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 24 September 2018:

Antigua and Barbuda, Bahrain, Belize, Brunei Darussalam, Central African Republic, , Guinea-Bissau, Kiribati, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Libya, Marshall Islands, Federated Republic of Micronesia, Monaco, Namibia, Nauru, Niue, Qatar, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Sao Tome and Principe, , Solomon Islands, Suriname, Timor Leste, 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 24 September 2018:

Australia, China, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, United Arab Emirates.