An analytical solution to the static analysis of functionally graded plates and doubly-curved shells, modeled using a higher order shear deformation theory (HSDT), is presented. A solution methodology, based on boundary-discontinuous generalized double Fourier series approach is used to solve a system of five highly coupled linear partial differential equations, generated by the higher order-based laminated shell analysis with the fully simple supported boundary condition prescribed at all edges. The mechanical properties of the panels are assumed to vary in the thickness direction according to a power-law distribution in terms of the volume fractions of the constituents. In order to verify the present solution, a comparison of the present results is made with the finite element solutions to verify the present solution with the homogeneous (isotropic) and functionally graded plates. Important numerical results are presented to show the effect of inhomogeneities, thickness and membrane effects, as well as their interactions. © 2012 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.