An expanding organization

OIMAP was founded in 2007 with 23 founding States. Every year since 2008, two or three States have joined, up to the 2024 accessions. The list by date of accession makes it possible to follow this growth and to understand the Organization's current composition.
Accessions are decided by the General Assembly by a two-thirds majority. They take effect at the end of a probationary period, indicatively twelve months.
For another ranking, see the list in alphabetical order.
By date of accession in figures
Source: Member States Relations Directorate.
The founders of 2007
The founding States are: in Europe, France, Switzerland, Germany, Italy, Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands, Portugal, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Greece and Austria; in the Americas, Canada, the United States, Mexico and Brazil; in Asia-Pacific, Japan and Australia; in Africa, Kenya, Senegal, Morocco and Egypt; in the Middle East, Jordan.
The detailed list for each region appears in the corresponding "member countries" pages, which are authoritative for the count by region.



The first wave: 2008 to 2012
Accessions in this period were mainly European. In 2008, Ireland, Denmark and Norway; in 2009, Finland, Poland and Czechia; in 2010, Hungary and Romania; in 2011, Bulgaria, Croatia and Luxembourg; in 2012, Slovakia and Slovenia.
This phase consolidated the Organization's European base and made it possible to establish the Headquarters and the Geneva office on a solid network of partners.
Opening to the Americas and Asia: 2013 to 2018
From 2013, the Organization expanded to the Americas: Argentina, Chile and Colombia (2013), Peru, Uruguay and Ecuador (2014), Cuba and Panama (2015), Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic (2016). Asia followed: South Korea in 2016, China and Singapore in 2017, India, Thailand and Vietnam in 2018.
The opening of the New York office, then of the Singapore office, accompanied these developments.
Recent accessions: 2019 to 2024
Since 2019, Asia-Pacific has been strengthened with Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines (2019), then New Zealand and Kazakhstan (2020). Africa is expanding: Tunisia, South Africa and Ghana (2021), Côte d'Ivoire and Nigeria (2022), Ethiopia and Cameroon (2023).
In the Middle East, Lebanon joined the Organization in 2023, followed by the United Arab Emirates and Qatar in 2024.
Accessions by year
| Year | New States | Regions concerned |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 3 | Europe |
| 2009 | 3 | Europe |
| 2013 | 3 | Americas |
| 2017 | 2 | Asia-Pacific |
| 2021 | 3 | Africa |
| 2024 | 2 | Middle East |
Milestones
- Foundation
Twenty-three founding States.
- End of the European wave
Twenty-five States in Europe.
- Americas complete
Fourteen States.
- Latest accessions
Sixty-seven States in total.
About the dates



Founders and acceding States

Founders
2007 signatories- Twenty-three States
- Drafting of the constituent act
- Same voting right
Seniority without privilege.

Acceding States
Admitted since 2008- Forty-four States
- Two-thirds vote
- Probationary period
A structured procedure.
Following an accession
- Request
Official letter from the State.
- Review
Technical assessment.
- Vote
General Assembly.
- Probation
About twelve months.
- Integration
Designation of the focal point.
For a historical study
A historian of the institution

« The chronology of accessions sheds light on the geography of cooperation: you can see the offices following the States. »
Vocabulary of accession
- Probation
- Trial period of accession.
- Two-thirds majority
- Voting threshold to admit a State.
- Wave of accessions
- Group of States admitted over a few years.
- Constituent act
- Founding text of 2007.
Reading the trends
Accessions follow regional cycles: Europe first, then the Americas, Asia-Pacific and finally Africa and the Middle East. This sequence reflects both the establishment of the offices and the successive political priorities of the General Assembly.
These observations are indicative. They do not prejudge future accessions, whose pace depends on the applications submitted and the decision of the members.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was the most recent accession?
In 2024, with the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.
How many States per year?
Two or three.
How do I join?
See Procedure.
Do founding States still have a special status?
No, all States have the same rights.
Useful Documents
Contacts

Join OIMAP
Image credits (19)
- Nuova pianta di Roma data in luce da Giambattista Nolli l’anno MDCCXLVII, known as La Pianta Grande di Roma, Giovanni Battista Nolli (1748) — Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 1.0
- The Dance at the Court of Herod, Israhel van Meckenem (c. 1500) — Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 1.0
- View of Venice, Jacopo de' Barbari (1500) — Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 1.0
- Power figure (nkisi) (late 1800s-early 1900s) — Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 1.0
- Nuova pianta di Roma data in luce da Giambattista Nolli l’anno MDCCXLVII, known as La Pianta Grande di Roma, Giovanni Battista Nolli (1748) — Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 1.0
- Floral-shaped Cup and Saucer with Inlaid Chrysanthemum Design (1100s-1200s) — Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 1.0
- Dune Scene with Peasant Figures, Willem van de Velde (mid-1650s) — Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 1.0
- Bowl with Costumed Being (100 BCE–700 CE) — Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 1.0
- Nuova pianta di Roma data in luce da Giambattista Nolli l’anno MDCCXLVII, known as La Pianta Grande di Roma, Giovanni Battista Nolli (1748) — Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 1.0
- Peonies (early 1900s) — Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 1.0
- Arrival of the "Southern Barbarians" (c. 1600) — Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 1.0
- Pair of Drawings: Sketch of the Labyrinth of the Villa Pisani and Piazza San Marco with Doges' Palace, Francesco Guardi (1773–1778(?)) — Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 1.0
- Coronation of the Virgin, Christoffel Jegher (1632–36) — Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 1.0
- The Victory Banquet: from Battle Scenes of the Quelling of Rebellions in the Western Regions, with Imperial Poems (c. 1765–74; poem dated 1760) — Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 1.0
- Seven Jeweled Mountain (late 1800s) — Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 1.0
- Prestige Cap (mpu ngola) (late 1800s–early 1900s) — Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 1.0
- The Doge's Palace, Venice, Richard Parkes Bonington (1826) — Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 1.0
- Royal Retainer (early 1900s) — Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 1.0
- Male figure (probably 1800s) — Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 1.0
Cleveland Museum of Art · CC0 1.0
List of the 67 StatesThe 67 OIMAP Member States, presented in alphabetical order, by date of accession and on an interactive map.›
In alphabetical orderQuickly find a Member State with the alphabetical list of the 67 countries, with region and year of accession.›
By date of accessionOIMAP's growth year after year: founders in 2007, then two or three accessions a year until 2024.›
Interactive mapA world map to explore the 67 Member States by region, open their profiles and find the responsible office.›
Country profile contactsThe practical part of the country profiles: heritage department, national focal point, languages of correspondence and opening hours.›
Membership procedureFrom the official request to the General Assembly vote, then the twelve-month probationary period.›