Level 8 of 10: The UN and global treaty bodies

World Health Organization (WHO)

The World Health Organization is the United Nations specialised agency for health, set up by a Constitution that came into force on 7 April 1948. WHO says its World Health Assembly, attended by all 194 member states, sets policy, appoints the Director-General and approves the budget; the Assembly can adopt binding health regulations and, by a two-thirds vote, conventions. A 34-member Executive Board prepares the Assembly's agenda.

Who leads it

• Director-General: Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (First elected May 2017; second term from 16 August 2022, ending 15 August 2027) (who.int)

The UK and the WHO

WHO's list of member states includes the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Key figures

What it decides

• The World Health Assembly determines WHO's policies, appoints the Director-General and reviews the Board's work (WHO Constitution, Article 18).
• The Assembly can adopt conventions or agreements on health matters by a two-thirds vote; they bind each member that accepts them (Article 19).
• The Assembly can adopt regulations on matters such as quarantine and stopping the international spread of disease (Article 21); these apply to all members except those that reject them or enter reservations in time (Article 22).
• The Assembly reviews and approves the budget and apportions costs among members (Article 56).
• The Executive Board has 34 members, designated by member states the Assembly elects (Article 24), and nominates the Director-General for appointment (Article 31).

Records you can check

• WHO Programme budget digital platform
  WHO's approved budgets, results and funding sources by biennium
• WHO Basic Documents (Constitution and rules)
  The full text of WHO's Constitution and governing rules
• World Health Assembly
  Assembly sessions, documents and resolutions
• Election of the WHO Director-General
  Timetable and candidates for the next Director-General

Common questions

How many countries are in the WHO?

194. WHO lists 194 member states, grouped into regions.

Who is head of the WHO?

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus is Director-General. WHO says his second term began on 16 August 2022 and ends on 15 August 2027.

What is the WHO's budget?

WHO says member states endorsed a 2026-27 budget of US$4.2 billion in May 2025, alongside a 20% rise in assessed contributions. The approved programme budget for 2024-25 was US$6.83 billion.

Can the WHO make rules countries must follow?

Under Articles 21 and 22 of its Constitution, the World Health Assembly can adopt regulations that apply to all members except those that formally reject them in time. Conventions adopted under Article 19 bind only members that accept them.

What is the WHO Pandemic Agreement?

WHO reports that the World Health Assembly adopted the Pandemic Agreement by consensus in May 2025. WHO says it opens for signature after a pathogen access and benefit-sharing annex is adopted, and enters into force after 60 ratifications.

Other bodies at level 8

• Commonwealth of Nations
• International Court of Justice
• International Criminal Court
• International Labour Organization
• Interpol
• NATO
• UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
• United Nations (General Assembly and Security Council)
• United Nations Children's Fund
• United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
• United Nations Human Rights Council
• United Nations Security Council
• World Food Programme
• World Trade Organization

Sources

• Countries | WHO, read 16 October 2026
• WHO Director-General - Biography, read 16 October 2026
• Election of the WHO Director-General, read 20 October 2026
• World Health Assembly re-elects Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus to second term, read 20 October 2026
• WHO Member States approve 20% funding increase and 2026–27 budget, read 20 October 2026
• Programme Budget | WHO, read 20 October 2026
• World Health Assembly | WHO, read 20 October 2026
• Executive Board | WHO, read 20 October 2026
• Constitution of the World Health Organization, read 20 October 2026
• WHO Basic Documents, 49th edition, read 20 October 2026
• World Health Assembly adopts historic Pandemic Agreement, read 20 October 2026