The list of International Court of Justice cases includes contentious cases and advisory opinions brought to the International Court of Justice since its creation in 1946. Forming a key part of international law, 195 cases have been entered onto the General List for consideration before the court.[1]
The jurisdiction of the ICJ is limited. Only states have standing to bring a compulsory claim against another state, and then only with the consent of the responding state. However, certain United Nations bodies and agencies such as the UN General Assembly have the power to submit questions for advisory opinions.[2] [3] Although these advisory opinions are not binding under international law, they do provide the ICJ's interpretation of what international law is.[4]
The list is organized by and includes only those disputes assigned a General List number by the registrar of the court. In the early days of the court, any formally correct application was accepted by the registrar and entered on to the General List.[5] If there was no jurisdiction (because of lack of consent by the responding party), the case was soon closed by the court. In 1978, however, the Court amended its rules and instructed the registrar to only enter a case on the General List if there was consent by the responding party,[6] seemingly reducing the problem of meritless applications.[7] However, at times consent and therefore jurisdiction is contested by the responding party. Such a case may be ordered to be added to the General List over the protestations of the respondent to allow the court to decide whether there is consent.[8] In such a situation, however, the mere addition of a dispute to the General List does not have legal significance.[9]
No. | Name | Applicant | Respondent | Case began | Case ended | Disposition | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Corfu Channel Case | [10] | [11] | Judgment on Merits | ||||
2 | General List Number 2 assigned to some elements of Corfu Channel Case[12] | |||||||
3 | Conditions of Admission of a State to Membership in the United Nations | [13] | [14] | Opinion on Merits | ||||
4 | Reparation for Injuries Suffered in the Service of the United Nations | [15] | [16] | Opinion on Merits | ||||
5 | Fisheries Case | [17] | [18] | Judgment on Merits | ||||
6 | Case Concerning the Protection of French Nationals and Protected Persons in Egypt | [19] | [20] | Discontinued | ||||
7 | Asylum Case | [21] | [22] | Judgment on Merits | ||||
8 | Interpretation of Peace Treaties with Bulgaria, Hungary and Romania | [23] | [24] | Opinion on Merits | ||||
9 | Competence of the General Assembly for the Admission of a State to the United Nations | [25] | [26] | Opinion on Merits | ||||
10 | International Status of South West Africa | [27] | [28] | Opinion on Merits | ||||
11 | Rights of Nationals of the United States of America in Morocco | [29] | [30] | Judgment on Merits | ||||
12 | Reservations to the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide | [31] | [32] | Opinion on Merits | ||||
13 | Request for Interpretation of the Judgment of 20 November 1950 in the Asylum Case | [33] | [34] | Judgment on Admissibility | ||||
14 | Haya de la Torre | [35] | [36] | Judgment on Merits | ||||
15 | Ambatielos Case | Greece | [37] | Judgment on Merits | ||||
16 | Anglo-Iranian Oil Co. | [38] | [39] | Judgment on Jurisdiction | ||||
17 | Minquiers and Ecrehos Case | [40] | [41] | Judgment on Merits | ||||
18 | Nottebohm Case | [42] | [43] | Judgment on Merits | ||||
19 | Monetary Gold Removed from Rome in 1943 | [44] | [45] | Judgment on Jurisdiction | ||||
20 | Electricite de Beyrouth Company Case | [46] | [47] | Case Dismissed | ||||
21 | Effect of Awards of Compensation Made by the United Nations Administrative Tribunal | [48] | [49] | Opinion on Merits | ||||
22 | Treatment in Hungary of Aircraft and Crew of the United States (United States v. Hungary) | [50] [51] | [52] [53] | Discontinued | ||||
23 | Treatment in Hungary of Aircraft and Crew of the United States (United States v. Soviet Union) | |||||||
24 | Voting Procedure on Questions relating to Reports and Petitions concerning the Territory of South West Africa | [54] | [55] | Opinion on Merits | ||||
25 | Aerial Incident of 10 March 1953 | [56] | [57] | Discontinued | ||||
26 | Antarctica (United Kingdom v. Argentina) | [58] [59] | [60] [61] | Discontinued | ||||
27 | Antarctica (United Kingdom v. Chile) | |||||||
28 | Aerial Incident of 7 October 1952 | [62] | [63] | Discontinued | ||||
29 | Certain Norwegian Loans | [64] | [65] | Judgment on Merits | ||||
30 | Judgements of the Administrative Tribunal of the ILO upon Complaints made against UNESCO | [66] | [67] | Opinion on Merits | ||||
31 | Admissibility of Hearings of Petitioners by the Committee on South West Africa | [68] | [69] | Opinion on Merits | ||||
32 | Right of Passage over Indian Territory | [70] | [71] | Judgment on Merits | ||||
33 | Application of the Convention of 1902 Governing the Guardianship of Infants | [72] | [73] | Judgment on Merits | ||||
34 | Interhandel Case | [74] | [75] | Judgment on Jurisdiction | ||||
35 | Aerial Incident of 27 July 1955 | [76] | [77] | Judgment on Jurisdiction | ||||
36 | [78] | [79] | Discontinued | |||||
37 | [80] | [81] | ||||||
38 | Sovereignty over Certain Frontier Land | [82] | [83] | Judgment on Merits | ||||
39 | Arbitral Award Made by the King of Spain on 23 December 1906 | [84] | [85] | Judgment on Merits | ||||
40 | Aerial Incident of 4 September 1954 | [86] | [87] | Discontinued | ||||
41 | Barcelona Traction, Light and Power Company | Spain | [88] | [89] | Discontinued | |||
42 | Compagnie du Port, des Quais et des Entrepôts de Beyrouth and Société Radio-Orient (France v. Lebanon) | [90] | [91] | Discontinued | ||||
43 | Constitution of the Maritime Safety Committee of the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organization | International Maritime Organization | [92] | [93] | Opinion on Merits | |||
44 | Aerial Incident of 7 November 1954 | [94] | [95] | Discontinued | ||||
45 | Preah Vihear Temple | [96] | [97] | Judgment on Merits | ||||
46 | South West Africa (Ethiopia v. South Africa) | South Africa | [98] [99] | [100] [101] | Judgment on Merits | |||
47 | South West Africa (Liberia v. South Africa) | |||||||
48 | Northern Cameroons | Cameroon | [102] | [103] | Judgment on Jurisdiction | |||
49 | Certain Expenses of the United Nations | [104] | [105] | Opinion on Merits | ||||
50 | Barcelona Traction, Light, and Power Company (New Application: 1962) | Spain | [106] | [107] | Judgment on Merits | |||
51 | North Sea Continental Shelf cases | [108] | [109] | Joined proceedings[110] Judgment on Merits | ||||
52 | ||||||||
53 | Legal Consequences for States of the Continued Presence of South Africa in Namibia (South West Africa) notwithstanding Security Council Resolution 276 | [111] | [112] | Opinion on Merits | ||||
54 | Appeal Relating to the Jurisdiction of the ICAO Council | [113] | Judgment on Jurisdiction | |||||
55 | Fisheries Jurisdiction (Germany v. Iceland) | [114] | [115] | Judgment on Merits | ||||
56 | Fisheries Jurisdiction (United Kingdom v. Iceland) | [116] | ||||||
57 | Application for Review of Judgement No. 158 of the United Nations Administrative Tribunal | [117] | [118] | Opinion on Merits | ||||
58 | Nuclear Tests Case (Australia v. France) | [119] | [120] | Judgment on Jurisdiction | ||||
59 | Nuclear Tests Case (New Zealand v. France) | |||||||
60 | Trial of Pakistani Prisoners of War | [121] | [122] | Discontinued | ||||
61 | Western Sahara | [123] | [124] | Opinion on Merits | ||||
62 | Aegean Sea Continental Shelf Case | [125] | Judgment on Jurisdiction | |||||
63 | Continental Shelf (Tunisia/Libyan Arab Jamahiriya) | | [126] | Judgment on Merits | ||||
64 | United States Diplomatic and Consular Staff in Tehran | [127] | [128] | Judgment on Merits | ||||
65 | Interpretation of the Agreement of 25 March 1951 between the WHO and Egypt | World Health Organization | [129] | [130] | Opinion on Merits | |||
66 | Application for Review of Judgement No. 273 of the United Nations Administrative Tribunal | Opinion on Merits | ||||||
67 | Delimitation of the Maritime Boundary in the Gulf of Maine Area | [131] | Judgment on Merits | |||||
68 | Continental Shelf (Libyan Arab Jamahiriya/Malta) | Judgment on Merits | ||||||
69 | Frontier Dispute (Burkina Faso/Republic of Mali) | Judgment on Merits | ||||||
70 | Military and Paramilitary Activities in and Against Nicaragua | [132] | Military and Paramilitary Activities in and Against Nicaragua. Application . 9 April 1984. | [133] | Military and Paramilitary Activities in and Against Nicaragua. Judgement . 27 June 1986. | Judgment on Merits | ||
71 | Application for Revision and Interpretation of the Judgment of 24 February 1982 in the Case concerning the Continental Shelf (Tunisia/Libyan Arab Jamahiriya) | [134] | [135] | Judgment on Merits | ||||
72 | Application for Review of Judgement No. 333 of the United Nations Administrative Tribunal | [136] | [137] | Opinion on Merits | ||||
73 | Border and Transborder Armed Actions (Nicaragua v. Costa Rica) | [138] [139] | [140] | Discontinued | ||||
74 | Border and Transborder Armed Actions (Nicaragua v. Honduras) | Honduras | [141] | Judgment on Jurisdiction | ||||
75 | Land, Island and Maritime Frontier Dispute | Honduras | [142] | [143] | Judgment on Merits | |||
(int.) | ||||||||
76 | Elettronica Sicula S.p.A. (ELSI) | [144] | [145] | Judgment on Merits | ||||
77 | Applicability of the Obligation to Arbitrate under Section 21 of the United Nations Headquarters Agreement of 26 June 1947 | [146] | [147] | Opinion on Merits | ||||
78 | Maritime Delimitation in the Area Between Greenland and Jan Mayen | [148] | [149] | Judgment on Merits | ||||
79 | Aerial Incident of 3 July 1988 | [150] | [151] | Discontinued | ||||
80 | Certain Phosphate Lands in Nauru | [152] | [153] | Discontinued | ||||
81 | Applicability of Article VI, Section 22, of the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations | Opinion on Merits | ||||||
82 | Arbitral Award of 31 July 1989 | [154] | [155] | Judgment on Merits | ||||
83 | Territorial Dispute (Libyan Arab Jamahiriya/Chad) | [156] | [157] | Judgment on Merits | ||||
84 | East Timor | [158] | East Timor". Application. 22 February 1991. | [159] | East Timor". http://www.icj-cij.org/files/case-related/84/084-19950630-JUD-01-00-EN.pdfJudgement. 30 June 1995. | Judgment on Jurisdiction | ||
85 | Maritime Delimitation between Guinea-Bissau and Senegal | [160] | [161] | Discontinued | ||||
86 | Passage through the Great Belt | [162] | [163] | Discontinued | ||||
87 | Maritime Delimitation and Territorial Questions between Qatar and Bahrain | [164] | [165] | Judgment on Merits | ||||
88 | Questions of Interpretation and Application of the 1971 Montreal Convention arising from the Aerial Incident at Lockerbie (Libyan Arab Jamahiriya v. United Kingdom) | [166] [167] | [168] [169] | Discontinued | ||||
89 | Questions of Interpretation and Application of the 1971 Montreal Convention arising from the Aerial Incident at Lockerbie (Libyan Arab Jamahiriya v. United States of America) | |||||||
90 | Oil Platforms (Islamic Republic of Iran v United States of America) | [170] | [171] | Judgment on Merits | ||||
91 | Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (Bosnia and Herzegovina v. Federal Republic of Yugoslavia) | Bosnia and Herzegovina | [172] | [173] | Judgment on Merits | |||
92 | Gabčíkovo-Nagymaros Project | [174] | – | In progress[175] | ||||
93 | Legality of the Use by a State of Nuclear Weapons in Armed Conflict | World Health Organization | [176] | [177] | Opinion on Merits | |||
94 | Land and Maritime Boundary Between Cameroon and Nigeria | [178] | [179] | Judgment on Merits | ||||
(int.) | ||||||||
95 | Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons | [180] | [181] | Opinion on Merits | ||||
96 | Fisheries Jurisdiction (Spain v. Canada) | [182] | [183] | Judgment on Jurisdiction | ||||
97 | Request for an Examination of the Situation in Accordance with Paragraph 63 of the Court's Judgment of 20 December 1974 in the Nuclear Tests | [184] | [185] | Dismissed | ||||
98 | Kasikili/Sedudu Island | Judgment on Merits | ||||||
99 | Vienna Convention on Consular Relations (Paraguay v. United States of America) | [186] | [187] | Discontinued | ||||
100 | Difference Relating to Immunity from Legal Process of a Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights | [188] | [189] | Opinion on Merits | ||||
101 | Request for Interpretation of the Judgment of 11 June 1998 | [190] | [191] | Judgment on Admissibility | ||||
102 | Sovereignty over Pulau Ligitan and Pulau Sipadan | [192] | [193] | Judgment on Merits | ||||
103 | Ahmadou Sadio Diallo | [194] | [195] | Judgment on Merits | ||||
104 | LaGrand | [196] | [197] | Judgment on Merits | ||||
105 | Legality of Use of Force (Yugoslavia v. Belgium) | [198] | Judgment on Jurisdiction | |||||
106 | Legality of Use of Force (Yugoslavia v. Canada) | |||||||
107 | Legality of Use of Force (Yugoslavia v. France) | |||||||
108 | Legality of Use of Force (Yugoslavia v. Germany) | |||||||
109 | Legality of Use of Force (Yugoslavia v. Italy) | |||||||
110 | Legality of Use of Force (Yugoslavia v. Netherlands) | |||||||
111 | Legality of Use of Force (Yugoslavia v. Portugal) | |||||||
113 | Legality of Use of Force (Yugoslavia v. United Kingdom) | |||||||
112 | Legality of Use of Force (Yugoslavia v. Spain) | Discontinued | ||||||
114 | Legality of Use of Force (Yugoslavia v. United States of America) | |||||||
115 | Armed Activities on the Territory of the Congo (Democratic Republic of the Congo v. Burundi) | [199] [200] [201] | [202] [203] | Discontinued | ||||
117 | Armed Activities on the Territory of the Congo (Democratic Republic of the Congo v. Rwanda) | Rwanda | ||||||
116 | Armed Activities on the Territory of the Congo (Democratic Republic of the Congo v. Uganda) | [204] | Judgment on Merits | |||||
118 | Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (Croatia v. Serbia) | [205] | [206] | Judgment on Merits | ||||
119 | Aerial Incident of 10 August 1999 | [207] | [208] | Judgment on Jurisdiction | ||||
120 | Territorial and Maritime Dispute between Nicaragua and Honduras in the Caribbean Sea | Honduras | [209] | [210] | Judgement on Merits | |||
121 | Arrest Warrant of 11 April 2000 | [211] | [212] | Judgment on Merits | ||||
122 | Application for the Revision of the Judgment of 11 July 1996 in the Case concerning Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide | [213] | [214] | Judgment on Admissibility | ||||
123 | Certain Property (Liechtenstein v. Germany) | [215] | [216] | Judgment on Jurisdiction | ||||
124 | Territorial and Maritime Dispute (Nicaragua v. Colombia) | [217] | [218] | Judgment on Merits | ||||
125 | Frontier Dispute (Benin/Niger) | [219] | [220] | Judgement on Merits | ||||
126 | Armed Activities on the Territory of the Congo (New Application: 2002) (Democratic Republic of the Congo v. Rwanda) | [221] | [222] | Judgment on Jurisdiction | ||||
127 | Application for Revision of the Judgment of 11 September 1992 in the Case concerning the Land, Island And Maritime Frontier Dispute | Honduras | [223] | [224] | Judgment on Admissibility | |||
128 | Avena and Other Mexican Nationals | [225] | [226] | Judgment on Merits | ||||
129 | Certain Criminal Proceedings in France | [227] | [228] | Discontinued | ||||
130 | Sovereignty over Pedra Branca/Pulau Batu Puteh, Middle Rocks and South Ledge | [229] | [230] | Opinion on Merits | ||||
131 | Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory | [231] | [232] | Opinion on Merits | ||||
132 | Maritime Delimitation in the Black Sea | [233] | [234] | Judgement on Merits | ||||
133 | Dispute regarding Navigational and Related Rights | [235] | [236] | Judgement on Merits | ||||
134 | Status vis-à-vis the Host State of a Diplomatic Envoy to the United Nations | [237] | [238] | Discontinued | ||||
135 | Pulp Mills on the River Uruguay | [239] | [240] | Judgement on Merits | ||||
136 | Certain Questions of Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters | [241] | [242] | Judgement on Merrits | ||||
137 | Maritime Dispute (Peru v. Chile) | [243] | [244] | Judgement on Merits | ||||
138 | Aerial Herbicide Spraying | [245] | [246] | Discontinued | ||||
139 | Request for Interpretation of the Judgment of 31 March 2004 in the Case concerning Avena and Other Mexican Nationals | [247] | [248] | Judgement on Merits | ||||
140 | Application of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination | [249] | [250] | Judgment on Jurisdiction | ||||
141 | Accordance with International Law of the Unilateral Declaration of Independence in Respect of Kosovo | [251] | [252] | Opinion on Merits | ||||
142 | Application of the Interim Accord of 13 September 1995 | [253] | [254] | Judgement on Merits | ||||
143 | Jurisdictional Immunities of the State | [255] | [256] | Judgment on Merits | ||||
(int.) | ||||||||
144 | Questions relating to the Obligation to Prosecute or Extradite | [257] | [258] | Judgment on Merits | ||||
145 | Jurisdiction and Enforcement of Judgments in Civil and Commercial Matters | [259] | [260] | Discontinued | ||||
146 | Judgment No.2867 of the Administrative Tribunal of the International Labour Organization | [261] | [262] | Opinion on Merits | ||||
147 | Certain questions concerning diplomatic relations | Honduras | [263] | [264] | Discontinued | |||
148 | Whaling in the Antarctic | [265] | [266] | Judgment on Merits | ||||
(int.) | ||||||||
149 | Frontier Dispute (Burkina Faso/Niger) | [267] | [268] | Judgment on Merits | ||||
150 | Certain Activities carried out by Nicaragua in the Border Area | [269] | [270] | Joined proceedings[271] Judgment on Merits | ||||
152 | Construction of a Road in Costa Rica along the San Juan River | [272] | ||||||
151 | Request for Interpretation of Temple of Preah Vihear Case | [273] | [274] | Judgment on Merits | ||||
153 | Obligation to Negotiate Access to the Pacific Ocean | [275] | [276] | Judgment on Merits | ||||
154 | Delimitation of the Continental Shelf | [277] | [278] | Judgment on Merits | ||||
155 | Alleged Violations of Sovereign Rights | [279] | [280] | Judgment on Merits | ||||
156 | Seizure of Certain Documents and Data | [281] | Discontinued | |||||
157 | Maritime Delimitation in the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean | [282] | Judgment on Merits | |||||
158 | Obligations concerning Negotiations relating to Cessation of the Nuclear Arms Race and to Nuclear Disarmament (Marshall Islands v. India) | [283] [284] [285] | [286] [287] [288] | Judgement on Jurisdiction | ||||
159 | Obligations concerning Negotiations relating to Cessation of the Nuclear Arms Race and to Nuclear Disarmament (Marshall Islands v. Pakistan) | |||||||
160 | Obligations concerning Negotiations relating to Cessation of the Nuclear Arms Race and to Nuclear Disarmament (Marshall Islands v. United Kingdom) | |||||||
161 | Maritime Delimitation in the Indian Ocean | [289] | [290] | Judgment on Merits | ||||
162 | Dispute over the Status and Use of the Waters of the Silala | [291] | [292] | Judgment on Merits | ||||
163 | Immunities and Criminal Proceedings | [293] | [294] | Judgment on Merits | ||||
164 | Certain Iranian Assets | [295] | [296] | Judgment on Merits | ||||
165 | Land Boundary in the Northern Part of Isla Portillos | [297] | Judgment on Merits | |||||
166 | Application of the International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism and of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination | [298] | [299] | Judgment on Merits | ||||
167 | Application for revision of the Judgment of 23 May 2008 in the case concerning Sovereignty over Pedra Branca/Pulau Batu Puteh, Middle Rocks and South Ledge (Malaysia/Singapore) | [300] | [301] | Discontinued | ||||
168 | Jadhav | [302] | [303] | Judgment on Merits | ||||
169 | Legal Consequences of the Separation of the Chagos Archipelago from Mauritius in 1965 | [304] | [305] | Opinion on Merits | ||||
170 | Request for Interpretation of the Judgment of 23 May 2008 in the case concerning Sovereignty over Pedra Branca/Pulau Batu Puteh, Middle Rocks and South Ledge (Malaysia/Singapore) | [306] | [307] | Discontinued | ||||
171 | Arbitral Award of 3 October 1899 | [308] | – | In progress | ||||
172 | Application of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (Qatar v. United Arab Emirates) | [309] | [310] | Judgment on Jurisdiction | ||||
173 | Appeal Relating to the Jurisdiction of the ICAO Council under Article 84 of the Convention on International Civil Aviation | [311] [312] | [313] [314] | Judgment on Merits | ||||
174 | Appeal Relating to the Jurisdiction of the ICAO Council under Article II, Section 2, of the 1944 International Air Services Transit Agreement | |||||||
175 | Alleged violations of the 1955 Treaty of Amity, Economic Relations, and Consular Rights | [315] | Judgment on Merits | |||||
176 | Relocation of the United States Embassy to Jerusalem | – | In progress | |||||
177 | Guatemala's Territorial, Insular and Maritime Claim | [316] | – | In progress | ||||
178 | Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (The Gambia v. Myanmar) | [317] | – | In progress | ||||
179 | Land and Maritime Delimitation and Sovereignty over Islands | [318] | – | In progress | ||||
180 | Application of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination | [319] | – | In progress | ||||
181 | Application of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination | [320] | – | In progress | ||||
182 | Allegations of Genocide under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide | [321] | – | In progress | ||||
32 other states (int.) | ||||||||
183 | Questions of Jurisdictional Immunities of the State and Measures of Constraint against State-Owned Property | [322] | – | In progress | ||||
184 | Request relating to the Return of Property Confiscated in Criminal Proceedings | [323] | – | In progress | ||||
185 | Sovereignty over the Sapodilla Cayes | [324] | – | In progress | ||||
186 | Legal consequences arising from the policies and practices of Israel in the occupied Palestinian territory including East Jerusalem | [325] [326] | 19 July 2024[327] | Opinion on Merits | ||||
187 | Obligations of States in respect of climate change | [328] | – | In progress | ||||
188 | Application of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment | [329] | – | In progress | ||||
189 | Alleged Violations of State Immunities | [330] | – | In progress | ||||
190 | Aerial Incident of 8 January 2020 | [331] | – | In progress | ||||
191 | Right to Strike under ILO Convention No. 87 | [332] | – | In progress | ||||
192 | Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in the Gaza Strip | [333] | – | In progress | ||||
193 | Alleged Breaches of Certain International Obligations in Respect of the Occupied Palestinian Territory | [334] | - | In progress | ||||
194 | Embassy of Mexico in Quito | [335] | - | In progress | ||||
195 | Proceedings instituted by Ecuador against Mexico on 29 April 2024 | [336] | - | In progress |