The Commission has forty-three⁽¹⁾ Member States elected by ECOSOC for a term of four years. Experts nominated by their respective governments should possess the necessary qualifications and professional or scientific knowledge.

The Commission has:

• eleven members from African States;
• nine members from Asian States;
• eight members from Latin American and Caribbean States;
• five members from Eastern European States; and
• ten members from Western European and other States.

At each session, the Commission elects a new Bureau (a Chairperson and four Vice-Chairpersons) for the next session. The Bureau assumes responsibilities for the forthcoming activities during the inter-sessional period.

(last udpate: 9 March 2009)

Region	Country	End of term
Africa	Burkina Faso	2010
	Democratic Republic of Congo	2012
	Equatorial Guinea	2012
	Eritrea	2010
	Ghana	2012
	Lesotho	2010
	Mali	2012
	South Africa	2012
	Sudan	2010
	Tunisia	2010
	Uganda	2010
Asia	China	2010
	India	2010
	Iran (Islamic Republic of)	2010
	Jordan	2012
	Malaysia	2010
	Oman	2012
	Pakistan	2012
	Philippines	2010
	Sri Lanka	2012
Eastern Europe	Belarus	2010
	Latvia	2010
	Russian Federation	2012
	Slovakia	2012
	(Vacant seat)	2010
Latin America and Caribbean	Argentina	2010
	Brazil	2012
	Chile	2012
	Costa Rica	2012
	Cuba	2010
	Dominican Republic	2010
	El Salvador	2010
	Jamaica	2012
Western Europe and other states	Austria	2012
	Belgium	2010
	Finland	2012
	France	2010
	Germany	2010
	Israel	2012
	Portugal	2012
	Switzerland	2012
	Turkey	2010
	United States of America	2010

Endnotes

1. The Economic and Social Council, has decided that the CSTD should be enlarged by ten members, in accordance with Council resolution 2006/46 of 28 July 2006. The elections of the ten new members of the Commission was held at the organizational session of the Council in February 2007.