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

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

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

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

The following countries were non-represented in the FAO Regular Programme as at 5 July 2019: 

Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahrain, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated Republic of Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Qatar, Sao Tome and Principe, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu. 

Under-represented Countries: member countries with less than the established minimum number of nationals currently working for FAO under the Regular Programme budget. 

The following countries were under-represented on the FAO Regular Programme as at 5 July 2019: 

China, Israel, Japan, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, United Arab Emirates.