Member states of the Commonwealth of Nations

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

The Commonwealth of Nations is a voluntary association of 52 sovereign states. Nearly all of them are former British colonies or dependencies of those colonies.

No one government in the Commonwealth exercises power over the others, as is the case in a political union. Rather, the Commonwealth is an international organisation 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, individual liberty, egalitarianism, 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 Queen Elizabeth II, who serves as the 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 Commonwealth.[3]

The Commonwealth was first officially formed in 1931 when the Statute of Westminster gave legal recognition to the sovereignty of dominions. Known as the "British Commonwealth", the original members were the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Ireland, and 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 adoption of its present name.[5] The newest member is Rwanda, which joined on 29 November 2009.[6] The most recent departure was the Maldives, which severed its connection with the Commonwealth on 13 October 2016.

As at April 2017, of the states that are members of the Commonwealth of Nations, three are in Europe, twelve in North America and the Caribbean, one in South America, eighteen in Africa, seven in Asia, and eleven in Oceania. There are eight 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 2.4 billion, almost a third of the world population, of whom 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 as their head of state. Five others are monarchies with their own individual monarchs (Brunei, Lesotho, Malaysia, Swaziland, Tonga) and the rest are republics.

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]

Country Joined Continent Population Notes[A]
Antigua and Barbuda Antigua and Barbuda[F] 1 November 1981 Caribbean 86,295
Australia Australia[F] 11 December 1931 Australia 23,795,300 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 retroactive effect from 1939).[9] The Australia Act 1986 established specifically, only the State Premier could now advise the Queen on appointment or removal of a State Governor. Nonetheless, the Queen could still exercise any of her powers with respect to the State if she was "personally present" in the State.[10].
The Bahamas Bahamas[F] 10 July 1973 Caribbean 368,390
Bangladesh Bangladesh 18 April 1972[11] Asia 158,088,000 Declared independence from Pakistan in 1971.[12]
Barbados Barbados[F] 30 November 1966 Caribbean 285,000
Belize Belize[F] 21 September 1981 North America 358,899
Botswana Botswana 30 September 1966 Africa 2,024,904
Brunei Brunei 1 January 1984 Asia 393,372
Cameroon Cameroon 13 November 1995[13] Africa 21,143,237 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 Canada[F] 11 December 1931 North America 35,702,707 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] 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 Cyprus[G] 13 March 1961[16] Eurasia 858,000 Gained independence from the United Kingdom on 16 August 1960.
Dominica Dominica 3 November 1978 Caribbean 71,293
Fiji Fiji[B] 10 October 1970 Oceania 859,178 Left in 1987; rejoined in 1997; suspended on 6 June 2000;[17] suspension lifted on 20 December 2001;[18] again suspended on 8 December 2006 because of the 2006 Fijian coup d'état.[19][20] Suspension lifted on 26 September 2014.
Ghana Ghana 6 March 1957 Africa 27,043,093
Grenada Grenada[F] 7 February 1974 Caribbean 103,328
Guyana Guyana 26 May 1966 South America 746,900
India India 15 August 1947 Asia 1,269,090,000 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 Jamaica[F] 6 August 1962 Caribbean 2,717,991
Kenya Kenya 12 December 1963 Africa 46,749,000
Kiribati Kiribati 12 July 1979 Oceania 106,461
Lesotho Lesotho 4 October 1966 Africa 2,120,000
Malawi Malawi 6 July 1964 Africa 16,310,431
Malaysia Malaysia 31 August 1957[21][22] Asia 30,538,100 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), North Borneo, and Sarawak.[23]
Malta Malta 21 September 1964 Europe 425,384
Mauritius Mauritius 12 March 1968 Africa 1,261,208
Mozambique Mozambique 13 November 1995[24] Africa 25,727,911 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.[25]
Namibia Namibia 21 March 1990 Africa 2,113,077 Gained independence from South Africa.[26] Includes Walvis Bay and the Penguin Islands transferred by South Africa at midnight 28 February 1994.
Nauru Nauru[B] 1 November 1968 Oceania 10,084 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,[27] before reverting to special status in January 2006.[28] A full member again since June 2011.[29]
New Zealand New Zealand[F] 11 December 1931 Oceania 4,572,100 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.[30] Removed final links with the British Parliament in 1986.
Nigeria Nigeria 1 October 1960 Africa 183,523,000 Incorporated the former British mandate/trust territory of Northern Cameroons on 31 May 1961. Suspended in 1995, suspension lifted in 1999.[31]
Pakistan Pakistan 14 August 1947[E] Asia 189,388,000 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 1989; suspended in 1999, suspension lifted in 2004; again suspended in 2007,[32] suspension lifted in 2008.[33]
Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea[F] 16 September 1975 Australia 7,398,500 Gained independence from Australia.
Rwanda Rwanda 29 November 2009[6] Africa 10,966,891 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.[25] Unlike Mozambique, has adopted English as an official language since joining.
Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Kitts and Nevis[B][F] 19 September 1983 Caribbean 55,000
Saint Lucia Saint Lucia[F] 22 February 1979 Caribbean 185,000
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Saint Vincent and the Grenadines[F] 27 October 1979 Caribbean 109,000 A special member from 27 October 1979 until 1 June 1985.
Samoa Samoa[B] 28 August 1970 Oceania 187,820 Gained independence from New Zealand on 1 January 1962. Joined as Western Samoa, subsequently changing its name to Samoa on 4 July 1997.[34]
Seychelles Seychelles 29 June 1976 Africa 89,949
Sierra Leone Sierra Leone 27 April 1961 Africa 6,319,000
Singapore Singapore[B] 9 August 1966 (effective from 9 August 1965)[35] Asia 5,469,700 Gained independence from the United Kingdom and joined federation of Malaysia on 16 September 1963. Became independent on 9 August 1965.[36]
Solomon Islands Solomon Islands[F] 7 July 1978 Oceania 581,344
South Africa South Africa 11 December 1931 Africa 54,956,900 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 1 June 1994.[37]
Sri Lanka Sri Lanka 4 February 1948 Asia 20,675,000 Joined as the Dominion of Ceylon, subsequently changing its name in 1972. Became a republic in 1972 and severed final ties with Britain.
Swaziland Swaziland 6 September 1968 Africa 1,119,375
Tanzania Tanzania 9 December 1961 Africa 47,421,786 Joined as Tanganyika and later Zanzibar, which subsequently merged to form Tanzania on 26 April 1964.[38]
Tonga Tonga 4 June 1970 Oceania 103,252
Trinidad and Tobago Trinidad and Tobago 31 August 1962 Caribbean 1,328,019
Tuvalu Tuvalu[B][F] 1 October 1978 Oceania 11,323 A special member from 1 October 1978 until 1 September 2000.[39]
Uganda Uganda 9 October 1962 Africa 34,856,813
United Kingdom United Kingdom 11 December 1931 Europe 64,511,000 The Parliament of the United Kingdom enacted the Statute of Westminster 1931.
Vanuatu Vanuatu[B] 30 July 1980 Oceania 264,652 Gained independence from joint rule of France and United Kingdom.
Zambia Zambia 24 October 1964 Africa 15,473,905

^ 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, recognising Queen Elizabeth II as their head of state since the day of their independence, distinctly from her being the sovereign of United Kingdom.
^ G. Geopolitically part of Europe, but geographically part of Asia.

Former members

Country Joined Continent Left Notes
The Gambia The Gambia 18 February 1965 Africa 3 October 2013 Withdrew on 3 October 2013 citing "neo-colonialism".[40][41] Adama Barrow, who was elected as Gambia's President in 2016, has pledged to return the country to the Commonwealth.[42]
Republic of Ireland Ireland 11 December 1931 Europe 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,[12] since republics were not permitted membership at the time.[43]
Maldives Maldives 9 July 1982 Asia 13 October 2016 Gained independence from the United Kingdom on 26 July 1965.[44] A special member from 9 July 1982 until 20 July 1985.[45] Announced on 13 October 2016 that it has withdrawn from the Commonwealth.[46][47]
Zimbabwe Zimbabwe 1 October 1980 Africa 7 December 2003 Suspended on 19 March 2002.[18] Withdrew voluntarily on 7 December 2003.[48]

Dissolved members

Former country Joined Continent Dissolved Rejoined as part of Notes
Federation of Malaya Malaya 31 August 1957 Asia 31 July 1963[22] Malaysia Malaysia Reformed as the Federation of Malaysia with Singapore (became a separate member in 1965), Sabah, and Sarawak.
Dominion of Newfoundland Newfoundland 11 December 1931 North America 31 March 1949 Canada Canada One of the original Dominions at the time of the Statute of Westminster 1931. Government suspended on 16 February 1934, merged into Canada on 31 March 1949.[15]
Tanganyika Tanganyika 9 December 1961 Africa 26 April 1964 Tanzania Tanzania The two countries merged to form Tanzania on 26 April 1964.[38]
Zanzibar 10 December 1963

Prospective members

Country Applied Continent Population Notes
Somaliland Somaliland 2009[49] 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.[49] Its borders approximate to those of British Somaliland, which was a protectorate from 1884 to 1960.
South Sudan South Sudan 2011[50] Africa 8,260,490 Gained independence from Britain as part of Sudan in 1956. Gained independence from Sudan in 2011.[51]
Sudan Sudan 2009[52] Africa 37,289,406 Sudan was a condominium of the United Kingdom and Egypt known as Anglo-Egyptian Sudan, but in practice the structure of the Condominium ensured full British control over the Sudan until its independence in 1956. Sudan has expressed an interest in joining the Commonwealth.[53]
Suriname Suriname[54] 2012 South America 560,157 English colony of Willoughbyland from 1650 to 1667 and controlled by the British from 1799 to 1816. Subsequently, a Dutch colony. In 2012 Suriname announced plans to join the Commonwealth[55] and the British government has made it a priority to provide guidance to Suriname in applying for Commonwealth membership.[56]

Other states which have expressed an interest in joining the Commonwealth over the years include Algeria, Cambodia, Madagascar, Palestine, and Yemen.[57][58]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "FAQs". Commonwealth Secretariat. Retrieved 16 June 2008.
  2. ↑ "Singapore Declaration of Commonwealth Principles 1971". Commonwealth Secretariat. Retrieved 12 June 2008.
  3. ↑ "Head of the Commonwealth". Commonwealth Secretariat. Archived from the original on 30 September 2006. Retrieved 16 June 2008.
  4. ↑ "The Commonwealth–History–Dominion Status". Commonwealth of Nations. Retrieved 16 June 2008.
  5. ↑ "The Commonwealth–History–Modern Commonwealth". Commonwealth Secretariat. Retrieved 16 June 2008.
  6. 1 2 Josh Kron (29 November 2009). "Rwanda Joins British Commonwealth". The New York Times. Retrieved 29 November 2009.
  7. ↑ "Country Comparisons – Population". The World Factbook. Central Intelligence Agency. 19 March 2009. Retrieved 22 March 2009.
  8. ↑ "Members". Commonwealth Secretariat. Retrieved 15 February 2008.
  9. ↑ "Australia". Commonwealth Secretariat. Retrieved 2008-02-15.
  10. ↑ There is no equivalent provision as to the Commonwealth. However, for both the Commonwealth and the States, constitutional convention effectively excludes the monarch from any personal exercise of governmental power. The 1986 proclamation was an exception, approved by Australian ministers.
  11. ↑ Kohen, Marcelo G. (2006). Secession. London: Cambridge University Press. p. 122. ISBN 978-0-521-84928-9.
  12. 1 2 3 "Wind of Change". Commonwealth of Nations. 2016. Retrieved 2016-10-15.
  13. ↑ Pondi, Jean-Emmanuel (October 1997). "Cameroon and the Commonwealth of Nations". The Round Table. 86 (344): 563–570. doi:10.1080/00358539708454389.
  14. ↑ "Canada – History". Commonwealth Secretariat. Retrieved 15 February 2008.
  15. 1 2 3 "Dominion Status". Commonwealth of Nations. 2016. Retrieved 2016-10-15.
  16. ↑ McIntyre, W. David (January 2000). "Britain and the creation of the Commonwealth Secretariat". Journal of Imperial and Commonwealth History. 28 (1): 135–158. doi:10.1080/03086530008583082.
  17. ↑ Ingram, Derek (July 2000). "Commonwealth Update". The Round Table. 89 (355): 311–55. doi:10.1080/00358530050083406.
  18. 1 2 Ingram, Derek (April 2002). "Commonwealth Update". The Round Table. 91 (364): 131–59. doi:10.1080/00358530220144148.
  19. ↑ Ingram, Derek; Soal, Judith (February 2007). "Commonwealth Update". The Round Table. 96 (388): 2–28. doi:10.1080/00358530701189734.
  20. ↑ Fiji suspended from the Commonwealth. Commonwealth Secretariat, 1 September 2009; retrieved 11 April 2011.
  21. ↑ Federation of Malaya Independence Act 1957
  22. 1 2 Malaysia Act 1963
  23. ↑ "Malaysia – History". Commonwealth Secretariat. Retrieved 15 February 2008.
  24. ↑ Ingram, Derek (April 1996). "Commonwealth Update". The Round Table. 85 (338): 153–165. doi:10.1080/00358539608454302.
  25. 1 2 "Rwanda becomes a member of the Commonwealth". BBC News. 29 November 2009. Retrieved 29 November 2009.
  26. ↑ Chronology of Namibian Independence
  27. ↑ "Nauru Accedes to Full Membership of the Commonwealth". Commonwealth Secretariat. 12 April 1999. Archived from the original on 26 April 2009. Retrieved 30 January 2009.
  28. ↑ "Nauru–History". Commonwealth Secretariat. Retrieved 15 February 2008.
  29. ↑ "Nauru back as full Commonwealth member". Radio New Zealand International. 26 June 2011. Retrieved 23 October 2011.
  30. ↑ "New Zealand – History". Commonwealth Secretariat. Retrieved 15 February 2008.
  31. ↑ "Nigeria | The Commonwealth". thecommonwealth.org. Retrieved 2017-06-05.
  32. ↑ "Pakistan suspended from the Commonwealth". Commonwealth Secretariat. 22 November 2007. Archived from the original on 25 August 2012. Retrieved 15 June 2008.
  33. ↑ "Commonwealth lifts Pakistan suspension". Commonwealth Secretariat. 12 May 2008. Archived from the original on 20 January 2012. Retrieved 15 June 2008.
  34. ↑ "Constitution Amendment Act (No 2) 1997". Retrieved 27 November 2007.
  35. ↑ Singapore Act 1966
  36. ↑ "Road to Independence". AsiaOne. Archived from the original on 13 October 2013. Retrieved 28 June 2006.
  37. ↑ "South Africa". Commonwealth Secretariat. Retrieved 2016-01-25.
  38. 1 2 "Tanzania – History". Commonwealth Secretariat. Retrieved 15 February 2008.
  39. ↑ "Tuvalu Accedes to Full Membership of the Commonwealth". Commonwealth Secretariat. 14 August 2000. Retrieved 30 January 2009.
  40. ↑ "Statement by Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma on The Gambia". The Commonwealth. 4 October 2013. Retrieved 6 October 2013.
  41. ↑ "Gambia quits the Commonwealth". The Guardian. 2 October 2013. Retrieved 5 October 2013.
  42. ↑ Manneh, Alieu (27 November 2016). "Opposition leader promises return of Gambia to ICC". Anadolu Agency. Retrieved 3 December 2016. In an interview with Anadolu Agency, Adama Barrow, who is facing the country’s President Yahya Jammeh in the polls, said: “We will ensure that we respect all international agreements we are a signatory to and we will take the country back to the Commonwealth and the International Criminal Court."
  43. ↑ See London Declaration
  44. ↑ "Maldives – History". Commonwealth Secretariat. Retrieved 15 February 2008.
  45. ↑ "The Maldives and the Commonwealth". Republic of Maldives. Retrieved 30 January 2009.
  46. ↑ "Commonwealth Secretariat". 2016-10-13. Retrieved 2016-10-13.
  47. ↑ "Maldives quits Commonwealth over alleged rights abuses". The Guardian. 13 October 2016. "The Maldives has announced it will leave the Commonwealth after mounting pressure from the 53-nation group over corruption and deteriorating human rights in the Indian Ocean state. The country’s government, which has been fending off rumours of an impending coup and allegations of money laundering, said the decision on Thursday to cancel its membership was 'difficult but inevitable'. Its foreign ministry said in a statement it had been treated 'unjustly and unfairly' by the organisation’s Commonwealth ministerial action group (CMAG), which has been scrutinising the government since the former president, Mohamed Nasheed, was ousted in 2012 in what his supporters say was a coup. 'The CMAG and the Commonwealth secretariat seem to be convinced that the Maldives, because of the high and favourable reputation that the country enjoys internationally, and also perhaps because it is a small state that lacks material power, would be an easy object that can be used,' the statement said. It added that it was being targeted 'in the name of democracy promotion, to increase the [Commonwealth’s] own relevance and leverage in international politics'."
  48. ↑ "Editorial: CHOGM 2003, Abuja, Nigeria". The Round Table. 93 (373): 3–6. January 2004. doi:10.1080/0035853042000188139.
  49. 1 2 Somaliland on verge of observer status in the Commonwealth. Qaran News, 16 November 2009
  50. ↑ "South Sudan Launches Bid to Join Commonwealth". gurtong.net.
  51. ↑ South Sudan on Track to Join Commonwealth.
  52. ↑ Howden, Daniel (26 November 2009). "The Big Question: What is the Commonwealth's role, and is it relevant to global politics?". The Independent. London.
  53. ↑ te Velde-Ashworth, Victoria (10 October 2005). "The future of the modern Commonwealth: Widening vs. deepening?". Commonwealth Policy Studies Unit. Archived from the original (doc) on 23 July 2011. Retrieved 16 September 2006.
  54. ↑ "Welcome to Allvoices". allvoices.com. Archived from the original on 2013-06-25.
  55. ↑ Staff Writer. "Suriname eying membership of Commonwealth". Stabroek News.
  56. ↑ "Strengthening Guyana’s participation in the Commonwealth and providing guidance to Suriname as it considers applying for membership". www.gov.uk.
  57. ↑ Howden, Daniel (26 November 2009). "The Big Question: What is the Commonwealth's role, and is it relevant to global politics?". The Independent. London.
  58. ↑ Osike, Felix (24 November 2007). "Rwanda membership delayed". New Vision. Archived from the original on 23 January 2013. Retrieved 29 November 2009.

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.