI: Europe5 August 1949
Indonesia Region V: South-West Pacific16 November 1950Turkmenistan Region II: Asia4 December 1992
Iran, Islamic Republic of Region II: Asia30 September 1959Tuvalu Region V: South-West Pacific22 September 2012
Iraq Region II: Asia21 February 1950Uganda Region I: Africa15 March 1963
Ireland Region VI: Europe14 March 1950Ukraine Region VI: Europe12 April 1948
Israel Region VI: Europe30 September 1949United Arab Emirates Region II: Asia17 December 1986
Italy Region VI: Europe9 January 1951United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Region VI: Europe14 December 1948
Jamaica Region IV: North America, Central America, Caribbean29 May 1963United Republic of Tanzania Region I: Africa14 September 1962
Japan Region II: Asia11 August 1953United States of America Region IV: North America, Central America, Caribbean4 May 1949
Jordan Region VI: Europe11 July 1955Uruguay Region III: South America11 January 1951
Kazakhstan Region II: Asia5 May 1993Uzbekistan Region II: Asia23 December 1992
Kenya Region I: Africa2 June 1964Vanuatu Region V: South-West Pacific24 June 1982
Kiribati Region V: South-West Pacific26 March 2003Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Region III: South America16 June 1950
Kuwait Region II: Asia1 December 1962Viet Nam Region II: Asia8 July 1975
Kyrgyzstan Region II: Asia20 July 1994Yemen Region II: Asia8 July 1971
Lao People’s Democratic Republic Region II: Asia1 June 1955Zambia Region I: Africa28 December 1964
––Zimbabwe Region I: Africa12 January 1981

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Funding of WMO

  • Funding for WMO comes from contributions by its Member States.
  • Additionally, WMO receives funding from international organizations, foundations, and donor countries.
  • The organization also secures funding through partnerships with various stakeholders in climate and meteorological research.
  • WMO may receive grants from governmental and non-governmental entities for specific projects or initiatives.
  • Funding for WMO supports its operational activities, research endeavours, capacity-building programs, and the maintenance of its infrastructure and networks.
  • WMO continually seeks funding opportunities to enhance its capabilities in monitoring, predicting, and mitigating environmental challenges worldwide.

Advantages & Disadvantages of the World Meteorological Organization

Let’s check some advantages and disadvantages of the World Meteorological Organization mentioned below in the table.

WMO AdvantagesWMO Disadvantage
Improved weather forecasting and early warning systemsLimited resources
Reduction of risks and impacts of extreme weather eventsDependence on member countries
Improved quality and consistency of meteorological dataLimited influence
Enhanced international cooperationLimited scope
Greater awareness and understanding of weather and climateLimited capacity to address climate change

Achievements of WMO

  • Establishment of a global network of meteorological stations and observing systems
  • Development and maintenance of global standards for meteorological data measurement and reporting
  • Provision of technical assistance to member countries for enhancing meteorological services
  • Support for reducing risks and impacts of extreme weather events through collaboration with governments and organizations
  • Promotion of exchange of meteorological information and data among member countries

Conclusion

In meteorology, hydrology, and related studies, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) is a key player in developing international cooperation. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has made predicting the weather, early warning systems, and lowering the risk of disasters much better around the world through its large network, attempts to standardize things and technical support. WMO continues to strive for excellence, supporting international collaboration, improving data exchange, and adding to a better knowledge and control of Earth’s atmospheric processes for the benefit of all.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the World Meteorological Organization?

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations dedicated to meteorology (weather), climatology (climate), operational hydrology (water) and other related geophysical sciences such as oceanography and atmospheric chemistry.

When did WMO start?

WMO originates from the International Meteorological Organization (IMO), which dates back to 1873. The WMO mandate, constituent bodies and procedures are set out in the WMO Convention, which entered into force on 23 March 1950 – a year later, WMO became a specialized agency of the United Nations.

How many states are Members of WMO?

The WMO Membership comprises 187 states and six territories.

Who funds the WMO?

Extrabudgetary expenditures are funded through UNDP, the WMO Voluntary Cooperation Program, and funds-in-trust.

What is the purpose of WMO?

WMO provides world leadership and expertise in international cooperation in the delivery and use of high-quality, authoritative weather, climate, hydrological and related environmental services by its members to improve the well-being of societies of all nations.

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2 Comments on “WMO Full Form: Check History, Objective, Members Countries etc.”

  2. Suraj behera

    Steat-Orisha;Dist-puri.sir I am join ngo feed sanstha sir help plise.i am no idea please help sir .

    Reply
    1. Saghira Basirat

      What kind of help do you want from us?

      Reply

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