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73 United Nations Trivia Questions & Answers

United Nations
This category is for trivia questions and answers related to United Nations, as asked by users of FunTrivia.com.

There are 73 questions on this topic. Last updated Oct 31 2024.
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1 A flag containing a map of the world extending from the North Pole to 60 degrees South Latitude, with five concentric white rings and surrounded by olive branches on a blue background - this is the flag of which association?
Answer: The United Nations

The United Nations flag was adopted on the 7th December 1946, following the US Secretary of State's - Edward Stettinus, Jr. - suggestion that the symbol used for the 1945 United Nations Conference on International Organization in San Francisco, could become the permanent symbol of the United Nations. The original design of the flag is that of Donal McLaughlin.
trivia question Quick Question
In countries where there has been a war, the UN can send in soldiers to help prevent any more violence. What do we call these soldiers?




2 What countries composed the first ever security council in 1946?
Answer: Brazil, Mexico, Australia, Poland, Egypt and the Netherlands

The first security council started in 1946 where Brazil, Mexico, Australia, Poland and the Netherlands were the first members. In the following year only Brazil, Australia and Poland continued their terms.
3 The first UN peacekeeping mission was authorized in 1948. Today (in 2006) it is also the longest running mission of the UN. With which conflict is it concerned?
Answer: Israeli/Palestinian

The United Nations Truce Supervision Operation (UNTSO) was established to ensure the keeping of the truce after the Israeli war of independence. The truce was effectively broken in the Sinai War (1956), the 6-Day War (1967), the Yom Kippur War (1973) and the Lebanon Wars (1978 and 1982), and is constantly being threatened by terror attacks from Palestinian side and ensuing retaliation from Israeli side. The effective evacuation of Israeli settlements from the occupied territories of Gaza and the West Bank in 2005 was a seminal step in the peace progress that has started with the Oslo agreements of 1993 and 1995.
4 After which major war was the United Nations Charter established?
Answer: World War II

Founded in 1945 directly after World War II, around 50 nations met to establish the UN as a successor to the League of Nations.
5 Who inspired the creation of the United Nations?
Answer: Franklin D. Roosevelt

Franklin D. Roosevelt declared a need for a 'trusteeship of the powerful' after the League of Nations had failed to prevent World War II, and in 1945, the United Nations came into being.
Question Reference: Quiz: World Power.
6 When was the United Nations set up?
Answer: 24th October 1945

One of the main reasons for creating the United Nations was that world leaders felt working together was the only way to prevent the tragedy of World War Two from being repeated.
Question Reference: Quiz: United Nations.
7 On what date was the United Nations formally established?
Answer: October 24, 1945

The UN Charter was signed on 26 June 1945, and following its ratification, the UN formally came into existence on October 24, 1945.
8 On June 26, 1945, the UN charter was signed at which location?
Answer: San Francisco

The UN charter was signed on this day in San Francisco, at the conclusion of the UN Conference on International Organization, and came into force on 24 October 1945.
9 Which UN organization has a flag that contains a variation of the Athens' Parthenon above and below the initials of the organization upon a blue background?
Answer: UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization)

UNESCO was established on the 16th November 1945 as the successor to League of Nations' International Commission on Intellectual Cooperation. UNESCO now has 193 member states and 7 associate member states, with its headquarters in the French capital, Paris. Possibly the best known UNESCO activity is it World Heritage Sites register, which registers those sites around the world that are of great natural or cultural importance.
10 What year were the number of seats in the security council increased from 6 to 10?
Answer: 1966

The countries that served on the council in 1966 were Mali, Nigeria, Uganda, Japan, Jordan, Argentina, Uruguay, Netherlands, New Zealand and Bulgaria. Uruguay, Jordan and the Netherlands served previously in 1965 with Bolivia, Ivory Coast and Malaysia.
11 How many members comprise the Security Council, not including the five permanent members?
Answer: 10

The Security Council consists of fifteen members total, the five permanent members and ten rotating members. The non-permanent for 2007 are Belgium, Italy, Qatar, Congo, Panama, Slovakia, Ghana, Peru, South Africa, and Indonesia.
Question Reference: Quiz: Are UN or Out?.
12 In what year was UNIFIL established, to oversee the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Lebanon?
Answer: 1978

UNIFIL is the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon. It was established in 1978 to ensure the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Lebanon, and was still operative over 43 years later (2021).
13 Who are the five permanent members of the UN Security Council?
Answer: US, UK, Russia, France, China

The five permanent members are the only countries who can never get thrown off the council, whereas the other members keep trading off.
14 At the beginning of 'Operation Iraqi Freedom', how many member nations did the UN have?
Answer: 191

The original 51 member nations has grown to 191 in 2003, representing nearly all the countries of the world.
Question Reference: Quiz: World Power.
15 How many countries were represented at the first session of the United Nations General Assembly?
Answer: 51

The UN General Assembly's first session took place at the Methodist Central Hall in London, and opened on 10 January 1946.
Question Reference: Quiz: United Nations.
16 This was the second multi-nation organization established in the 20th century. What is the name of the first?
Answer: League of Nations

The League of Nations was established by the Treaty of Versailles in 1919.
17 Which organization's flag contains an adult holding aloft a baby in front of a world of latitudinal and longitudinal rings, flanked by olive branches on a blue background?
Answer: UNICEF (United Nations Children Fund)

UNICEF (or the United Nations Children Fund) was established on the 11th December 1946, initially providing health care and food rations to those countries that had been ravaged by the Second World War. Today, UNICEF provides long-term humanitarian and developmental aid to mothers and children in developing countries. The acronym UNICEF stems from the original name of the organization - United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund.
18 As of 2005, which continent was 'host' to the majority of ongoing UN peacekeeping missions?
Answer: Africa

Of 15 ongoing missions, 7 were in Africa in 2005. Three others were in the Middle East, three in Europe, one in the Americas (Haiti) and one in Asia (Kashmir). The African countries concerned are Western Sahara, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia and Eritrea, Liberia, Sudan, Burundi and Cote d'Ivoire.
19 How many members are on the UN Security Council at one time?
Answer: 15

The small size makes it easier to make decisions, and creates a less hectic atmosphere.
20 What does the United Nations Charter call for?
Answer: To save succeeding generations from the scourge of war

The United Nations Charter, signed by 51 nations in 1945, calls on the United Nations 'to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war' and gives it the authority to approve military action if deemed necessary.
Question Reference: Quiz: World Power.
21 Which institution of the UN is like a parliament of nations which meets to consider the world's most pressing problems?
Answer: The General Assembly

The Security Council deals with keeping peace throughout the world, trying to settle disputes peacefully, or using military measures if necessary. The Secretariat carries out the day-to-day running of the UN. The Economic and Social Council coordinates the work of the specialised agencies, like UNICEF.
Question Reference: Quiz: United Nations.
22 Who was the first secretary-general of the United Nations?
Answer: Trygve Lie of Norway

23 The UN consists of how many original principal organs which was established under the UN charter in 1945?
Answer: Six

The six principal organs of the UN are the General Assembly, Security Council, Economic and Social Council, Trusteeship Council, International Court of Justice and UN Secretariat. One of these, the Trusteeship Council, was formally suspended in 1994 when its purpose was regarded as fulfilled. It had been established to oversee the administration of certain dependent territories, but when the last of these territories became independent, the Council no longer had a role. It cannot be dissolved without amending the UN Charter, however, so is simply regarded as inactive.
24 Which organization's flag contains a white circle, representing the world, surrounded by five messengers corresponding to the continents (Americas, Asia, Africa, Oceania and Europe), on a blue background?
Answer: UPU (Universal Postal Union)

The Universal Postal Union was established as the General Postal Union on the 9th October 1874 following the signing of the Treaty of Berne. The UPU now works to ensure a flat rate to mail a letter anywhere in the world; that all postal authorities should give equal treatment to foreign and domestic mail; and that all monies collected for international mail should be retained by the country of origin.
25 Normally, the elected members of the Security Council serve two-year terms, Which country is the exception to the rule?
Answer: Liberia

Liberia served on the Security Council only once, and that was in 1961 when it took the place of a western European nation.