How should I cite a UN document?
Last Updated: Apr 16, 2025
Views: 27851
There are many ways to cite a source. For UN documents, publications and websites, we recommend citations include (if applicable):
- Title
- Publication date
- Unique identifiers, such as
- UN document symbols
- UN sales number
- URLs including the date of access
- Page or paragraph numbers
- Creator/author (often United Nations)
If you are not sure what type of material you have, if you find it online, cite it as a website.
The Dag Hammarskjöld Library does not specialize in citation styles. As part of the UN Secretariat, we refer UN staff and delegates to the United Nations Editorial Manual for reference in UN materials.
Differences in citation styles mainly appear in the format of the citation: differences in the order, capitalization, punctuation, and presentation of the author’s name, as well as how the individual references are presented within the text. The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation is the primary English citation guide for UN documents. Many guides refer to it.
Citing UN documents can be challenging. We suggest citations provide as much detailed information as possible. UN materials usually have unique elements that help researchers identify the particular reference, such as document symbols.
If you are an external author/researcher/student, please consult a manual for specific citation style guidelines or ask for guidance from your university writing center, course professor, university librarian, or publisher.
Citing UN documents can be challenging. We suggest citations provide as much detailed information as possible. UN materials usually have unique elements that help researchers identify the particular reference, such as document symbols.
Links & Files
- Research Guide: UN Document Symbols & Series Symbols Opens in new window
- United Nations Editorial Manual: Footnotes and other References Opens in new window
- The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation (Library print collection) Opens in new window
- Ask DAG (Spanish): ¿Cómo debo citar un documento de las Naciones Unidas? Opens in new window
- Ask DAG (Chinese): 我应该如何引用联合国文件? Opens in new window
Disclaimer
Disclaimer: answers are prepared by library staff using resources available at the time of writing. This site may include links and references to third-party databases, websites, books and articles, this does not imply endorsement by the United Nations.
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