The Commonwealth

The Commonwealth is a free association of 56 sovereign countries, most of which are former territories of the British Empire. They have chosen to maintain ties of friendship and cooperation, with the British monarch as the symbolic head of the association. Some prominent members include Canada, Australia, India, Nigeria, and the United Kingdom, but the group also includes countries that were not former British colonies, such as Gabon and Togo.  

Membership details

The Commonwealth of Nations is a voluntary association of 56 independent and equal member states. 

Origin: The Commonwealth evolved from the British Empire, with many members being former dependencies that chose to remain connected. 

Symbolic Head: King Charles III is the symbolic head of the association, but he is the head of state in only 14 member countries, known as Commonwealth realms. 

Diverse Membership: The group is diverse, including republics, constitutional monarchies, and some countries with their own monarchs. 

Non-former colonies: Newer members like Gabon and Togo show that the Commonwealth is an attractive forum for cooperation and dialogue beyond its historical roots. 

Population: The Commonwealth is home to almost one-third of the world's population, with India being the largest country by population, accounting for about half of the total. 

Meetings: Member countries meet every two years at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. 

The Commonwealth of Nations

The Commonwealth of Nations, commonly known as the Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organization of 56 member countries, mostly former territories of the British Empire. It promotes international cooperation on economic, social, and human rights issues.

Here is a list of the 56 Commonwealth member countries as of 2025:

- Antigua and Barbuda  

- Australia  

- The Bahamas  

- Bangladesh  

- Barbados  

- Belize  

- Botswana  

- Brunei Darussalam  

- Cameroon  

- Canada  

- Cyprus  

- Dominica  

- Eswatini  

- Fiji  

- The Gambia  

- Ghana  

- Grenada  

- Guyana  

- India  

- Jamaica  

- Kenya  

- Kiribati  

- Lesotho  

- Malawi  

- Malaysia  

- Maldives  

- Malta  

- Mauritius  

- Mozambique  

- Namibia  

- Nauru  

- New Zealand  

- Nigeria  

- Pakistan  

- Papua New Guinea  

- Rwanda  

- Saint Kitts and Nevis  

- Saint Lucia  

- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines  

- Samoa  

- Seychelles  

- Sierra Leone  

- Singapore  

- Solomon Islands  

- South Africa  

- Sri Lanka  

- Tanzania (United Republic)  

- Tonga  

- Trinidad and Tobago  

- Tuvalu  

- Uganda  

- United Kingdom  

- Vanuatu  

- Zambia  

- Zimbabwe  

- Gabon*  

- Togo*  

(* Gabon and Togo joined recently despite no British colonial history).

The Commonwealth is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, and its members cooperate on economic and social development, democratic governance, and human rights promotion. Membership is voluntary and open to countries that meet the criteria and accept the Commonwealth’s values and goals.