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

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

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

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

The following Member Nations are non-represented under the FAO Regular Programme as at 1 September 2021:

Bahamas, Central African Republic, Cook Islands, Estonia, Fiji, Grenada, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Micronesia (Federal States of), Myanmar, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Qatar, Saint Lucia, Vanuatu.

Under-represented Member Nations: Member Nations with less than the established minimum number of nationals currently working for FAO on a professional post under the Regular Programme budget.

The following Member Nations are under-represented under the FAO Regular Programme as at 1 September 2021:

China, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Malaysia, Republic of Korea, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United States of America.