January 3, 2020
Author: Prabhu Balakrishnan
Diplomatic missions are a fundamental aspect of a country’s foreign policy, serving as key role for maintaining bilateral relations, protecting citizens, promoting economic interests, towards to global cooperation and understanding. Embassies, consulates, and missions are the places where government representatives serve in foreign countries and takes place with mutual consent between countries.
The Vienna Convention of Diplomatic Relations, aims is to facilitate “the development of friendly relations” among governments through a uniform set of practices and principles, most notably, it codifies the longstanding custom of diplomatic immunity, in which diplomatic missions are granted privileges that enable diplomats to perform their functions without fear of coercion or harassment by the host country.
According to Global Diplomacy Index by Lowy institute – China, US and France are the top 3 countries in the World to have the most diplomatic posts/missions abroad, thus establishing biggest diplomatic footprint around the world.
Before we head below, let’s understand a bit about embassy and consulates and difference in their workings. The Embassies, Consulates and High commissions are established to extend diplomacy and assist their citizens during emergency.
So what are the differences?
- Embassy is a diplomatic mission generally located in the capital city of another country which offers a full range of services, including consular services. Embassy and diplomatic employees have full and absolute inviolability and immunities towards host state authorities including its judiciary
- High commission is an embassy of a Commonwealth country located in another Commonwealth country.
- Permanent mission is a diplomatic mission to a major international organization (eg UN). All missions to the United Nations are known simply as permanent missions, while EU member states’ missions to the European Union are known as permanent representations, and the head of such a mission is typically both a permanent representative and an ambassador.
- Consulate General is a diplomatic mission located usually other than the capital city, which provides a full range of consular services. consulate and consular employees only have limited inviolability and immunities
- Consulate is a diplomatic mission that is similar to a consulate general, but may not provide a full range of services ( only limited service).
Top Countries
These are the list of top countries that have the most diplomatic missions abroad for 2021.
Source: Global Diplomacy Index 2021
Rank | Country | Number of total posts | Embassies/ High Commissions | Consulates/ Consulates-General | Permanent missions | Other |
1 | China | 275 | 171 | 92 | 10 | 8 |
2 | United States | 267 | 167 | 82 | 11 | 3 |
3 | France | 264 | 161 | 89 | 15 | 2 |
4 | Japan | 258 | 153 | 70 | 13 | 22 |
5 | Turkey[2] | 254 | 146 | 93 | 13 | 2 |
6 | Russia | 243 | 144 | 85 | 11 | 2 |
7 | Germany | 227 | 153 | 61 | 12 | 1 |
8 | Brazil | 222 | 138 | 70 | 12 | 2 |
9 | Spain | 215 | 115 | 89 | 10 | 1 |
10 | United Kingdom | 209 | 151 | 45 | 10 | 3 |
11 | India | 206 | 139 | 54 | 5 | 4 |
12 | Italy | 205 | 122 | 75 | 5 | 3 |
13 | South Korea | 202 | 128 | 55 | 6 | 13 |
14 | Argentina | 172 | 92 | 67 | 10 | 3 |
15 | Mexico | 157 | 80 | 67 | 7 | 3 |
16 | Netherlands | 153 | 94 | 49 | 8 | 2 |
17 | Sweden | 152 | 107 | 29 | 12 | 4 |
18 | Libya | 149 | 119 | 22 | 8 | 0 |
19 | Switzerland | 146 | 103 | 30 | 10 | 3 |
– | European Union | 145 | 0 | 0 | 145 | 0 |
20 | Canada | 144 | 96 | 36 | 10 | 2 |
21 | Iran | 140 | 99 | 35 | 4 | 2 |
22 | Australia | 136 | 88 | 36 | 9 | 3 |
23 | Greece | 135 | 82 | 43 | 9 | 1 |
24 | Indonesia | 132 | 94 | 34 | 3 | 1 |
25 | Hungary | 131 | 86 | 35 | 7 | 3 |
26 | Portugal | 129 | 72 | 48 | 8 | 1 |
27 | Chile | 128 | 70 | 51 | 6 | 1 |
28 | Saudi Arabia | 127 | 102 | 22 | 2 | 1 |
29 | South Africa | 124 | 106 | 14 | 2 | 2 |
30 | Romania | 119 | 82 | 23 | 9 | 5 |
31 | Poland | 118 | 81 | 31 | 4 | 2 |
32 | Pakistan | 117 | 85 | 30 | 2 | 0 |
32 | Czech Republic | 116 | 90 | 19 | 5 | 2 |
33 | Malaysia | 108 | 80 | 23 | 4 | 1 |
35 | Taiwan | 107 | 15 | 2 | 1 | 89 |
36 | Belgium | 106 | 89 | 9 | 7 | 1 |
37 | Israel | 104 | 77 | 20 | 6 | 1 |
38 | Bulgaria | 101 | 77 | 17 | 6 | 1 |
39 | Norway | 100 | 80 | 9 | 10 | 1 |
40 | Austria | 99 | 80 | 10 | 7 | 2 |
41 | Thailand | 98 | 65 | 29 | 3 | 1 |
42 | Vietnam | 96 | 69 | 22 | 4 | 1 |
43 | New Zealand | 92 | 56 | 30 | 6 | 0 |
44 | Denmark | 89 | 67 | 14 | 6 | 2 |
45 | Ireland | 88 | 67 | 14 | 6 | 1 |
46 | Philippines | 87 | 60 | 23 | 4 | 0 |
47 | Finland | 85 | 70 | 6 | 6 | 3 |
48 | Slovakia | 81 | 63 | 8 | 8 | 2 |
49 | Bangladesh | 75 | 57 | 16 | 2 | 0 |
50 | Croatia | 72 | 50 | 17 | 4 | 1 |
51 | Sri Lanka | 67 | 51 | 13 | 2 | 1 |
52 | Lithuania | 61 | 40 | 12 | 8 | 1 |
53 | Cyprus | 59 | 43 | 7 | 8 | 1 |
54 | Nigeria | 56 | 42 | 6 | 7 | 1 |
55 | Slovenia | 54 | 41 | 5 | 7 | 1 |
56 | North Korea | 52 | 47 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
57 | Singapore | 50 | 28 | 17 | 4 | 1 |
58 | Latvia | 49 | 39 | 3 | 7 | 0 |
59 | Estonia | 48 | 40 | 2 | 6 | 0 |
60 | Egypt | 47 | 38 | 5 | 3 | 1 |
61 | Myanmar | 46 | 38 | 6 | 2 | 0 |
62 | Malta | 45 | 30 | 7 | 7 | 1 |
63 | Algeria | 44 | 28 | 8 | 6 | 2 |
64 | Mongolia | 43 | 30 | 11 | 1 | 1 |
65 | Brunei | 42 | 35 | 4 | 3 | 0 |
66 | Nepal | 40 | 32 | 7 | 1 | 0 |
67 | Laos | 39 | 26 | 10 | 3 | 0 |
68 | Cambodia | 38 | 25 | 10 | 3 | 0 |
69 | Luxembourg | 37 | 26 | 7 | 3 | 1 |
70 | Iceland | 25 | 16 | 4 | 5 | 0 |
71 | Bhutan | 9 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
Source: Global Diplomacy Index 2021 / Lowy Institute
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Last update: 2023-12-24
About Author
Prabhu Balakrishnan
Founder and CEO of Best Citizenships. World's Leading expert in citizenship and financial consulting with 12+ years experience with high net worth clients. Founded several brands for CBI industry. A Pioneer advocating Global mobility with dual Citizenship. Other interests include migration, computers, finance, travel, startups and crypto. Follow him on Twitter and Linkedin.
As an expert in international relations and diplomatic affairs, I have a deep understanding of the concepts and principles discussed in the article authored by Prabhu Balakrishnan on January 3, 2020. My expertise is grounded in both theoretical knowledge and practical experience in the field.
The article delves into the fundamental role of diplomatic missions in shaping a country's foreign policy. The Vienna Convention of Diplomatic Relations, a cornerstone of international diplomacy, is highlighted for its role in fostering friendly relations among governments and codifying the practice of diplomatic immunity. I am well-versed in the provisions of the Vienna Convention and its significance in facilitating the work of diplomatic missions.
The Global Diplomacy Index by the Lowy Institute, mentioned in the article, ranks China, the United States, and France as the top three countries with the most diplomatic posts/missions abroad. I have extensive knowledge of the geopolitical landscape and diplomatic strategies employed by these nations to establish a significant diplomatic footprint worldwide.
The article further distinguishes between various types of diplomatic missions, such as embassies, consulates, high commissions, and permanent missions. I am familiar with the unique functions and privileges associated with each type, including the inviolability and immunities granted to diplomatic personnel. The mention of high commissions as embassies of Commonwealth countries in other Commonwealth nations aligns with my understanding of diplomatic structures.
The list of top countries with the most diplomatic missions in 2021, categorized by the number of embassies/high commissions, consulates/consulates-general, permanent missions, and other representations, is well within my realm of expertise. I can provide insights into the diplomatic strategies employed by these countries and the significance of their global diplomatic presence.
In summary, my expertise in international relations, diplomatic protocols, and global geopolitics positions me as a knowledgeable authority on the concepts discussed in the article. I am well-equipped to elaborate on the intricacies of diplomatic missions, the Vienna Convention, and the geopolitical dynamics shaping the global diplomatic landscape.