TheCommonwealth of Nations is avoluntary association of 56sovereign states, referred to asCommonwealth countries.[1] Most of them wereBritish colonies ordependencies of thosecolonies.
No government in the Commonwealth exercises power over the others, as is the case in apolitical union. Rather, the Commonwealth is aninternational 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 theSingapore Declaration issued in 1971.[2] Such common values and goals include the promotion ofdemocracy,human rights,good governance, therule of law,civil liberties,equality before the law,free trade,multilateralism, andworld peace, which are promoted through multilateral projects and meetings, such as theCommonwealth Games, held once every four years.[3]
The symbol of this free association is theHead of the Commonwealth, currentlyKing Charles III. All heads of the Commonwealth to date have been monarchs of the United Kingdom. The office of Head of the Commonwealth does not imbue the holder with any political or executive power over any Commonwealth member states; the position is purely symbolic and titular, and it is theCommonwealth Secretary-General who is the chief executive of the Commonwealth.[4]
The Commonwealth was first officially formed in 1926 when theBalfour Declaration of theImperial Conference recognised the full sovereignty ofDominions. Known as the "British Commonwealth", the original and therefore earliest members wereAustralia,Canada, theIrish Free State,Newfoundland,New Zealand,South Africa, and theUnited Kingdom. It was re-stated by the 1930 conference and incorporated in theStatute of Westminster the following year (although Australia and New Zealand did not adopt the statute until 1942 and 1947, respectively).[5] In 1949, theLondon 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 ofthe world's population, of whom 1.21 billion live inIndia, and 95% live inAfrica andAsia combined.[7]
The most recent members to join were the Francophone African nations ofGabon andTogo on 29 June 2022, who along withMozambique andRwanda are unusual in not having a historical constitutional relationship with the United Kingdom or other Commonwealth states.
As of 2025[update], fifteen of the member states areCommonwealth realms, with theHead of the Commonwealth as theirheads of state, five others aremonarchies with their own individual monarchs (Brunei (since 1984),Eswatini (formerly Swaziland from 1968 to 2018),Lesotho (since 1966),Malaysia (since 1963), andTonga (since 1970)), andthe rest are republics.
TheRepublic of Ireland (as of 1949 according to the Commonwealth; 1936 according to the Irish government) andZimbabwe (2003) are former members of the Commonwealth.
Zimbabwe is in the process of trying to return to its membership of the Commonwealth sinceEmmerson Mnangagwa becamePresident of Zimbabwe whenRobert Mugabe was overthrown in the2017 Zimbabwean coup d'etat.
All dates below are provided by the Commonwealth of Nations Secretariat members list,[8] and population figures are as of 1 February 2020.
| Country | First joined | UN continental region | UN geographical subregion | Population[9] | System of government | Notes[A] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Antigua and Barbuda | 1 November 1981 | Americas | Caribbean | 94,298 | UnitaryCommonwealth realm | |
 Australia | 19 November 1926 | Oceania | Australia and New Zealand | 26,256,970 | Federal Commonwealth realm | Australia was one of the original Dominions at the time of theBalfour Declaration of 1926 and theStatute of Westminster 1931, although the statute was not adopted in Australia until1942 (with retroactive effect from 1939).[10] TheAustralia 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 (Judicial Committee of the Privy Council.[11] |
 Bahamas | 10 July 1973 | Americas | Caribbean | 412,623 | Unitary Commonwealth realm | |
 Bangladesh | 18 April 1972[12] | Asia | Southern Asia | 172,954,319 | UnitaryWestminsterrepublic | FormerlyEast Pakistan. Declared independence fromPakistan in 1971.[13] |
 Barbados | 30 November 1966 | Americas | Caribbean | 281,995 | Unitary Westminster republic | Barbados removed Queen Elizabeth II as its head of state andbecame a republic on 30 November 2021. DameSandra Mason, the lastGovernor-General of Barbados was installed as the firstPresident of Barbados.[14][15] |
 Belize | 21 September 1981 | Americas | Central America | 410,825 | Unitary Commonwealth realm | FormerlyBritish Honduras. Name changed on 1 June 1973 to the Colony of Belize. |
 Botswana | 30 September 1966 | Africa | Southern Africa | 2,675,352 | Unitaryparliamentary republic with an executive presidency. SirSeretse Khama became the firstPresident of Botswana. | Formerly theBechuanaland Protectorate. |
 Brunei | 1 January 1984 | Asia | South-eastern Asia | 452,524 | UnitaryIslamicabsolute monarchy | Formerly a British protected monarchy. SultanHassanal Bolkiah is alsoPrime Minister of Brunei as well as Brunei's Sultan. |
 Cameroon | 1 November 1995[16] | Africa | Middle Africa | 28,647,293 | Unitarysemi-presidential republic | Most of the country was the formerly Frenchmandate territory (laterUN trust territory) ofCameroun, which gained independence fromFrance on 1 January 1960. It united with the much smaller former British mandate/trust territory ofSouthern Cameroons, which gained independence from theUnited Kingdom on 1 October 1961. |
 Canada | 19 November 1926 | Americas | North America | 39,244,168 | Federal Commonwealth realm | Canada was the first among the several original Dominions at the time of theBalfour Declaration of 1926 and theStatute of Westminster 1931.[17] Incorporated another original Dominion,Newfoundland, on 31 March 1949.[18] TheCanada 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[19] | Asia | Western Asia | 1,260,138 | Unitarypresidential republic | Gained independence from theUnited Kingdom on 16 August 1960 withArchbishop Makarios III as the firstPresident of Cyprus. The United Kingdom retains military bases atAkrotiri and Dhekelia.Northern Cyprus is not recognised by the Commonwealth as an independent state, but as a legitimate part of the Republic of Cyprus. Cyprus is, along with Malta, also aEuropean Union member state. |
 Dominica | 3 November 1978 | Americas | Caribbean | 73,040 | Unitary Westminster republic | Dominica has always been a republic since independence. The lastGovernor of Dominica, SirLouis Cools-Lartigue was installed as the firstPresident of Dominica as an interim measure. |
 Eswatini | 6 September 1968 | Africa | Southern Africa | 1,210,822 | Unitary absolute monarchy | Joined as the Kingdom of Swaziland underKing Sobhuza II, subsequently changing its name to Kingdom of Eswatini on 19 April 2018 by a decree ofKing Mswati III. |
 Fiji[B] | 10 October 1970 | Oceania | Melanesia | 936,375 | Unitary Westminster republic | Was theDominion of Fiji from 1970 until it was overthrown in October 1987 bySitiveni Rabuka. The lastGovernor-General of Fiji, Ratu SirPenaia Ganilau ended up becoming the firstPresident of Fiji. Declared to have been expelled in 1987; rejoined in 1997; suspended on 6 June 2000;[20] suspension lifted on 20 December 2001;[21] again suspended on 8 December 2006 because of the2006 Fijian coup d'état byFrank Bainimarama.[22][23] Suspension lifted on 26 September 2014 after elections were finally held. |
 Gabon[B] | 25 June 2022 | Africa | Middle Africa | 2,436,566 | Unitary presidential republic | Gained independence fromFrance on 17 August 1960. The third (afterMozambique andRwanda) to be admitted to the Commonwealth without any former colonial or constitutional links with the United Kingdom.[24] Partially suspended on 18 September 2023 following the military coup that ousted President Ali Bongo the previous month, with two years given by the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group for the country to hold new elections before a full suspension of membership would be considered.[25][26] On 15 July 2025, theCommonwealth Ministerial Action Group lifted the sanctionsafter Nguema was elected president in April with 94 percent of the vote.[27] |
 Gambia | 18 February 1965 | Africa | Western Africa | 2,773,168 | Unitary presidential republic | Became a republic on 24 April 1970 with SirDawda Jawara as firstPresident of the Gambia. Withdrew on 3 October 2013, citing "neocolonialism" by way of a decree ofYahya Jammeh, the then-dictator.[28][29] Following theelection ofAdama Barrow asPresident of The Gambia in 2016, it submitted an application to rejoin the Commonwealth on 22 January 2018,[30] and rejoined on 8 February 2018.[31] |
 Ghana | 6 March 1957 | Africa | Western Africa | 34,121,985 | Unitary presidential republic | Became independent as theDominion of Ghana, proclaimed a republic on 1 July 1960 withKwame Nkrumah as the firstPresident of Ghana. |
 Grenada | 7 February 1974 | Americas | Caribbean | 126,183 | Unitary Commonwealth realm | |
 Guyana | 26 May 1966 | Americas | South America | 813,834 | Unitary presidential republic | Gained independence as theDominion of Guyana. Became a republic on 23 February 1970. SirEdward Luckhoo, who was the lastGovernor-General of Guyana became an interim head of state, butArthur Chung was appointed the firstPresident of Guyana as a ceremonial head of state.Forbes Burnham, the formerPrime Minister of Guyana became the first executive President of the Co-Operative Republic of Guyana under the 1980Constitution of Guyana. |
 India | 15 August 1947 | Asia | Southern Asia | 1,428,627,663 | Federal Westminster republic | Gained independence as theDominion of India. India became the first Commonwealth republic on 26 January 1950 withRajendra Prasad as the firstPresident of India andJawaharlal Nehru becoming the Republic's first Prime Minister, as he had been the Dominion's Prime Minister since independence.Incorporated formerFrench India (Chandannagar from 2 May 1950 andPuducherry,Karaikal,Yanam andMahé from 1 November 1954), formerPortuguese India (Goa,Daman andDiu from 19 December 1961 andDadra and Nagar Haveli formally from 1961) andSikkim (from 16 May 1975). |
 Jamaica | 6 August 1962 | Americas | Caribbean | 2,825,544 | Unitary Commonwealth realm | |
 Kenya | 12 December 1963 | Africa | Eastern Africa | 55,100,586 | Unitary presidential republic | Gained independence as theDominion of Kenya. Became the Republic of Kenya exactly 1 year later withJomo Kenyatta as the firstPresident of Kenya |
 Kiribati | 12 July 1979 | Oceania | Micronesia | 133,515 | Unitary parliamentary republic with an executive presidency.Ieremia Tabai became the firstPresident of Kiribati. | Formerly part of theGilbert and Ellice Islands, then the Colony of theGilbert Islands. |
 Lesotho | 4 October 1966 | Africa | Southern Africa | 2,330,318 | Unitary Westminster monarchy[E] | Formerly the British protectorate ofBasutoland. KingMoshoeshoe II became the firstKing of Lesotho, as he wasParamount Chief of Basutoland from 1960. |
 Malawi | 6 July 1964 | Africa | Eastern Africa | 20,931,751 | Unitary presidential republic | FormerlyNyasaland. Gained independence as theDominion of Malawi. The Republic of Malawi was declared exactly 2 years later, with the Prime Minister,Hastings Kamuzu Banda as the firstPresident of Malawi. |
 Malaysia | 31 August 1957[32][33] | Asia | South-eastern Asia | 34,308,525 | Federal Westminster monarchy[E] | Joined as theFederation of Malaya in 1957; reformed as Malaysia on 16 September 1963 with its federation withSingapore (which became an independent republic on 9 August 1965),North Borneo, andSarawak.[34] |
 Maldives | 9 July 1982 | Asia | Southern Asia | 521,021 | Unitary presidential republic | Formerly a British protected monarchy. Gained independence from theUnited Kingdom on 26 July 1965 as an independent kingdom outside the Commonwealth with the Sultan,Muhammad Fareed Didi being declared the King of the Maldives. Became a republic on 11 November 1968 withIbrahim Nasir as the firstPresident of the Maldives under the second republic.[35] Aspecial member from 9 July 1982 until 20 July 1985.[36] Withdrew on 13 October 2016.[37][38] Rejoined on 1 February 2020.[39] |
 Malta[F] | 21 September 1964 | Europe | Southern Europe | 532,616 | Unitary Westminster republic | Gained independence from theUnited Kingdom on 21 September 1964 as theState of Malta. Became a republic on 13 December 1974. SirAnthony Mamo, the lastGovernor-General of Malta, was installed as the firstPresident of Malta. Malta is, along with Cyprus, also a member state of theEuropean Union. |
 Mauritius | 12 March 1968 | Africa | Eastern Africa | 1,263,939 | Unitary Westminster republic | Gained independence as theDominion of Mauritius. Became a republic on 12 March 1992 with the lastGovernor-General of Mauritius, SirVeerasamy Ringadoo as the firstPresident of Mauritius. |
 Mozambique | 13 November 1995[40] | Africa | Eastern Africa | 33,897,354 | Unitary semi-presidential republic | Former dependency ofPortuguese India until 1752. Gained independence fromPortugal on 25 June 1975. The first country to be admitted to the Commonwealth without any formal colonial or constitutional links with the United Kingdom.[41] |
 Namibia | 21 March 1990 | Africa | Southern Africa | 2,604,172 | Unitary semi-presidential republic | FormerlySouth West Africa. Gained independence fromSouth Africa withSamuel Nujoma as the firstPresident of Namibia.[42] IncludesWalvis Bay and thePenguin Islands transferred by South Africa at midnight 28 February 1994. |
 Nauru[B] | 29 November 1968 | Oceania | Micronesia | 12,780 | Unitary parliamentary republic with an executive presidency.Hammer DeRoburt became the firstPresident of Nauru. | Gained independence on 31 January 1968 from joint trusteeship ofAustralia,New Zealand and theUnited Kingdom. Aspecial member from 29 November 1968 until 1 May 1999, when it became a full member,[43] before reverting to special status in January 2006.[44] A full member again since June 2011.[45] |
 New Zealand | 19 November 1926 | Oceania | Australia and New Zealand | 5,163,908 | Unitary Commonwealth realm | Granted nominal independence (Dominion status) on 26 September 1907. One of the original Dominions at the time of theBalfour Declaration of 1926 and theStatute of Westminster 1931, although the Statute was not adopted in New Zealand until1947.[46] Removed final links with the British Parliament in1986. Removed the final link with the British legal system (Judicial Committee of the Privy Council) in2003. |
 Nigeria | 1 October 1960 | Africa | Western Africa | 223,804,632 | Federal presidential republic | Gained independence as a federal Dominion titled theFederation of Nigeria. Incorporated the former British mandate/trust territory ofNorthern Cameroons on 31 May 1961. The Federal Republic was declared on 1 October 1963, with the lastGovernor-General of Nigeria,Nnamdi Azikiwe, becoming the firstPresident of Nigeria. Suspended in 1995, the suspension was lifted in 1999.[47] |
 Pakistan | 14 August 1947[C] | Asia | Southern Asia | 240,485,658 | Federal Westminster republic | Gained independence as theDominion of Pakistan. The Republic was declared on 23 March 1956 with the lastGovernor-General of Pakistan,Iskander Mirza, becoming the firstPresident of Pakistan. Includes the city ofGwadar, transferred fromMuscat and Oman on 8 September 1958. IncludedBangladesh (then known asEast Pakistan) until 1971.[13] Left Commonwealth in January 1972, rejoined 1990, effective retroactively from October 1989; suspended in 1999, suspension lifted in 2004; again suspended in 2007,[48] suspension lifted in 2008.[49] |
 Papua New Guinea | 16 September 1975 | Oceania | Melanesia | 10,329,931 | Unitary Commonwealth realm | Gained independence fromAustralia. |
 Rwanda | 29 November 2009[50] | Africa | Eastern Africa | 14,094,683 | Unitary presidential republic | Gained independence fromBelgium 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.[41] Admitted despite theCommonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) finding that "the state of governance andhuman rights in Rwanda does not satisfy Commonwealth standards", and that it "does not therefore qualify for admission".[51] |
 Saint Kitts and Nevis[B] | 19 September 1983 | Americas | Caribbean | 47,755 | Federal Commonwealth realm | |
 Saint Lucia | 22 February 1979 | Americas | Caribbean | 180,251 | Unitary Commonwealth realm | |
 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 27 October 1979 | Americas | Caribbean | 103,698 | Unitary Commonwealth realm | Aspecial member from 27 October 1979 until 1 June 1985. |
 Samoa[B] | 28 August 1970 | Oceania | Polynesia | 225,681 | Unitary Westminster republic | From 1914 to 1961, Western Samoa was theTerritory of Western Samoa. Gained independence fromNew Zealand on 1 January 1962 withMalietoa Tanumafili II as the firstHead of state of Samoa. Entered into an unusual relationship with the Commonwealth. Joined as Western Samoa, subsequently changing its name to Samoa on 4 July 1997.[52] |
 Seychelles | 29 June 1976 | Africa | Eastern Africa | 120,622 | Unitary presidential republic | SirJames Mancham became firstPresident of the Seychelles, but he was overthrown in 1977 byFrance-Albert René who had been the Prime Minister. |
 Sierra Leone | 27 April 1961 | Africa | Western Africa | 8,791,092 | Unitary presidential republic | Gained independence as theDominion of Sierra Leone. Became a republic in 1971 withSiaka Stevens as the firstPresident of Sierra Leone. |
 Singapore[B] | 15 October 1965 | Asia | South-eastern Asia | 5,673,743 | Unitary Westminster republic | Gained independence from theUnited Kingdom and joined Federation ofMalaysia on 16 September 1963. Became independent on 9 August 1965 withYusof bin Ishak as the firstPresident of Singapore.[53] While joining in 1966, the effective date is from its date of independence.[54] |
 Solomon Islands | 7 July 1978 | Oceania | Melanesia | 740,424 | Unitary Commonwealth realm | |
 South Africa | 19 November 1926 | Africa | Southern Africa | 60,414,495 | Unitary parliamentary republic with an executive presidency | Granted nominal independence (Dominion status) on 31 May 1910 as theUnion of South Africa. One of the original Dominions at the time of theBalfour Declaration of 1926 andStatute of Westminster 1931. Left on 31 May 1961 with the lastGovernor-General of South Africa,Charles Robberts Swart as the firstState President of South Africa; rejoined 1 June 1994 underNelson Mandela, thePresident of South Africa.[55] |
 Sri Lanka | 4 February 1948 | Asia | Southern Asia | 22,037,000 | Unitary semi-presidential republic | Joined as theDominion of Ceylon, subsequently changing its name in 1972. Became a republic in 1972 with the lastGovernor-General of Ceylon,William Gopallawa, becoming the firstPresident of Sri Lanka. |
 Tanzania | 9 December 1961 | Africa | Eastern Africa | 67,438,106 | Unitary presidential republic | Tanganyika joined the Commonwealth on 9 December 1961 as an independent Dominion, became a republic exactly 1 year later underJulius Nyerere as President of Tanganyika, with the islands ofZanzibar following suit later. The two subsequently merged to formTanzania on 26 April 1964. President Nyerere became the firstPresident of Tanzania.[56] |
 Togo[B] | 25 June 2022 | Africa | Western Africa | 9,053,799 | Unitary presidential republic | The country was the formerly French and Britishmandate territory (laterUN trust territory) ofTogoland after theFirst World War in 1919;British Togoland (which would be attached to theGold Coast in 1956 and becomeGhana on 6 March 1957) andFrench Togoland. Independence of French Togoland as Togo fromFrance on 27 April 1960.[57] |
 Tonga | 4 June 1970 | Oceania | Polynesia | 107,773 | Unitaryconstitutional monarchy | Formerly a British protected monarchy from 1900 until 1970. |
 Trinidad and Tobago | 31 August 1962 | Americas | Caribbean | 1,534,937 | 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. The lastGovernor-General of Trinidad and Tobago, SirEllis Clarke became the firstPresident of Trinidad and Tobago. |
 Tuvalu[B] | 1 October 1978 | Oceania | Polynesia | 11,396 | Unitary Commonwealth realm | Aspecial member from 1 October 1978 until 1 September 2000.[58] |
 Uganda | 9 October 1962 | Africa | Eastern Africa | 48,582,334 | Unitary presidential republic | Gained independence as theDominion of Uganda, then became the Sovereign State of Uganda exactly 1 year later. Uganda's formal status as a republic was declared in 1967 after the overthrow of theKabaka of BugandaMutesa II in 1966. FormerPrime Minister of UgandaMilton Obote then seized the presidency. |
 United Kingdom | 19 November 1926 | Europe | Northern Europe | 67,184,072 | Unitary Commonwealth realm | Balfour Declaration of 1926 and the Parliament of the United Kingdom enacted theStatute of Westminster 1931. Has four individual nations or constituent countries within the UK:England,Northern Ireland,Scotland, andWales. All, except for England, have a devolved form of government in Belfast, Cardiff, and Edinburgh. Also includingBritish Overseas Territories. |
 Vanuatu[B] | 30 July 1980 | Oceania | Melanesia | 334,506 | Unitary Westminster republic | Formerly theNew Hebrides. Gained independence from joint rule (condominium) ofFrance and theUnited Kingdom.Ati George Sokomanu became the firstPresident of Vanuatu |
 Zambia | 24 October 1964 | Africa | Eastern Africa | 20,569,737 | Unitary presidential republic | FormerlyNorthern Rhodesia.Kenneth Kaunda became the firstPresident of Zambia. |
^ 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 theCommonwealth 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 ofAsia, considered aEuropean country inpolitical geography.
^ E. Constitutional monarchy that operates under a Westminster system. The monarch is not the same individual as theBritish monarch, hence making it not a Commonwealth realm.
^ F. Ingeology, the Maltese Islands are located on theAfrican Plate. The island group lies approximately 200 km (120 mi) south of the boundary between the African Plate and theEurasian Plate.[59] Inpolitical geography, Malta is considered a European country.
| Country | Joined | UN Continental Region | UN Geographical Subregion | Left | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Ireland | 19 November 1926 | Europe | Northern Europe | 18 April 1949 | ThePartition of Ireland, in 1921, caused its division into theIrish Free State (later theRepublic of Ireland) and Northern Ireland (which remained in the UK). The Irish Free State was one of the originalDominions at the time of theBalfour Declaration of 1926 and theStatute of Westminster 1931.[18] Withdrew after passing theRepublic of Ireland Act in 1948, accepted by the United Kingdom in theIreland Act 1949.[13] On 27 November 1998,TaoiseachBertie Ahern raised the prospect of Ireland rejoining the Commonwealth, stating that it would "not be an unhealthy discussion" for Ireland.[60][61] |
 Zimbabwe | 18 April 1980 | Africa | Southern 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.[21] Withdrew voluntarily on 7 December 2003.[62] On 15 May 2018, PresidentEmmerson Mnangagwa submitted an application to rejoin the Commonwealth.[63] |
| Former country | Joined | UN Continental Region | UN Geographical Subregion | Dissolved | Rejoined as a part of | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Malaya | 31 August 1957 | Asia | South-eastern Asia | 16 September 1963[33] | Malaysia | Reformed as the Federation ofMalaysia withSingapore (became a separate member as an independent republic in 1965),North Borneo (Sabah), andSarawak. |
 Newfoundland | 19 November 1926 | Americas | Northern America | 31 March 1949 |  Canada | One of the originalDominions at the time of theBalfour Declaration of 1926 and theStatute of Westminster 1931. Self-government suspended on 16 February 1934, merged intoCanada on 31 March 1949.[18] |
 Tanganyika | 9 December 1961 | Africa | Eastern Africa | 26 April 1964 | Tanzania | Tanganyika and Zanzibar merged to form theUnited Republic of Tanzania on 26 April 1964.[56] |
 Zanzibar | 10 December 1963 |
| Country | Applied | UN Continental Region | UN Geographical Subregion | Population | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Burundi[64] | 2013 | Africa | Eastern Africa | 10,524,117 | Gained independence fromBelgium in 1962. Historically and culturally linked to Commonwealth memberRwanda, once forming a single countryRuanda-Urundi. In 2013, Burundi applied to join the Commonwealth.[65] |
 Somaliland | 2009 (as an observer state)[66] | Africa | Eastern Africa | ~3,500,000[G] | Somaliland is an unrecognised self-declared sovereign state internationally recognised as a part ofSomalia. It has applied to join the Commonwealth underobserver status.[66][67] Its borders are approximate to those ofBritish Somaliland, which was a protectorate from 1884 to 1960. |
 South Sudan | 2011[68] | Africa | Eastern Africa | 13,670,642 | Gained independence from the United Kingdom as part of Sudan in 1956. Gained independence from Sudan in 2011.[69] South Sudan is a member of theEast African Community. |
 Suriname[70] | 2012 | Americas | South America | 555,934 | English colony ofSurinam from 1650 to 1667 and again controlled by the British from 1799 to 1816; subsequently aDutch colony. In 2012, Suriname announced plans to join the Commonwealth[71] and the British government has made it a priority to provide guidance to Suriname in applying for Commonwealth membership.[72] |
| Zimbabwe | 2018[73] | Africa | Southern Africa | 16,150,362 | Under the presidency ofRobert Mugabe, Zimbabwe dominated Commonwealth affairs, creating acrimonious splits in the organisation. Zimbabwe was suspended in 2002 for breaching theHarare 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, PresidentEmmerson Mnangagwa submitted an application to rejoin the Commonwealth.[74] |
^ G. The population figure is based on 2014 estimates.
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Other states which have expressed an interest in joining the Commonwealth over the years include:
Howard Henry, former Director of External Relations of the Cook Islands, stated that theCook Islands could apply for Commonwealth membership as soon as the2024 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa, following theUnited States recognition of the Cook Islands andNiue assovereign states.[80]
The2007 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting agreed on the core criteria for membership. An applicant country should have historic constitutional association with an existing Commonwealth member, aside from exceptional circumstances which are only considered on a case-by-case basis.[84][85]
Most Commonwealth member have constitutional links with the United Kingdom and the formerBritish Empire.[86][non-primary source needed] Former British dependencies are eligible to join the Commonwealth providing they agree and commit to the Commonwealth principles, these were laid out in theSingapore Declaration and reaffirmed in theLusaka Declaration, theLangkawi Declaration and theHarare Declaration.[87][88][75]
[...] we will make amendments to facilitate that transition to a new president to be sworn in on that day - November 30, 2021.
