Headquarters of International Organizations

International organizations play a vital role in global cooperation, peace, development, and governance. Knowing the headquarters of these bodies is important for competitive exams and general knowledge. These headquarters are strategically located in major cities across the world. This note lists the key organizations and their headquarters in a clear, tabulated format.

1. United Nations & Its Bodies

Organization

Headquarters

United Nations (UN)

New York, USA

UNESCO (Educational, Scientific & Cultural Organization)

Paris, France

UNICEF (Children's Fund)

New York, USA

WHO (World Health Organization)

Geneva, Switzerland

ILO (International Labour Organization)

Geneva, Switzerland

UNHCR (Refugee Agency)

Geneva, Switzerland

UNEP (Environment Programme)

Nairobi, Kenya

UNCTAD (Trade and Development)

Geneva, Switzerland

UNIDO (Industrial Development Organization)

Vienna, Austria

FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization)

Rome, Italy

IFAD (Fund for Agricultural Development)

Rome, Italy

WFP (World Food Programme)

Rome, Italy

ICJ (International Court of Justice)

The Hague, Netherlands

ICC (International Criminal Court)

The Hague, Netherlands

IAEA (Atomic Energy Agency)

Vienna, Austria

UNIDO

Vienna, Austria

UN Women

New York, USA

UN-Habitat

Nairobi, Kenya

2. Financial & Economic Organizations

Organization

Headquarters

World Bank

Washington D.C., USA

International Monetary Fund (IMF)

Washington D.C., USA

World Trade Organization (WTO)

Geneva, Switzerland

Bank for International Settlements (BIS)

Basel, Switzerland

Asian Development Bank (ADB)

Manila, Philippines

New Development Bank (BRICS Bank)

Shanghai, China

Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB)

Beijing, China

African Development Bank

Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire

European Central Bank

Frankfurt, Germany

OECD (Economic Cooperation & Development)

Paris, France

3. Political & Regional Organizations

Organization

Headquarters

NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization)

Brussels, Belgium

European Union (EU)

Brussels, Belgium

African Union (AU)

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations)

Jakarta, Indonesia

SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation)

Kathmandu, Nepal

Arab League

Cairo, Egypt

Commonwealth of Nations

London, UK

OPEC (Petroleum Exporting Countries)

Vienna, Austria

SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organisation)

Beijing, China

Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

G7 / G20

No permanent HQ (rotating presidency)

BRICS

No permanent HQ (rotating presidency)

4. Sports Organizations

Organization

Headquarters

International Olympic Committee (IOC)

Lausanne, Switzerland

FIFA (Football)

Zurich, Switzerland

ICC (International Cricket Council)

Dubai, UAE

IOC / FIFA / IAAF

Lausanne / Zurich / Monaco

World Athletics (IAAF)

Monaco

5. Other Important Organizations

Organization

Headquarters

Interpol

Lyon, France

Red Cross (ICRC)

Geneva, Switzerland

Amnesty International

London, UK

Greenpeace

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Human Rights Watch

New York, USA

International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

Geneva, Switzerland

Universal Postal Union (UPU)

Bern, Switzerland

World Meteorological Organization (WMO)

Geneva, Switzerland

World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)

Geneva, Switzerland

Quick Memory Tips

• Geneva, Switzerland hosts the most UN specialized agencies (WHO, ILO, UNHCR, WTO, ITU, WIPO, WMO, Red Cross).
• Rome, Italy is the hub for food/agriculture bodies (FAO, IFAD, WFP).
• Vienna, Austria hosts nuclear/industrial bodies (IAEA, UNIDO, OPEC).
• The Hague, Netherlands = International justice (ICJ, ICC).
• Washington D.C. = Global finance (World Bank, IMF).
• Brussels, Belgium = Political/military blocs (NATO, EU).