<P> The permanent members of the United Nations Security Council ( also known as the Permanent Five , Big Five , or P5 ) are the five states which the UN Charter of 1945 grants a permanent seat on the UN Security Council ( UNSC ) : China ( formerly the Republic of China ) , Russia ( formerly the Soviet Union ) , France , the United Kingdom , and the United States . These countries were all allies in World War II , which they won . They are also all nuclear weapons states . A total of 15 UN member states serve on the UNSC , the remainder of which are elected . Only the five permanent members have the power of veto , which enables them to prevent the adoption of any `` substantive '' draft Council resolution , regardless of its level of international support . </P>
who are the permanent member of un security council
China ( formerly the Republic of China ) , Russia ( formerly the Soviet Union ) , France , the United Kingdom , and the United States