The Commonwealth

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• What is the Commonwealth?
  The Commonwealth is an association of sovereign nations that support each other and work together towards international goals.
  
• How many countries are members of the Commonwealth?
  53. (See Country Profiles)
  
• How many members of the Commonwealth are small states?
  32, of which 25 are small island states.
  
• How many people are there in the Commonwealth?
  2 billion citizens.
  
• How many members of the Commonwealth are under 18?
  Almost one billion.
  
• What countries are members of the Commonwealth?
  Antigua and Barbuda; Australia; The Bahamas; Bangladesh; Barbados; Belize; Botswana; Brunei Darussalam; Cameroon; Canada; Cyprus; Dominica; Fiji Islands; 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; St Kitts and Nevis; St Lucia; St Vincent and the Grenadines; Samoa; Seychelles; Sierra Leone; Singapore; Solomon Islands; South Africa; Sri Lanka; Swaziland; Tonga; Trinidad and Tobago; Tuvalu; Uganda; United Kingdom; United Republic of Tanzania; Vanuatu; Zambia. (See Country Profiles)
  
• What is the ‘British Commonwealth’?
  The ‘British Commonwealth’ refers to the Imperial British Empire. The ‘British Commonwealth’ ended in 1949 and a new union of what were defined as ‘freely and equally associated states’ was created.
  We include seven French-speaking countries - Cameroon, Canada, Dominica, Mauritius, St Lucia, Seychelles and Vanuatu - and one Lusophone – Portuguese-speaking – which is Mozambique.
  All countries are independent today and with equal votes. It is from history that our association emerged, but it is our shared values and goals that unite Commonwealth countries today.  
  
• What is meant by the ‘modern Commonwealth’?
  Before 1949, all Commonwealth dominions were united by a common allegiance to the British Crown. Then, in 1949, Commonwealth prime ministers issued the London Declaration, which changed membership in the Commonwealth from one based on common allegiance to the British Crown to one in which members agree to recognise King George VI as the Head of the Commonwealth. (So the Headship is vested in the person and not the position - the crown). It was at this time that the 'British Commonwealth' ended and the 'modern Commonwealth' was founded.
  
• Is there a voting system in the Commonwealth?
  No. All decisions are reached by consensus from all Heads of Government.

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