Member states of the Commonwealth of Nations

The Commonwealth of Nations is a voluntary association of 56 sovereign states. Most of them were British colonies or dependencies of those colonies.

Current Commonwealth members (dark blue), former members (orange), and the British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies (light blue)

No government in the Commonwealth exercises power over the others, as is the case in a political union. Rather, the Commonwealth is an international organization in which countries with diverse social, political, and economic backgrounds are regarded as equal in status, and cooperate within a framework of common values and goals, as outlined in the Singapore Declaration issued in 1971.[1] Such common values and goals include the promotion of democracy, human rights, good governance, the rule of law, civil liberties, equality before the law, free trade, multilateralism, and world peace, which are promoted through multilateral projects and meetings, such as the Commonwealth Games, held once every four years.[2]

The symbol of this free association is King Charles III, who serves as the Head of the Commonwealth. This position, however, does not imbue him with any political or executive power over any Commonwealth member states; the position is purely symbolic, and it is the Commonwealth Secretary-General who is the chief executive of the Commonwealth.[3]

The Commonwealth was first officially formed in 1926 when the Balfour Declaration of the Imperial Conference recognised the full sovereignty of dominions. Known as the "British Commonwealth", the original and therefore earliest members were the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Irish Free State, and Newfoundland. It was re-stated by the 1930 conference and incorporated in the Statute of Westminster the following year (although Australia and New Zealand did not adopt the statute until 1942 and 1947, respectively).[4] In 1949, the London Declaration marked the birth of the modern Commonwealth and the adoption of its present name.[5] The members have a combined population of 2.4 billion, almost a third of the Earth's population, of whom 1.21 billion live in India, and 95% live in Asia and Africa combined.[6] The most recent members to join were the Francophone African nations of Gabon and Togo on 29 June 2022, who along with Rwanda and Mozambique are unique in not having a historic constitutional relationship with the United Kingdom or other Commonwealth states.

Currently, fifteen of the member states are Commonwealth realms, with the Head of the Commonwealth as their heads of state, five others are monarchies with their own individual monarchs (Brunei, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malaysia and Tonga), and the rest are republics. The Republic of Ireland (as of 1949 according to the Commonwealth; 1936 according to the Irish government) and Zimbabwe (2003) are former members of the Commonwealth.

Current members

All dates below are provided by the Commonwealth of Nations Secretariat members list, and population figures are as of 1 February 2020.[7]

Country First Joined UN Region UN Subregion Population[8] System of government Notes[A]
 Antigua and Barbuda 1 November 1981 Americas Caribbean 94,195 Unitary Commonwealth realm
 Australia 19 November 1926 Oceania Australia and New Zealand 25,766,600 Federal Commonwealth realm Australia was one of the original Dominions at the time of the Balfour Declaration of 1926 and the Statute of Westminster 1931, although the statute was not adopted in Australia until 1942 (with retroactive effect from 1939).[9] The Australia Act 1986 eliminated the remaining possibilities for the UK to legislate with effect in Australia, for the UK to be involved in Australian government, and for an appeal from any Australian court to a British court.[10]
 Bahamas 10 July 1973 Americas Caribbean 402,576 Unitary Commonwealth realm
 Bangladesh 18 April 1972[11] Asia Southern Asia 165,867,307 Unitary Westminster republic Declared independence from Pakistan in 1971.[12]
 Barbados 30 November 1966 Americas Caribbean 286,618 Unitary Westminster republic Barbados removed Elizabeth II as its head of state and became a republic on 30 November 2021.[13][14]
 Belize 21 September 1981 Americas Central America 379,636 Unitary Commonwealth realm
 Botswana 30 September 1966 Africa Southern Africa 2,377,831 Unitary parliamentary republic with an executive presidency
 Brunei 1 January 1984 Asia South-eastern Asia 439,022 Unitary Islamic absolute monarchy
 Cameroon 13 November 1995[15] Africa Middle Africa 24,836,674 Unitary semi-presidential republic Most of the country was the formerly French mandate territory (later UN trust territory) of Cameroun, which gained independence from France on 1 January 1960. It united with the much smaller former British mandate/trust territory of Southern Cameroons, which gained independence from the United Kingdom on 1 October 1961.
 Canada 19 November 1926 Americas Northern America 40,362,270 Federal Commonwealth realm Canada was the first among the several original Dominions at the time of the Balfour Declaration of 1926 and the Statute of Westminster 1931.[16] Incorporated another original Dominion, Newfoundland, on 31 March 1949.[17] The Canada Act 1982 formally ended the "request and consent" provisions of the Statute of Westminster 1931 in relation to Canada, whereby the British parliament had a general power to pass laws extending to Canada at its own request.
 Cyprus[D] 13 March 1961[18] Asia Western Asia 1,197,667 Unitary presidential republic Gained independence from the United Kingdom on 16 August 1960. Britain retains military bases at Akrotiri and Dhekelia. Northern Cyprus is not recognised by the Commonwealth.
 Dominica 3 November 1978 Americas Caribbean 72,975 Unitary Westminster republic Dominica has always been a republic since independence.
 Eswatini 6 September 1968 Africa Southern Africa 1,336,933 Unitary absolute monarchy Joined as Swaziland, subsequently changing its name to Eswatini on 19 April 2018.
 Fiji[B] 10 October 1970 Oceania Melanesia 909,024 Unitary Westminster republic Left in 1987; rejoined in 1997; suspended on 6 June 2000;[19] suspension lifted on 20 December 2001;[20] again suspended on 8 December 2006 because of the 2006 Fijian coup d'état.[21][22] Suspension lifted on 26 September 2014.
 Gabon[B] 25 June 2022 Africa Middle Africa 2,233,272 Unitary presidential republic Gained independence from France on 17 August 1960. The third (after Mozambique and Rwanda) to be admitted to the Commonwealth without any former colonial or constitutional links with the United Kingdom.[23]
 Gambia 18 February 1965 Africa Western Africa 2,155,958 Unitary presidential republic Withdrew on 3 October 2013 citing "neocolonialism".[24][25] Following the election of Adama Barrow as President of Gambia in 2016, it submitted an application to rejoin the Commonwealth on 22 January 2018,[26] and rejoined on 8 February 2018.[27]
 Ghana 6 March 1957 Africa Western Africa 29,088,849 Unitary presidential republic
 Grenada 7 February 1974 Americas Caribbean 107,894 Unitary Commonwealth realm
 Guyana 26 May 1966 Americas South America 773,808 Unitary presidential republic
 India 15 August 1947 Asia Southern Asia 1,428,627,663 Federal Westminster republic Incorporated former French India (Chandannagar from 2 May 1950 and Puducherry, Karaikal, Yanam and Mahé from 1 November 1954), former Portuguese India (Goa, Daman and Diu from 19 December 1961 and Dadra and Nagar Haveli formally from 1961) and Sikkim (from 16 May 1975).
 Jamaica 6 August 1962 Americas Caribbean 2,819,888 Unitary Commonwealth realm
 Kenya 12 December 1963 Africa Eastern Africa 49,167,382 Unitary presidential republic
 Kiribati 12 July 1979 Oceania Micronesia 117,636 Unitary parliamentary republic with an executive presidency
 Lesotho 4 October 1966 Africa Southern Africa 2,199,492 Unitary Westminster monarchy[E]
 Malawi 6 July 1964 Africa Eastern Africa 18,558,768 Unitary presidential republic
 Malaysia 31 August 1957[28][29] Asia South-eastern Asia 31,505,208 Federal Westminster monarchy[E] Joined as the Federation of Malaya in 1957; reformed as Malaysia on 16 September 1963 with its federation with Singapore (which became a separate country on 9 August 1965), North Borneo, and Sarawak.[30]
 Maldives 9 July 1982 Asia Southern Asia 515,696 Unitary presidential republic Gained independence from the United Kingdom on 26 July 1965.[31] A special member from 9 July 1982 until 20 July 1985.[32] Withdrew on 13 October 2016.[33][34] Rejoined on 1 February 2020.[35]
 Malta[F] 21 September 1964 Europe Southern Europe 422,212 Unitary Westminster republic Gained independence from the United Kingdom on 21 September 1964 as the State of Malta. Became a republic on 13 December 1974.
 Mauritius 12 March 1968 Africa Eastern Africa 1,286,240 Unitary Westminster republic Became a republic on 12 March 1992.
 Mozambique 13 November 1995[36] Africa Eastern Africa 29,977,238 Unitary semi-presidential republic Former dependency of Portuguese India until 1752. Gained independence from Portugal on 25 June 1975. The first country to be admitted to the Commonwealth without any former colonial or constitutional links with the United Kingdom.[37]
 Namibia 21 March 1990 Africa Southern Africa 2,600,857 Unitary semi-presidential republic Gained independence from South Africa.[38] Includes Walvis Bay and the Penguin Islands transferred by South Africa at midnight 28 February 1994.
 Nauru[B] 1 November 1968 Oceania Micronesia 10,387 Unitary parliamentary republic with an executive presidency Gained independence on 31 January 1968 from joint trusteeship of Australia, New Zealand and United Kingdom. A special member from 1 November 1968 until 1 May 1999, when it became a full member,[39] before reverting to special status in January 2006.[40] A full member again since June 2011.[41]
 New Zealand 19 November 1926 Oceania Australia and New Zealand 4,609,755 Unitary Commonwealth realm Granted nominal independence (Dominion status) on 26 September 1907. One of the original Dominions at the time of the Balfour Declaration of 1926 and the Statute of Westminster 1931, although the Statute was not adopted in New Zealand until 1947.[42] Removed final links with the British Parliament in 1986. Removed the final link with the British legal system (Judicial Committee of the Privy Council) in 2003.
 Nigeria 1 October 1960 Africa Western Africa 194,615,054 Federal presidential republic Incorporated the former British mandate/trust territory of Northern Cameroons on 31 May 1961. Suspended in 1995, suspension lifted in 1999.[43]
 Pakistan 14 August 1947[C] Asia Southern Asia 229,494,441 Federal Westminster republic Includes the city of Gwadar, transferred from Muscat and Oman on 8 September 1958. Included Bangladesh (then known as East Pakistan) until 1971.[12] Left Commonwealth in 1972, rejoined 1990, effective retroactively from October 1989; suspended in 1999, suspension lifted in 2004; again suspended in 2007,[44] suspension lifted in 2008.[45]
 Papua New Guinea 16 September 1975 Oceania Melanesia 8,034,630 Unitary Commonwealth realm Gained independence from Australia.
 Rwanda 29 November 2009[46] Africa Eastern Africa 12,322,920 Unitary presidential republic Gained independence from Belgium on 1 July 1962. The second country (after Mozambique) to be admitted to the Commonwealth without any former colonial or constitutional links with the United Kingdom.[37] Admitted despite the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) finding that "the state of governance and human rights in Rwanda does not satisfy Commonwealth standards", and that it "does not therefore qualify for admission".[47]
 Saint Kitts and Nevis[B] 19 September 1983 Americas Caribbean 56,632 Federal Commonwealth realm
 Saint Lucia 22 February 1979 Americas Caribbean 189,000 Unitary Commonwealth realm
 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 27 October 1979 Americas Caribbean 109,501 Unitary Commonwealth realm A special member from 27 October 1979 until 1 June 1985.
 Samoa[B] 28 August 1970 Oceania Polynesia 196,954 Unitary Westminster republic Gained independence from New Zealand on 1 January 1962. Joined as Western Samoa, subsequently changing its name to Samoa on 4 July 1997.[48]
 Seychelles 29 June 1976 Africa Eastern Africa 98,248 Unitary presidential republic
 Sierra Leone 27 April 1961 Africa Western Africa 6,818,117 Unitary presidential republic
 Singapore[B] 9 August 1966 Asia South-eastern Asia 5,889,117 Unitary Westminster republic Gained independence from the United Kingdom and joined Federation of Malaysia on 16 September 1963. Became independent on 9 August 1965.[49] While joining in 1966, the effective date is from its date of independence.[50]
 Solomon Islands 7 July 1978 Oceania Melanesia 614,497 Unitary Commonwealth realm
 South Africa 19 November 1926 Africa Southern Africa 56,007,479 Unitary parliamentary republic with an executive presidency Granted nominal independence (Dominion status) on 31 May 1910. One of the original Dominions at the time of the Balfour Declaration of 1926 and Statute of Westminster 1931. Left on 31 May 1961; rejoined 1 June 1994.[51]
 Sri Lanka 4 February 1948 Asia Southern Asia 20,979,811 Unitary semi-presidential republic Joined as the Dominion of Ceylon, subsequently changing its name in 1972. Became a republic in 1972
 Tanzania 9 December 1961 Africa Eastern Africa 57,790,062 Unitary presidential republic Tanganyika joined the Commonwealth on 9 December 1961, with the island of Zanzibar following suit later. The two subsequently merged to form Tanzania on 26 April 1964.[52]
 Togo[B] 25 June 2022 Africa Western Africa 8,608,444 Unitary presidential republic The country was the formerly French and British mandate territory (later UN trust territory) of Togoland after the First World War in 1919; British Togoland (which would be attached to the Gold Coast in 1956 and become Ghana on 6 March 1957) and French Togoland. Independence of French Togoland as Togo from France on 27 April 1960.[53]
 Tonga 4 June 1970 Oceania Polynesia 107,228 Unitary constitutional monarchy
 Trinidad and Tobago 31 August 1962 Americas Caribbean 1,376,801 Unitary Westminster republic Granted independence on 31 August 1962. Became a republic on 1 August 1976 under the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago Constitution Act 1976, passed by the Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago.
 Tuvalu[B] 1 October 1978 Oceania Polynesia 10,116 Unitary Commonwealth realm A special member from 1 October 1978 until 1 September 2000.[54]
 Uganda 9 October 1962 Africa Eastern Africa 42,288,962 Unitary presidential republic
 United Kingdom 19 November 1926 Europe Northern Europe 65,746,853 Unitary Commonwealth realm Balfour Declaration of 1926 and the Parliament of the United Kingdom enacted the Statute of Westminster 1931. Has four individual nations within the UK: England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.
 Vanuatu[B] 30 July 1980 Oceania Melanesia 279,953 Unitary Westminster republic Gained independence from joint rule (condominium) of France and the United Kingdom.
 Zambia 24 October 1964 Africa Eastern Africa 17,470,471 Unitary presidential republic

^ A. Unless otherwise noted, independence was gained from the United Kingdom on the date (shown in column 2) of joining the Commonwealth.
^ B. Not a member of the Commonwealth Foundation.
^ C. Though Pakistan celebrates 14 August 1947 as its independence day, independence was officially granted at midnight, 15 August 1947. Therefore, its date of joining the Commonwealth would be 15 August 1947.
^ D. Geographically a part of Asia, considered a European country in political geography.
^ E. Constitutional monarchy that operates under a Westminster system. The monarch is not the same individual as the British monarch, hence making it not a Commonwealth realm.
^ F. In geology, the Maltese Islands is located on the African Plate. The island group lies approx. 200 km (120 mi) south of the boundary between the African Plate and the Eurasian Plate.[55] In political geography, Malta is considered a European country.

Former members
Country Joined UN Region UN Subregion Left Notes
 Ireland 19 November 1926 Europe Northern Europe 18 April 1949 The Partition of Ireland, in 1921, caused its division into the Irish Free State (later the Republic of Ireland) and Northern Ireland (which remained in the UK). The Irish Free State was one of the original Dominions at the time of the Balfour Declaration of 1926 and the Statute of Westminster 1931.[17] Withdrew after passing the Republic of Ireland Act in 1948, accepted by the United Kingdom in the Ireland Act 1949.[12]
 Zimbabwe 1 October 1980 Africa Eastern Africa 7 December 2003 Rhodesia's Unilateral Declaration of Independence in 1965 was not recognised, but independence as Zimbabwe was recognised on 18 April 1980. Suspended on 19 March 2002.[20] Withdrew voluntarily on 7 December 2003.[56]

On 15 May 2018, President Emmerson Mnangagwa submitted an application to rejoin the Commonwealth.[57]

Dissolved members
Former country Joined UN Region UN Subregion Dissolved Rejoined as a part of Notes
Federation of Malaya Malaya 31 August 1957 Asia South-eastern Asia 16 September 1963[29] Malaysia Malaysia Reformed as the Federation of Malaysia with Singapore (became a separate member in 1965), Sabah, and Sarawak.
Dominion of Newfoundland Newfoundland 19 November 1926 Americas Northern America 31 March 1949  Canada One of the original Dominions at the time of the Balfour Declaration of 1926 and the Statute of Westminster 1931. Government suspended on 16 February 1934, merged into Canada on 31 March 1949.[17]
 Tanganyika 9 December 1961 Africa Eastern Africa 26 April 1964 Tanzania Tanzania Tanganyika and Zanzibar merged to form the United Republic of Tanzania on 26 April 1964.[52]
Zanzibar 10 December 1963

Prospective members
Country Applied UN Region UN Subregion Population Notes
 Somaliland 2009 (as an observer)[58] Africa Eastern Africa ~3,500,000[G] Somaliland is an unrecognised self-declared sovereign state internationally recognised as a part of Somalia. It has applied to join the Commonwealth under observer status.[58] Its borders are approximate to those of British Somaliland, which was a protectorate from 1884 to 1960.
 South Sudan 2011[59] Africa Eastern Africa 13,670,642 Gained independence from Britain as part of Sudan in 1956. Gained independence from Sudan in 2011.[60]
 Suriname[61] 2012 Americas South America 555,934 English colony of Surinam from 1650 to 1667 and again controlled by the British from 1799 to 1816; subsequently a Dutch colony. In 2012, Suriname announced plans to join the Commonwealth[62] and the British government has made it a priority to provide guidance to Suriname in applying for Commonwealth membership.[63]
 Burundi[64] 2013 Africa Eastern Africa 10,524,117 Gained independence from Belgium in 1962. Historically and culturally linked to Commonwealth member Rwanda, once forming a single country Ruanda-Urundi.
 Zimbabwe 2018[65] Africa Eastern Africa 16,150,362 Under the presidency of Robert Mugabe, Zimbabwe dominated Commonwealth affairs, creating acrimonious splits in the organisation. Zimbabwe was suspended in 2002 for breaching the Harare Declaration. In 2003, when the Commonwealth refused to lift the suspension, Zimbabwe withdrew from the Commonwealth. Since then, the Commonwealth has played a major part in trying to end the political impasse and return Zimbabwe to a state of normality. On 15 May 2018, President Mnangagwa submitted an application to rejoin the Commonwealth.

^ G. The population figure is based on 2014 estimates.

Other candidates
The Commonwealth of Nations currently has 56 members. Current Commonwealth members (dark blue)
Overseas territories, associated states and crown dependencies (orange)
Suspended members (yellow)
Former members (pink)
Former members applying to rejoin (light blue)
Applicants without historical links to the UK (turquoise)
Other states with historical links to the UK (light green)
Applicants with historical links to the UK (dark green)

Other states which have expressed an interest in joining the Commonwealth over the years or states which may be eligible to join the Commonwealth include: Bahrain,[66] Cambodia,[66] Egypt,[66] the Republic of Ireland,[66] Libya,[66] Nepal,[67][68] Sudan and Yemen.[69]

Former Cook Islands director of external relations, Howard Henry, stated that the Cook Islands could apply for Commonwealth membership as soon as the 2024 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa, following the United States recognition of the Cook Islands and Niue as sovereign nations.[70]

The 2007 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting agreed on the core criteria for Membership. An applicant country should have historic constitutional association with an existing Commonwealth members, aside from exceptional circumstances which are only considered on a case-by-case basis.[71][72]

Most Commonwealth member have constitutional links with the United Kingdom and the former British Empire.[73] Former British dependencies are eligible to join the Commonwealth providing they agree and commit to the Commonwealth principles, these were laid out in the Singapore Declaration and reaffirmed in the Lusaka Declaration, the Langkawi Declaration and the Harare Declaration.[74][75][69]

See also

References
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