Calculation of geographic representation within FAO is based on three criteria:

• Membership to FAO;
• Member Nation population;
• Member Nation contribution to the FAO budget.

FAO encourages applications from qualified nationals of non- and under- represented Member Nations as well as qualified women.

Non-represented Member Nations: Member Nations with no nationals currently working for FAO on a professional post under the Regular Programme budget.

The following Member Nations are non-represented under the FAO Regular Programme as at 1 April 2024:

Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Cook Islands, Estonia, Fiji, Kiribati, Liberia, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federal States of), Montenegro, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Qatar, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Seychelles, Timor Leste, Tuvalu, Vanuatu.

Under-represented Member Nations: Member Nations with less than the established minimum number of nationals currently working for FAO on a professional post under the Regular Programme budget.

The following Member Nations are under-represented under the FAO Regular Programme as at 1 April 2024:

Belgium, China, Denmark, Germany, Indonesia, Iraq, Israel, Japan, Kuwait, Poland, Republic of Korea, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, United States of America.