SpaceMiningData
International treatyInternationalIn force

Moon Agreement (1979)

UN treaty that declares the Moon and its natural resources the common heritage of mankind, bars property rights in natural resources in place, and commits its parties to establish an international regime for exploitation when it becomes feasible. It has 17 parties, none of which is a major spacefaring state.

Facts

Level
International treaty
Scope
International
Citation
1363 UNTS 3; adopted by UN General Assembly resolution 34/68
Adopted
1979-12-05
In force
1984-07-11
Status
In forceUN Treaty Collection (depositary) status as at 25-09-2026 shows entry into force 11 July 1984, 17 parties and 11 signatories; Saudi Arabia's withdrawal took effect 5 January 2024.
Parties or signatories
17 parties as of 2026-09-25

Resource provisions

A paraphrase followed by the source wording.

Art. 11(1): the Moon and its natural resources are the common heritage of mankind. Art. 11(3): natural resources in place cannot become the property of any state, organization or person. Art. 11(5): parties undertake to establish an international regime to govern exploitation 'as such exploitation is about to become feasible' (not established).

Neither the surface nor the subsurface of the moon, nor any part thereof or natural resources in place, shall become property of any State [2]

Open evidence gaps

  • No international exploitation regime under Art. 11(5) has been established.

Record history

changes to this record's facts, newest first

ChangedFieldWasNowReasonSource
2024-01-05parties or signatories.count1817Source update[5]

Sources

7 sources
  1. [1]Agreement Governing the Activities of States on the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies (text) - Article 11
    United Nations Office for Outer Space AffairsLegislationPublished 1979Accessed 2026-09-25Supports: resource provisionsarticle Article 11(1)
    The moon and its natural resources are the common heritage of mankind
    Quote matched the source text when accessed.
  2. [2]Moon Agreement (text) - Article 11(3)
    United Nations Office for Outer Space AffairsLegislationPublished 1979Accessed 2026-09-25Supports: resource provisionsarticle Article 11(3)
    Neither the surface nor the subsurface of the moon, nor any part thereof or natural resources in place, shall become property of any State
    Quote matched the source text when accessed.
  3. [3]Moon Agreement (text) - Article 11(5)
    United Nations Office for Outer Space AffairsLegislationPublished 1979Accessed 2026-09-25Supports: resource provisionsarticle Article 11(5)
    undertake to establish an international regime, including appropriate procedures, to govern the exploitation of the natural resources of the moon as such exploitation is about to become feasible
    Quote matched the source text when accessed.
  4. [4]UN Treaty Collection, Chapter XXIV-2: Agreement governing the Activities of States on the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies (status as at 25-09-2026)
    United Nations Office of Legal Affairs, Treaty Section (depositary)Government recordPublished 2026-09-25Accessed 2026-09-25Supports: parties or signatories, status
    Status : Signatories : 11. Parties : 17
    Quote matched the source text when accessed.
  5. [5]UN Treaty Collection, Chapter XXIV-2 - note 3 (Saudi Arabia withdrawal)
    United Nations Office of Legal Affairs, Treaty Section (depositary)Government recordPublished 2026-09-25Accessed 2026-09-25Supports: history, parties or signatories
    On 5 January 2023, the Government of Saudi Arabia notified the Secretary-General of its decision to withdraw from the Agreement with effect from 5 January 2024 in accordance with article 20 of the Agreement.
    Quote matched the source text when accessed.
  6. [6]UN Treaty Collection, Chapter XXIV-2 - entry into force
    United Nations Office of Legal Affairs, Treaty Section (depositary)Government recordPublished 2026-09-25Accessed 2026-09-25Supports: in force date
    Entry into force : 11 July 1984, in accordance with article 19(3).
    Quote matched the source text when accessed.
  7. [7]A/AC.105/C.2/2026/CRP.9/Rev.1 - Moon Agreement adoption
    UNOOSA / COPUOS Legal SubcommitteeGovernment recordPublished 2026-04-17Accessed 2026-09-25Supports: adopted date, in force datepage 2
    Adoption by the General Assembly: 5 December 1979 (resolution 34/68) Opened for signature: 18 December 1979 in New York Entry into force: 11 July 1984
    Quote matched the source text when accessed.