Denmark, Iceland, Norway and Sweden were founding members of the Nordic Council when it was formed in 1952. Finland joined in 1955, the Faroe Islands and Åland in 1970 and Greenland in 1984.

The Council has 87 elected members. Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden have 20 members each. Of these, two of the Danish representatives are from the Faroe Islands and two from Greenland, while Finland has two representatives from Åland. Iceland has seven members.

The Faroe Islands, Greenland and Åland have exerted greater influence on Nordic co-operation since the Åland Document was adopted by the ministers for Nordic co-operation in Mariehamn, Åland, on 5 September 2007.