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.[4]
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 Australia, Canada, the Irish Free State, Newfoundland, New Zealand, South Africa, and the United Kingdom. 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).[5] In 1949, the London Declaration marked the birth of the modern Commonwealth and the adoption of its present name.[6] The members have a combined population of 2.6 billion, almost a third of the world's population, of whom 1.21 billion live in India, and 95% live in Africa and Asia combined.[7] The most recent members to join were the Francophone African nations of Gabon and Togo on 29 June 2022, who along with Mozambique and Rwanda are unique in not having a historical constitutional relationship with the United Kingdom or other Commonwealth states.
All dates below are provided by the Commonwealth of Nations Secretariat members list,[8] and population figures are as of 1 February 2020.
^ 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 are 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.[58] In political geography, Malta is considered a European country.
Former member states
Dissolved member states
Prospective member states
^ G. The population figure is based on 2014 estimates.
Other candidates
Other states which have expressed an interest in joining the Commonwealth over the years include:
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.[79][80]
^"Australia". Commonwealth Secretariat. Archived from the original on 14 February 2008. Retrieved 15 February 2008.
^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.
^Kohen, Marcelo G. (2006). Secession. London: Cambridge University Press. p. 122. ISBN 978-0-521-84928-9.
^ a b c"Wind of Change". Commonwealth of Nations. 2016. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
^"Barbados to become a parliamentary republic by November 30". Loop News Barbados. 27 July 2021. Retrieved 30 July 2021. [...] we will make amendments to facilitate that transition to a new president to be sworn in on that day - November 30, 2021.
^"Barbados elects first ever president ahead of becoming republic". BBC News. 21 October 2021. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
^Pondi, Jean-Emmanuel (October 1997). "Cameroon and the Commonwealth of Nations". The Round Table. 86 (344): 563–570. doi:10.1080/00358539708454389.
^"Canada – History". Commonwealth Secretariat. Archived from the original on 18 April 2008. Retrieved 15 February 2008.
^ a b c"Dominion Status". Commonwealth of Nations. 2016. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
^Fiji suspended from the Commonwealth Archived 2011-04-29 at the Wayback Machine. Commonwealth Secretariat, 1 September 2009; retrieved 11 April 2011.
^Donmez, Ahmet Emin (3 January 2022). "Gabon set to join British Commonwealth this year: President". Anadolu Agency. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
^"Gabon partially suspended from the Commonwealth pending restoration of democracy". Archived from the original on 30 September 2023. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
^"Gabon partially suspended from Commonwealth after coup". BBC News. 20 September 2023. Archived from the original on 4 October 2023. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
^"Statement by Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma on The Gambia". The Commonwealth. 4 October 2013. Retrieved 6 October 2013.
^"Gambia quits the Commonwealth". The Guardian. 2 October 2013. Retrieved 5 October 2013.
^"The Gambia presents formal application to re-join the Commonwealth" (Media Release). The Commonwealth. 23 January 2018. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
^"The Gambia rejoins the Commonwealth". Commonwealth Secretariat. 8 February 2018.
^Federation of Malaya Independence Act 1957
^ a bMalaysia Act 1963
^"Malaysia – History". Commonwealth Secretariat. Archived from the original on 3 February 2008. Retrieved 15 February 2008.
^"Maldives – History". Commonwealth Secretariat. Archived from the original on 5 July 2008. Retrieved 15 February 2008.
^"The Maldives and the Commonwealth". Republic of Maldives. Archived from the original on 3 December 2012. Retrieved 30 January 2009.
^"Commonwealth Secretariat". 13 October 2016. Retrieved 13 October 2016.
^Safi, Michael (13 October 2016). "Maldives quits Commonwealth over alleged rights abuses". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
^"Maldives becomes 54th member of Commonwealth family". The Commonwealth. 1 February 2020.
^ a b"Rwanda becomes a member of the Commonwealth". BBC News. 29 November 2009. Retrieved 29 November 2009.
^Klaus Dierks (2 January 2005). "Chronology of Namibian History". www.klausdierks.com. Ch. 7: The period after Namibia'S independence. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
^"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.
^"Nauru–History". Commonwealth Secretariat. Archived from the original on 3 September 2008. Retrieved 15 February 2008.
^"Nauru back as full Commonwealth member". Radio New Zealand International. 26 June 2011. Archived from the original on 24 July 2020. Retrieved 23 October 2011.
^"New Zealand – History". Commonwealth Secretariat. Archived from the original on 2 March 2008. Retrieved 15 February 2008.
^"Nigeria | The Commonwealth". thecommonwealth.org. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
^"Pakistan suspended from the Commonwealth". Commonwealth Secretariat. 22 November 2007. Archived from the original on 25 August 2012. Retrieved 15 June 2008.
^"Commonwealth lifts Pakistan suspension". Commonwealth Secretariat. 12 May 2008. Archived from the original on 20 January 2012. Retrieved 15 June 2008.
^Josh Kron (29 November 2009). "Rwanda Joins the Commonwealth". The New York Times. Retrieved 29 November 2009.
^"Rwanda's application for membership, Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 17 July 2018. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
^"Constitution Amendment Act (No 2) 1997". Retrieved 27 November 2007.
^"Road to Independence". AsiaOne. Archived from the original on 13 October 2013. Retrieved 28 June 2006.
^Singapore Act 1966
^"South Africa". Commonwealth Secretariat. Retrieved 25 January 2016.
^ a b"Tanzania – History". Commonwealth Secretariat. Archived from the original on 3 September 2008. Retrieved 15 February 2008.
^"Togo - History Background".
^"Tuvalu Accedes to Full Membership of the Commonwealth". Commonwealth Secretariat. 14 August 2000. Archived from the original on 11 October 2008. Retrieved 30 January 2009.
^Galea, Pauline (2007). "Seismic history of the Maltese Islands and considerations on seismic risk: Earthquakes in Malta". Annals of Geophysics. 50 (6): 725–740. Retrieved 5 June 2015.
^"Editorial: CHOGM 2003, Abuja, Nigeria". The Round Table. 93 (373): 3–6. January 2004. doi:10.1080/0035853042000188139. S2CID 219624427.
^Cotterill, Joseph (21 May 2018). "Zimbabwe applies to rejoin Commonwealth 15 years after it left". Financial Times. Retrieved 15 June 2023.
^Nimubona, Desire (13 November 2013). "Burundi Applies to Join Commonwealth to Bolster Angolophone Ties". Bloomberg.com. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
^Kandiah, Michael David; Staerck, Gillian (2001), "Commonwealth International Financial Arrangements and Britain's First Application to Join the EEC", Britain, the Commonwealth and Europe, London: Palgrave Macmillan UK, pp. 111–131, doi:10.1057/9780230523906_7, ISBN 978-1-349-42034-6, retrieved 10 November 2023
^ a bSomaliland on verge of observer status in the Commonwealth. Qaran News, 16 November 2009
^Shire, Saad Ali (16 April 2018). "Somaliland: Why we should be at the Commonwealth summit". African Arguments. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
^"South Sudan Launches Bid to Join Commonwealth". gurtong.net. Archived from the original on 11 July 2017. Retrieved 27 October 2011.
^"South Sudan wants to join Commonwealth". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
^Drepaul, Milton. "Suriname plans to join the Commonwealth". allvoices.com. Archived from the original on 25 June 2013.
^Staff Writer (14 June 2012). "Suriname eying membership of Commonwealth". Stabroek News.
^"Strengthening Guyana's participation in the Commonwealth and providing guidance to Suriname as it considers applying for membership". Foreign & Commonwealth Office. Archived from the original on 6 September 2013. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
^Adebayo, Bukola (21 May 2018). "Zimbabwe applies to re-join Commonwealth, 15 years after leaving". CNN.
^"Zimbabwe applies to rejoin Commonwealth". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
^ a b c d e fHowden, Daniel (26 November 2009). "The Big Question: What is the Commonwealth's role, and is it relevant to global politics?". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 12 May 2022.
^"Queen boost as 'string of countries' looked to join Commonwealth: 'Keep ringing'". Express. 14 March 2022. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
^ a b c d e f g h ite 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.
^"Angola: Commonwealth". UK Parliament. 23 January 2019. Archived from the original on 27 November 2020. Retrieved 2 April 2024.
^ a b"Cook Islands should be allowed to decide to join United Nations - Nanaia Mahuta". Pacific Media Network. 1 December 2022. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
^"The Commonwealth: What's the point of it?". The Economist. 19 March 2016. Retrieved 6 June 2019.
^"Nepal urged to join Commonwealth". The Himalayan Times. 19 January 2016. Retrieved 6 June 2019.
^"Joining the Commonwealth". The Commonwealth. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
^McIntyre, W. David (April 2008). "The Expansion of the Commonwealth and the Criteria for Membership". Round Table. 97 (395): 273–85. doi:10.1080/00358530801962089.
^"The Commonwealth: Zimbabwe's return?". UK Parliament. 9 January 2023.
^"The Lusaka Communique, Commonwealth Heads of Government, August 1979, on Rhodesia". African Affairs. 79 (314): 115. January 1980. doi:10.1093/oxfordjournals.afraf.a097167. JSTOR 721635.
^"Commonwealth Declarations". Commonwealth. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Member countries of the Commonwealth of Nations.
Wikisource has original text related to this article:
British Nationality Act (1981 c 61) Annex B – The territories forming part of the Commonwealth
Commonwealth timeline
"Members". Commonwealth Secretariat. Retrieved 15 February 2008.
"Commonwealth of Nations". Commonwealth of Nations. Retrieved 15 February 2008.
"The Commonwealth". Directgov. Retrieved 15 February 2008.