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Founding members of OPEC

OPEC was founded in Baghdad in September 1960 by Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela.

How many5 countries
As of28 September 2026
SourceOPEC Brief History
Memory hook

Four Gulf producers, plus Venezuela, which proposed the meeting.

The full list

Middle Eastern founders 4

Gulf and Iranian producers at the Baghdad conference.

Latin American founder 1

Sole non-Middle-Eastern founding member; originally proposed the meeting.

Can you name them all?

Test yourself

Questions

How many countries founded OPEC?

OPEC was founded in Baghdad in September 1960 by Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela.

Which countries are on the list?

Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela.

What is an easy way to remember them?

Four Gulf producers, plus Venezuela, which proposed the meeting.

More lists

OPEC countriesGCC countriesOPEC+ countries outside OPECCountries that left OPECCountries that nationalised their oilGulf currencies pegged to the dollarAll lists

Each name checked against at least two sources, one of them OPEC Brief History, on 28 September 2026. Next review by 28 September 2028.
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