Member states of the Commonwealth of Nations

The Commonwealth of Nations is a voluntary association of 54 independent sovereign states (one of whose membership is currently suspended). Most are former British colonies, or dependencies of these colonies. No one government in the Commonwealth exercises power over the others, as in a political union. Rather, the relationship is one of an international organisation through which countries with diverse social, political, and economic backgrounds are regarded as equal in status, and co-operate within a framework of common values and goals, as outlined in the Singapore Declaration.[1] These include the promotion of democracy, human rights, good governance, the rule of law, individual liberty, egalitarianism, free trade, multilateralism, and world peace, and are carried out through multilateral projects and meetings, as well as the quadrennial Commonwealth Games.[2] The symbol of this free association is Queen Elizabeth II, known for this purpose as Head of the Commonwealth. This position, however, does not imbue her 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 organisation.[3]

The Commonwealth was first officially formed in 1931 when the Statute of Westminster gave legal recognition to the independence of dominions. Known as the "British Commonwealth", the first members were the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, the Irish Free State and Dominion of Newfoundland, although Australia and New Zealand did not adopt the statute until 1942 and 1947 respectively.[4] In 1949, the London Declaration was signed and marked the birth of the modern Commonwealth and the renaming to its present name.[5] The most recent member is Rwanda, which joined on 29 November 2009.[6]

Presently, of the states that are members of the Commonwealth of Nations, three are in Europe, twelve in North America, one in South America, nineteen in Africa, eight in Asia, and eleven in Oceania (including one suspended member, Fiji). There are six former members, four of which no longer exist as independent entities (but form part of current member states). The members have a combined population of 2.2 billion people, almost a third of the world population, of which 1.21 billion live in India and 95% live in Asia and Africa combined.[7]

Currently sixteen of the member states are Commonwealth realms with the Head of the Commonwealth also as their head of state, five others are monarchies with their own separate monarchs (Brunei, Lesotho, Malaysia, Swaziland, Tonga) and the rest are republics.

Contents

Current members

All table information based on figures provided by the Commonwealth of Nations Secretariat members list, most population figures are based on 2007 estimates, unless otherwise noted.[8]

Note: The table can be sorted alphabetically or chronologically using the icon.

Country Joined Continent Population Notes[A]
Antigua and Barbuda[F] 1981-11-011 November 1981 North America 88,000
Australia[F] 1931-12-1111 December 1931 Oceania 22,073,000 Granted nominal independence (Dominion status) on 1 January 1901. Australia was one of the original Dominions at the time of the Statute of Westminster 1931, although the statute was not adopted in Australia until 1942 (with retrospective effect from 1939).[9] Removed final links with the British Parliament in 1986
Bahamas[F] 1973-07-1010 July 1973 North America 342,000
Bangladesh[B] 1972-04-1818 April 1972[10] Asia 162,221,000 Declared independence from Pakistan in 1971.[11]
Barbados[F] 1966-11-3030 November 1966 North America 279,000
Belize[F] 1981-09-2121 September 1981 North America 322,130
Botswana 1966-09-3030 September 1966 Africa 1,950,000
Brunei 1984-01-011 January 1984 Asia 400,000
Cameroon 1995-11-1313 November 1995[12] Africa 19,522,000 Most of the country was the formerly French mandate territory (later UN trust territory) of Cameroun and gained independence from France on 1 January 1960, uniting with the much smaller former British mandate/trust territory of Southern Cameroons on its gaining independence from the United Kingdom on 1 October 1961.
Canada[F] 1931-12-1111 December 1931 North America 34,053,000 [13] Granted nominal independence (Dominion status) on 1 July 1867. Canada was the first among the several original Dominions at the time of the Statute of Westminster 1931.[14] Incorporated another original Dominion, Newfoundland, on 31 March 1949.[15] Removed the remaining ties to the British Parliament in 1982
Cyprus 1961-03-1313 March 1961[16] Europe 794,200 Gained independence from the United Kingdom on 18 August 1960.
Dominica 1978-11-033 November 1978 North America [C]79,000
The Gambia 1965-02-1818 February 1965 Africa 1,717,000
Ghana 1957-03-066 March 1957 Africa 23,837,000
Grenada[F] 1974-02-077 February 1974 North America 103,000
Guyana 1966-05-2626 May 1966 South America 761,000
India 1947-08-1515 August 1947 Asia 1,210,193,422 Incorporated former French India (Chandannagar from 2 May 1950 and Pondichéry, Karikal, Yanaon 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[F] 1962-08-066 August 1962 North America 2,721,000
Kenya 1963-12-1212 December 1963 Africa 39,856,000
Kiribati 1979-07-1212 July 1979 Oceania [D]99,000
Lesotho 1966-10-044 October 1966 Africa 2,000,000
Malawi 1964-07-066 July 1964 Africa 15,884,000
Malaysia 1963-09-1631 August 1957[17][18] Asia 28,356,000 Joined as the Federation of Malaya in 1957; reformed as Malaysia on 16 September 1963 with its federation with Singapore (which became a separate state on 9 August 1965), Sabah, and Sarawak.[19]
Maldives 1982-07-099 July 1982 Asia 329,000 Gained independence from the United Kingdom on 26 July 1965.[20] A special member from 9 July 1982 until 20 July 1985.[21]
Malta 1964-09-2121 September 1964 Europe 412,668
Mauritius 1968-03-1212 March 1968 Africa 1,285,000
Mozambique 1995-11-1313 November 1995[22] Africa 22,892,000 Gained independence from Portugal on 26 June 1975. The first country to be admitted to the Commonwealth without any former colonial or constitutional links with the United Kingdom.[23]
Namibia 1990-03-2121 March 1990 Africa 2,131,000 Gained independence from South Africa.[24] Includes Walvis Bay and the Penguin Islands transferred by South Africa at midnight 28 February 1994.
Nauru[B] 1968-11-01†1 November 1968 Oceania 14,000 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,[25] before reverting back to special status in January 2006.[26] A full member again since June 2011.[27]
New Zealand[F] 1931-12-1111 December 1931 Oceania 4,317,972 Granted nominal independence (Dominion status) on 26 September 1907. One of the original Dominions at the time of the Statute of Westminster 1931, although the Statute was not adopted in New Zealand until 1947.[28] Removed final links to the British Parliament in 1986
Nigeria 1960-10-011 October 1960 Africa 154,796,000 Incorporated the former British mandate/trust territory of Northern Cameroons on 31 May 1961. Suspended in 1995, suspension lifted in 1999.[29]
Pakistan 1947-08-1515 August 1947[E] Asia 168,052,000 Includes the city of Gwadar, transferred from Muscat and Oman on 8 September 1958. Included Bangladesh (then known as East Pakistan) until 1971.[11] Left Commonwealth in 1972, rejoined 1989; suspended in 1999, suspension lifted in 2004; again suspended in 2007,[30] suspension lifted in 2008.[31]
Papua New Guinea[F] 1975-09-1616 September 1975 Oceania 6,737,000 Gained independence from Australia.
Rwanda[B] 2009-11-2929 November 2009[6] Africa 9,998,000 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.[23]
Saint Kitts and Nevis[B][F] 1983-09-1919 September 1983 North America 52,000
Saint Lucia[F] 1979-02-2222 February 1979 North America 171,000
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines[F] 1979-10-2727 October 1979 North America [C]119,000 A special member from 27 October 1979 until 1 June 1985.
Samoa 1970-08-2828 August 1970 Oceania 185,000 Gained independence from New Zealand on 1 January 1962. Joined as Western Samoa, subsequently changing its name to Samoa on 4 July 1997.[32]
Seychelles 1976-06-2929 June 1976 Africa 84,000
Sierra Leone 1961-04-2727 April 1961 Africa 5,695,000
Singapore 1965-10-15†9 August 1966 (effective from 9 August 1965)[33] Asia 4,986,000 Gained independence from the United Kingdom and joined federation of Malaysia on 16 September 1963. Became independent on 9 August 1965.[34]
Solomon Islands[F] 1978-07-077 July 1978 Oceania 913,000
South Africa 1931-12-1111 December 1931 Africa 49,423,000 Granted nominal independence (Dominion status) on 31 May 1910. One of the original Dominions at the time of the Statute of Westminster 1931. Left on 31 May 1961, rejoined on 1 June 1994.[35]
Sri Lanka 1948-02-044 February 1948 Asia 20,743,000 Joined as the Dominion of Ceylon, subsequently changing its name in 1972.
Swaziland 1968-09-066 September 1968 Africa 1,182,000
Tanzania 1964-04-2626 April 1964 Africa 43,729,000 Merger of Tanganyika and Zanzibar.[36]
Tonga 1970-06-044 June 1970 Oceania 102,000
Trinidad and Tobago 1962-08-3131 August 1962 North America 1,335,000
Tuvalu[B][F] 1978-10-011 October 1978 Oceania 12,000 A special member from 1 October 1978 until 1 September 2000.[37]
Uganda 1962-10-099 October 1962 Africa 32,816,000
United Kingdom[F] 1931-12-1111 December 1931 Europe 61,609,500 The Parliament of the United Kingdom enacted the Statute of Westminster 1931.
Vanuatu[B] 1980-07-3030 July 1980 Oceania 241,000 Gained independence from joint rule of France and United Kingdom.
Zambia 1964-10-2424 October 1964 Africa 12,935,000

^ 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. The population figure is based on 2004 estimates.
^ D. The population figure is based on 2005 estimates.
^ E. 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.
^ F. Commonwealth realms, recognis`ing Elizabeth II as their individual Queen since the day of their independence, distinctly from her being the sovereign of United Kingdom.

Suspended members

Country Joined Continent Suspended Notes
Fiji[A] 1970-10-1010 October 1970 Oceania 8 December 2006 Left in 1987; rejoined in 1997; suspended on 6 June 2000;[38] suspension lifted on 20 December 2001;[39] again suspended in 2006 because of the 2006 Fijian coup d'état.[40][41]

^ A. Not a member of the Commonwealth Foundation.

Former members

Country Joined Continent Left Notes
Ireland 1931-12-1111 December 1931 Europe 1949-04-18]]18 April 1949 One of the original Dominions at the time of the Statute of Westminster 1931.[15] Withdrew after passing the Republic of Ireland Act in 1949.[11]
Zimbabwe 1980-10-011 October 1980 Africa 2003-12-077 December 2003 Suspended on 19 March 2002.[39] Withdrew voluntarily on 7 December 2003.[42]

Dissolved members

Former country Joined Continent Dissolved Rejoined as part of Notes
Malaya 1957-08-3131 August 1957 Asia 1963-07-3131 July 1963[18] Malaysia Reformed as the Federation of Malaysia with Singapore (became a separate member in 1965), Sabah, and Sarawak).
Newfoundland 1931-12-1111 December 1931 North America 1934-02-1616 February 1934 Canada One of the original Dominions at the time of the Statute of Westminster 1931. Government suspended on 16 February 1934, joined Canada on 31 March 1949.[15]
Tanganyika 1961-12-099 December 1961 Africa 1964-04-2626 April 1964 Tanzania The two countries merged to form Tanzania on 26 April 1964.[36]
Zanzibar 1963-12-1010 December 1963

Applicants for membership

Country Applied Continent Population Notes
Algeria[43] Africa 36,423,000
Madagascar[43] Africa 20,714,000
Somaliland 2009[44] Africa 3,500,000 Somaliland is an unrecognised self-declared sovereign state internationally recognised as part of Somalia. It has applied to join the Commonwealth under observer status.[44]
South Sudan 2011[45] Africa 8,260,490
Sudan[43] Africa 30,894,000
Yemen[43] Asia 22,230,531

See also

References

  1. ^ "FAQs". Commonwealth Secretariat. http://www.thecommonwealth.org/FAQs/20706/faqs/. Retrieved 2008-06-16. 
  2. ^ "Singapore Declaration of Commonwealth Principles 1971". Commonwealth Secretariat. http://www.thecommonwealth.org/Internal/20723/32987/singapore_declaration_of_commonwealth_principles/. Retrieved 2008-06-12. 
  3. ^ "Head of the Commonwealth". Commonwealth Secretariat. http://www.thecommonwealth.org/Internal/150757/head_of_the_commonwealth/. Retrieved 2008-06-16. 
  4. ^ "The Commonwealth–History–Dominion Status". Commonwealth of Nations. http://www.commonwealth-of-nations.org/article.php?&id=4&subsection=3&page=3. Retrieved 2008-06-16. 
  5. ^ "The Commonwealth–History–Modern Commonwealth". Commonwealth Secretariat. http://www.thecommonwealth.org/Internal/34493/38150/modern_commonwealth/. Retrieved 2008-06-16. 
  6. ^ a b Josh Kron (2009-11-29). "Rwanda Joins British Commonwealth". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/29/world/africa/29rwanda.html. Retrieved 2009-11-29. 
  7. ^ "Country Comparisons - Population". The World Factbook. Central Intelligence Agency. 19 March 2009. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2119rank.html. Retrieved 2009-03-22. 
  8. ^ "Members". Commonwealth Secretariat. http://www.thecommonwealth.org/Internal/142227/members/. Retrieved 2008-02-15. 
  9. ^ "Australia". Commonwealth Secretariat. http://www.thecommonwealth.org/Templates/YearbookHomeInternal.asp?NodeID=138122. Retrieved 2008-02-15. 
  10. ^ Kohen, Marcelo G. (2006). Secession. London: Cambridge University Press. p. 122. ISBN 9780521849289. 
  11. ^ a b c "Wind of Change". Commonwealth of Nations. http://www.commonwealth-of-nations.org/article.php?&id=4&subsection=3&page=6. Retrieved 2008-02-15. 
  12. ^ Pondi, Jean-Emmanuel (October 1997). "Cameroon and the Commonwealth of Nations". The Round Table 86 (344): pp. 563–570. doi:10.1080/00358539708454389. 10.1080/00358539708454389. 
  13. ^ "Ethnic origins, 2006 counts, for Canada, provinces and territories – 20% sample data". Statistics Canada. 2008-01-04. http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/highlights/ethnic/pages/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo=PR&Code=01&Table=2&Data=Count&StartRec=1&Sort=3&Display=All/. Retrieved 2009-10-19. 
  14. ^ "Canada - History". Commonwealth Secretariat. http://www.thecommonwealth.org/YearbookInternal/145152/history/. Retrieved 2008-02-15. 
  15. ^ a b c "Dominion Status". Commonwealth of Nations. http://www.commonwealth-of-nations.org/article.php?&id=4&subsection=3&page=3. Retrieved 2008-02-15. 
  16. ^ McIntyre, W. David (January 2000). "Britain and the creation of the Commonwealth Secretariat". Journal of Imperial and Commonwealth History 28 (1): pp. 135–158. doi:10.1080/03086530008583082. 10.1080/03086530008583082. 
  17. ^ Federation of Malaya Independence Act 1957
  18. ^ a b Malaysia Act 1963
  19. ^ "Malaysia - History". Commonwealth Secretariat. http://www.thecommonwealth.org/YearbookInternal/145165/history/. Retrieved 2008-02-15. 
  20. ^ "Maldives - History". Commonwealth Secretariat. http://www.thecommonwealth.org/YearbookInternal/145167/history/. Retrieved 2008-02-15. 
  21. ^ "The Maldives and the Commonwealth". Republic of Maldives. http://www.maldiveshighcommission.org/?id_w=8. Retrieved 30 January 2009. 
  22. ^ Ingram, Derek (April 1996). "Commonwealth Update". The Round Table 85 (338): pp. 153–165. doi:10.1080/00358539608454302. 10.1080/00358539608454302. 
  23. ^ a b "Rwanda becomes a member of the Commonwealth". BBC News. 2009-11-29. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/8384930.stm. Retrieved 2009-11-29. 
  24. ^ Chronology of Namibian Independence
  25. ^ "Nauru Accedes to Full Membership of the Commonwealth". Commonwealth Secretariat. 12 April 1999. http://www.thecommonwealth.org/press/31555/34582/34786/nauru_accedes_to_full_membership_of_the_commonweal.htm. Retrieved 30 January 2009. 
  26. ^ "Nauru–History". Commonwealth Secretariat. http://www.thecommonwealth.org/YearbookInternal/145172/history/. Retrieved 2008-02-15. 
  27. ^ "Nauru back as full Commonwealth member". Radio New Zealand International. 26 June 2011. http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=61413. Retrieved 23 October 2011. 
  28. ^ "New Zealand- History". Commonwealth Secretariat. http://www.thecommonwealth.org/YearbookInternal/145173/history/. Retrieved 2008-02-15. 
  29. ^ "Nigeria". Commonwealth Secretariat. http://www.thecommonwealth.org/Templates/YearbookHomeInternal.asp?NodeID=138917. Retrieved 2008-02-15. 
  30. ^ "Pakistan suspended from the Commonwealth". Commonwealth Secretariat. 2007-11-22. http://www.thecommonwealth.org/news/34581/172911/221107cmag.htm. Retrieved 2008-06-15. 
  31. ^ "Commonwealth lifts Pakistan suspension". Commonwealth Secretariat. 2008-05-12. http://www.thecommonwealth.org/news/34580/34581/179063/120508cmag.htm. Retrieved 2008-06-15. 
  32. ^ "Constitution Amendment Act (No 2) 1997". http://www.paclii.org/ws/legis/num_act/caa21997295/. Retrieved 2007-11-27. 
  33. ^ Singapore Act 1966
  34. ^ "Road to Independence". AsiaOne. http://ourstory.asia1.com.sg/merger/merger.html. Retrieved 2006-06-28. 
  35. ^ "South Africa". Commonwealth Secretariat. http://www.thecommonwealth.org/Templates/YearbookHomeInternal.asp?NodeID=139444. Retrieved 2008-02-15. 
  36. ^ a b "Tanzania - History". Commonwealth Secretariat. http://www.thecommonwealth.org/YearbookInternal/145193/history/. Retrieved 2008-02-15. 
  37. ^ "Tuvalu Accedes to Full Membership of the Commonwealth". Commonwealth Secretariat. 14 August 2000. http://www.thecommonwealth.org/press/31555/34582/141646/tuvalu_accedes_to_full_membership_of_the_commonwea.htm. Retrieved 30 January 2009. 
  38. ^ Ingram, Derek (July 2000). "Commonwealth Update". The Round Table 89 (355): pp. 311–55. doi:10.1080/00358530050083406. 
  39. ^ a b Ingram, Derek (April 2002). "Commonwealth Update". The Round Table 91 (364): pp. 131–59. doi:10.1080/00358530220144148. 
  40. ^ Ingram, Derek; Soal, Judith (February 2007). "Commonwealth Update". The Round Table 96 (388): pp. 2–28. doi:10.1080/00358530701189734. 
  41. ^ Fiji suspended from the Commonwealth. Commonwealth Secretariat, 1 September 2009. Retrieved 11 April 2011.
  42. ^ "Editorial: CHOGM 2003, Abuja, Nigeria". The Round Table 93 (373): pp. 3–6. January 2004. doi:10.1080/0035853042000188139. 
  43. ^ a b c d Howden, Daniel (26 November 2009). "The Big Question: What is the Commonwealth's role, and is it relevant to global politics?". The Independent (London). http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/politics/the-big-question-what-is-the-commonwealths-role-and-is-it-relevant-to-global-politics-1827478.html. 
  44. ^ a b Somaliland on verge of observer status in the Commonwealth. Qaran News, 16 November 2009
  45. ^ South Sudan Launches Bid to Join Commonwealth

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