Commonwealth Country List

The Commonwealth Games is an international multi-sport event for athletes from nations within the Commonwealth. Here is a list of The Commonwealth of Nations, an association of 56 independent member states, predominantly former territories of the British Empire. Not every country or territory listed here have participated at the Commonwealth Games - see the list of countries participating at the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

• Antigua and Barbuda - This Caribbean twin-island nation joined the Commonwealth upon gaining independence in 1981.
• Australia - One of the Commonwealth's largest and most populous members, Australia has been part of the organization since its earliest days. It is a major contributor to Commonwealth sporting, diplomatic and development initiatives.
• Bahamas - The Bahamas became independent and joined the Commonwealth in 1973.
• Bangladesh - A populous South Asian nation, Bangladesh joined the Commonwealth in 1972 after gaining independence.
• Barbados - Barbados has been a Commonwealth member since becoming independent in 1966. The island is famous for its cricket tradition, vibrant culture and strong connections to Britain.
• Belize - Belize joined the Commonwealth when it became independent in 1981. It is the only mainland Central American country in the organization
• Botswana - Since independence in 1966, Botswana has been a Commonwealth member and one of Africa's more stable democracies.
• Brunei Darussalam - This oil-rich sultanate on the island of Borneo joined the Commonwealth upon independence in 1984. It is one of Southeast Asia's smallest countries and is ruled by the Sultan of Brunei.
• Cameroon - Cameroon joined the Commonwealth in 1995, bringing a significant Francophone presence to the organization
• Canada - A founding member of the modern Commonwealth, Canada is one of its largest countries by land area. It remains an important voice within the organization
• Cyprus - The Mediterranean island of Cyprus became a Commonwealth member after gaining independence in 1960. Its location at the crossroads of Europe, Asia and Africa gives it a distinctive cultural and historical character.
• Dominica - Known as the "Nature Island," Dominica joined the Commonwealth when it became independent in 1978.
• Eswatini - Formerly known as Swaziland, Eswatini became independent in 1968 and remains one of Africa's few remaining absolute monarchies.
• Fiji - Fiji is a Pacific island nation with a long sporting and cultural association with the Commonwealth. After leaving the organization in 2009, it returned as a member in 2014.
• Gabon - Gabon became a Commonwealth member in 2022, despite having been a former French colony. Its membership reflects the Commonwealth's increasingly global character beyond its historic British connections.
• Gambia - The Gambia is a small West African country wrapped around the Gambia River. It left the Commonwealth in 2013 but returned in 2018, renewing its connection with the organization
• Ghana - Ghana became independent in 1957 and was the first sub-Saharan African colony to achieve independence from British rule.
• Grenada - This Caribbean island joined the Commonwealth after independence in 1974.
• Guyana - Guyana became independent in 1966 and is the only English-speaking country on the mainland of South America.
• India - The world's most populous Commonwealth member, India plays a major role in the organization's political, economic and cultural life. It became a republic in 1950 while choosing to remain within the Commonwealth.
• Jamaica - Jamaica has been a Commonwealth member since independence in 1962. The island's global influence extends far beyond its size, particularly athletics and its distinctive culture.
• Kenya - Kenya joined the Commonwealth upon independence in 1963 and has become one of East Africa's most influential economies.
• Kiribati - Scattered across a vast area of the Pacific Ocean, Kiribati became a Commonwealth member in 1979. The low-lying island nation is particularly vulnerable to rising sea levels and climate change.
• Lesotho - Completely surrounded by South Africa, Lesotho is the only independent country in the world whose entire territory lies above 1,000 meters in elevation. It has been a Commonwealth member since independence in 1966.
• Malawi - Malawi became independent in 1964 and has remained a Commonwealth member ever since.
• Malaysia - Malaysia has been part of the Commonwealth since achieving independence in 1957. It is a federation spanning the Malay Peninsula and Borneo.
• Maldives - The Maldives is a tropical Indian Ocean archipelago made up of hundreds of coral islands. It first joined the Commonwealth in 1982, left in 2016 and returned in 2020.
• Malta - This small Mediterranean island nation became independent in 1964 and joined the Commonwealth at the same time.
• Mauritius - Mauritius joined the Commonwealth after gaining independence in 1968. The Indian Ocean island is known for its multicultural population, sugar industry, beaches and thriving tourism sector.
• Mozambique - Mozambique joined the Commonwealth in 1995, despite having been a Portuguese rather than British colony. Its membership highlights the organization's ability to embrace countries with no direct British colonial history.
• Namibia - Namibia became a Commonwealth member shortly after gaining independence in 1990.
• Nauru - Nauru is one of the world's smallest independent countries and joined the Commonwealth in 1968.
• New Zealand - New Zealand has been closely connected with the Commonwealth since its earliest development. The Pacific nation is renowned for its spectacular scenery and has a strong record in Commonwealth sporting competition.
• Nigeria - Africa's most populous country, Nigeria has been a Commonwealth member since independence in 1960. It is a major economic and cultural power, with global influence in music, film and literature.
• Pakistan - Pakistan joined the Commonwealth when it became independent in 1947. One of South Asia's major nations, it has also played an important role in Commonwealth diplomacy and sport.
• Papua New Guinea - Papua New Guinea became independent in 1975 and joined the Commonwealth at the same time.
• Rwanda - Rwanda joined the Commonwealth in 2009 despite having no British colonial history.
• Saint Kitts and Nevis - This two-island Caribbean federation became independent in 1983 and joined the Commonwealth. It is the smallest sovereign state in the Americas by both area and population.
• Saint Lucia - Saint Lucia became a Commonwealth member when it gained independence in 1979.
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines - This Caribbean nation consists of a main island and a chain of smaller islands and islets. It joined the Commonwealth after gaining independence in 1979 and is particularly known in sports for sailing.
• Samoa - Samoa became a Commonwealth member in 1970, making it one of the organization's early Pacific island members.
• Seychelles - The Seychelles is an Indian Ocean archipelago of more than 100 islands and joined the Commonwealth after independence in 1976. Its pristine beaches and protected marine environments make it a major international tourism destination.
• Sierra Leone - Sierra Leone became independent in 1961 and has remained part of the Commonwealth.
• Singapore - Singapore joined the Commonwealth after becoming an independent country in 1965.
• Solomon Islands - This Pacific island nation became independent in 1978 and joined the Commonwealth soon afterwards.
• South Africa - South Africa was a founding member of the modern Commonwealth but withdrew during the apartheid era. It rejoined in 1994 following the end of apartheid and the election of Nelson Mandela.
• Sri Lanka - Formerly known as Ceylon, Sri Lanka became independent in 1948 and joined the Commonwealth.
• Tonga - Tonga is the only remaining Polynesian kingdom and has been a Commonwealth member since 1970. Its hundreds of islands are spread across the South Pacific, although only a fraction are inhabited.
• Togo - Togo joined the Commonwealth in 2022, becoming one of its newest African members. Like Gabon, its admission demonstrates the Commonwealth's expansion beyond countries with a British colonial past.
• Trinidad and Tobago - The twin-island republic became independent in 1962 and has been a Commonwealth member ever since. I
• Tuvalu - One of the world's smallest and most remote countries, Tuvalu joined the Commonwealth in 1978.
• Uganda - Uganda became independent in 1962 and joined the Commonwealth soon afterwards.
• United Kingdom - The United Kingdom is the historic heart of the Commonwealth and the organization's largest European member. The Commonwealth Secretariat is headquartered in London, although the modern organization is independent of the British government.
• United Republic of Tanzania - Tanzania was formed in 1964 through the union of Tanganyika and Zanzibar and has been a Commonwealth member since independence.
• Vanuatu - Vanuatu became independent in 1980 and joined the Commonwealth the same year.
• Zambia - Zambia became independent in 1964 and has been a Commonwealth member ever since.

Commonwealth Games

• Commonwealth Games Lists
• 2026 Commonwalth Games
• Sports in 2026
• All-time medal list
• List of Host Cities

Where to next? ...

• Summer Olympic Games Country Lists
• Commonwealth Games Lists
• Games (Multi-Sport) Lists