Talk:Commonwealth

All table information based on figures provided by the Commonwealth of Nations Secretariat members list, most population figures are based on 2007 estimates, unless otherwise noted.[8]

Note: The table can be sorted alphabetically or chronologically using the Sort both.gif icon. Country Joined Continent Population Notes[A] Antigua and Barbuda Antigua and Barbuda[F] 1 November 1981 North America 88,000 Australia Australia[F] 11 December 1931 Oceania 22,073,000 Granted nominal independence (Dominion status) on 1 January 1901. Australia was one of the original Dominions at the time of the Statute of Westminster 1931, although the statute was not adopted in Australia until 1942 (with retroactive effect from 1939).[9] Removed final links with the British Parliament in 1986 The Bahamas Bahamas[F] 10 July 1973 North America 342,000 Bangladesh Bangladesh[B] 18 April 1972[10] Asia 162,221,000 Declared independence from Pakistan in 1971.[11] Barbados Barbados[F] 30 November 1966 North America 279,000 Belize Belize[F] 21 September 1981 North America 322,130 Botswana Botswana 30 September 1966 Africa 1,950,000 Brunei Brunei 1 January 1984 Asia 400,000 Cameroon Cameroon 13 November 1995[12] Africa 19,522,000 Most of the country was the formerly French mandate territory (later UN trust territory) of Cameroun and gained independence from France on 1 January 1960, uniting with the much smaller former British mandate/trust territory of Southern Cameroons on its gaining independence from the United Kingdom on 1 October 1961. Canada Canada[F] 11 December 1931 North America 34,053,000 [13] Granted Dominion status on 1 July 1867. Canada was the first among the several original Dominions at the time of the Statute of Westminster 1931.[14] Incorporated another original Dominion, Newfoundland, on 31 March 1949.[15] Removed the remaining ties to the British Parliament in 1982 Cyprus Cyprus 13 March 1961[16] Europe 803,200 [17] Gained independence from the United Kingdom on 16 August 1960. Dominica Dominica 3 November 1978 North America [C]79,000 Ghana Ghana 6 March 1957 Africa 23,837,000 Grenada Grenada[F] 7 February 1974 North America 103,000 Guyana Guyana 26 May 1966 South America 761,000 India India 15 August 1947 Asia 1,210,193,422 Incorporated former French India (Chandannagar from 2 May 1950 and Puducherry, Karaikal, Yanam and Mahé from 1 November 1954), former Portuguese India (Goa, Daman and Diu from 19 December 1961 and Dadra and Nagar Haveli formally from 1961) and Sikkim (from 16 May 1975). Jamaica Jamaica[F] 6 August 1962 North America 2,721,000 Kenya Kenya 12 December 1963 Africa 39,856,000 Kiribati Kiribati 12 July 1979 Oceania [D]99,000 Lesotho Lesotho 4 October 1966 Africa 2,000,000 Malawi Malawi 6 July 1964 Africa 15,884,000 Malaysia Malaysia 31 August 1957[18][19] Asia 28,356,000 Joined as the Federation of Malaya in 1957; reformed as Malaysia on 16 September 1963 with its federation with Singapore (which became a separate state on 9 August 1965), Sabah, and Sarawak.[20] Maldives Maldives 9 July 1982 Asia 329,000 Gained independence from the United Kingdom on 26 July 1965.[21] A special member from 9 July 1982 until 20 July 1985. [22] Malta Malta 21 September 1964 Europe 412,668 Mauritius Mauritius 12 March 1968 Africa 1,285,000 Mozambique Mozambique 13 November 1995[23] Africa 22,892,000 Gained independence from Portugal on 26 June 1975. The first country to be admitted to the Commonwealth without any former colonial or constitutional links with the United Kingdom.[24] However, British troops were present in the country during the World War II East Africa Campaign. Namibia Namibia 21 March 1990 Africa 2,131,000 Gained independence from South Africa.[25] Includes Walvis Bay and the Penguin Islands transferred by South Africa at midnight 28 February 1994. Nauru Nauru[B] 1 November 1968 Oceania 14,000 Gained independence on 31 January 1968 from joint trusteeship of Australia, New Zealand and United Kingdom. A special member from 1 November 1968 until 1 May 1999, when it became a full member,[26] before reverting to special status in January 2006.[27] A full member again since June 2011.[28] New Zealand New Zealand[F] 11 December 1931 Oceania 4,317,972 Granted nominal independence (Dominion status) on 26 September 1907. One of the original Dominions at the time of the Statute of Westminster 1931, although the Statute was not adopted in New Zealand until 1947.[29] Removed final links to the British Parliament in 1986 Nigeria Nigeria 1 October 1960 Africa 154,796,000 Incorporated the former British mandate/trust territory of Northern Cameroons on 31 May 1961. Suspended in 1995, suspension lifted in 1999.[30] Pakistan Pakistan 15 August 1947[E] Asia 168,052,000 Includes the city of Gwadar, transferred from Muscat and Oman on 8 September 1958. Included Bangladesh (then known as East Pakistan) until 1971.[11] Left Commonwealth in 1972, rejoined 1989; suspended in 1999, suspension lifted in 2004; again suspended in 2007,[31] suspension lifted in 2008.[32] Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea[F] 16 September 1975 Oceania 6,737,000 Gained independence from Australia. Rwanda Rwanda[B] 29 November 2009[6] Africa 9,998,000 Gained independence from Belgium 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.[24] Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Kitts and Nevis[B][F] 19 September 1983 North America 52,000 Saint Lucia Saint Lucia[F] 22 February 1979 North America 171,000 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Saint Vincent and the Grenadines[F] 27 October 1979 North America [C]119,000 A special member from 27 October 1979 until 1 June 1985. Samoa Samoa 28 August 1970 Oceania 185,000 Gained independence from New Zealand on 1 January 1962. Joined as Western Samoa, subsequently changing its name to Samoa on 4 July 1997.[33] Seychelles Seychelles 29 June 1976 Africa 84,000 Sierra Leone Sierra Leone 27 April 1961 Africa 5,695,000 Singapore Singapore 9 August 1966 (effective from 9 August 1965)[34] Asia 4,986,000 Gained independence from the United Kingdom and joined federation of Malaysia on 16 September 1963. Became independent on 9 August 1965.[35] Solomon Islands Solomon Islands[F] 7 July 1978 Oceania 913,000 South Africa South Africa 11 December 1931 Africa 49,423,000 Granted nominal independence (Dominion status) on 31 May 1910. One of the original Dominions at the time of the Statute of Westminster 1931. Left on 31 May 1961; rejoined 1 June 1994.[36] Sri Lanka Sri Lanka 4 February 1948 Asia 20,743,000 Joined as the Dominion of Ceylon, subsequently changing its name in 1972. Swaziland Swaziland 6 September 1968 Africa 1,182,000 Tanzania Tanzania 26 April 1964 Africa 43,729,000 Merger of Tanganyika and Zanzibar.[37] Tonga Tonga 4 June 1970 Oceania 102,000 Trinidad and Tobago Trinidad and Tobago 31 August 1962 North America 1,335,000 Tuvalu Tuvalu[B][F] 1 October 1978 Oceania 12,000 A special member from 1 October 1978 until 1 September 2000.[38] Uganda Uganda 9 October 1962 Africa 32,816,000 United Kingdom United Kingdom[F] 11 December 1931 Europe 61,609,500 The Parliament of the United Kingdom enacted the Statute of Westminster 1931. Vanuatu Vanuatu[B] 30 July 1980 Oceania 241,000 Gained independence from joint rule of France and United Kingdom. Zambia Zambia 24 October 1964 Africa 12,935,000

^ 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. The population figure is based on 2004 estimates. ^ D. The population figure is based on 2005 estimates. ^ E. 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. ^ F. Commonwealth realms, recognising Elizabeth II as their head of state since the day of their independence, distinctly from her being the sovereign of United Kingdom. Suspended members Country Joined Continent Suspended Notes Fiji Fiji[A] 10 October 1970 Oceania 8 December 2006 Left in 1987; rejoined in 1997; suspended on 6 June 2000;[39] suspension lifted on 20 December 2001;[40] again suspended in 2006 because of the 2006 Fijian coup d'état.[41][42]

^ A. Not a member of the Commonwealth Foundation. Former members Country Joined Continent Left Notes The Gambia The Gambia 18 February 1965 Africa 3 October 2013 Withdrew on 3 October 2013 citing "neo-colonialism".[43][44] Republic of Ireland Ireland 11 December 1931 Europe 18 April 1949 One of the original Dominions at the time of the Statute of Westminster 1931.[15] Withdrew after passing the Republic of Ireland Act in 1949.[11] Zimbabwe Zimbabwe 1 October 1980 Africa 7 December 2003 Suspended on 19 March 2002.[40] Withdrew voluntarily on 7 December 2003.[45] Dissolved members Former country Joined Continent Dissolved Rejoined as part of Notes Federation of Malaya Malaya 31 August 1957 Asia 31 July 1963[19] Malaysia Malaysia Reformed as the Federation of Malaysia with Singapore (became a separate member in 1965), Sabah, and Sarawak. Dominion of Newfoundland Newfoundland 11 December 1931 North America 16 February 1934 Canada Canada One of the original Dominions at the time of the Statute of Westminster 1931. Government suspended on 16 February 1934, joined Canada on 31 March 1949.[15] Tanganyika Tanganyika 9 December 1961 Africa 26 April 1964 Tanzania Tanzania The two countries merged to form Tanzania on 26 April 1964.[37] Zanzibar 10 December 1963 Applicants for membership Country Applied Continent Population Notes Algeria Algeria[46] Africa 36,423,000 No former colonial connection with Britain, but British troops invaded along with United States and Free French forces during Operation Torch in World War II. Madagascar Madagascar[46] Africa 20,714,000 No former colonial connection with Britain, but Madagascar was jointly occupied by British forces alongside the Free French during World War II. Somaliland Somaliland 2009[47] Africa 3,500,000 Somaliland is an unrecognised self-declared sovereign state internationally recognised as part of Somalia. It has applied to join the Commonwealth under observer status.[47] Its borders approximate to that of British Somaliland, which was a colony from 1884 to 1960. South Sudan South Sudan 2011[48] Africa 8,260,490 Gained independence from Britain as part of Sudan in 1956. Sudan Sudan[46] Africa 30,894,000 Gained independence from Britain in 1956. Suriname Suriname[49] South America 560,157 English colony of Willoughbyland from 1650 to 1667 and controlled by the British from 1799 to 1816. In 2012 Suriname expressed plans to join the Commonwealth[50] and the British government has made it a priority to provide guidance to Suriname in applying for Commonwealth membership[51] Yemen Yemen[46] Asia 22,230,531 South Yemen and Aden were British possessions, gaining independence in 1967. Former British and Commonwealth protectorates

A protectorate, in the British Empire, is a territory which is not formally annexed but in which, by treaty, grant or other lawful means, the Crown has power and jurisdiction.[52]

A protectorate differs from a "protected state". A protected state is a territory under a ruler which enjoys Her Britannic Majesty's protection, over whose foreign affairs she exercises control, but in respect of whose internal affairs she does not exercise jurisdiction.[52]

When the British took over Cephalonia in 1809, they proclaimed, "We present ourselves to you, Inhabitants of Cephalonia, not as invaders, with views of conquest, but as allies who hold forth to you the advantages of British protection." When the British continued to occupy the Ionian Islands after the Napoleonic wars, they did not formally annex the islands, but described them as a protectorate. The islands were constituted by the Treaty of Paris in 1815 as the independent United States of the Ionian Islands under British protection. Similarly, Malta was a British protectorate between the capitulation of the French in 1800 and the Treaty of Paris of 1814.

Other British protectorates followed. In 1894, Prime Minister William Ewart Gladstone's government officially announced that Uganda was to become a British Protectorate, where Muslim and Christian strife had attracted international attention. The British administration installed carefully selected local kings under a program of indirect rule through the local oligarchy, creating a network of British-controlled civil service. Most British protectorates were overseen by a Commissioner or a High Commissioner, rather than a Governor.

British law makes a distinction between a protectorate and protected state. Constitutionally the two are of similar status where Britain provides controlled defence and external relations. However, a protectorate has an internal government established, while a protected state establishes a form of local internal self-government based on the already existing one.

Persons connected with former British protectorates, protected states, mandated or trust territories may remain British Protected Persons if they did not acquire the nationality of the country at independence.

The last British protectorate proper was the Solomon Islands, which gained independence in 1978; the last British protected state was Brunei, which gained full independence in 1984.

Other cases include: Americas

   Barbados (1627–1652) (as a proprietary colony under both William Courteen, followed by James Hay I.)
   Mosquito Coast (1655–1860) (over Central America's Miskito Indian nation)

Arab World

   Aden Protectorates in Yemen (1873–1967)
   Sultanate of Egypt (1914–1922)
   Anglo-Egyptian Sudan (1899–1956; condominium with Egypt)
   British Residency of the Persian Gulf (1822–1971)
       Bahrain (1880–1971)
       Kuwait (1899–1961)
       Qatar (1916–1971)
       Trucial States, precursor of the UAE (1892–1971)
   British Somaliland (1887–1960)

South and South East Asia

   Bhutan (1910–1947)
   British North Borneo (1888–1946)
   Brunei (1888–1984)
   Federation of Malaya (1948–1957)
       Federated Malay States (1895–1946)
           Negeri Sembilan (1888–1895)
               Sungai Ujong (1873–1888)
               Jelebu (1886–1895)
           Pahang (1888–1895)
           Perak (1874–1895)
           Selangor (1875–1895)
       Unfederated Malay States (1904/09-1946)
           Johor (1904–1946)
           Kedah (1909–1946)
           Kelantan (1909–1946)
           Perlis (1909–1946)
           Terengganu (1909–1946)
   Indian Princely States (to 1947)
   Maldives (1887–1965)
   Sikkim (1910–1975)
   Sarawak (1888–1946)

Sub-Saharan Africa This section may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. No cleanup reason has been specified. Please help improve this section if you can. (April 2010)

Asterisks denote protectorates which were governed from a colony of the same name.

   Basutoland (1884-1966)
   Bechuanaland Protectorate (1884–1966)
   British East Africa Protectorate (1895–1920)
   Gambia Protectorate* (1894–1965)
   Kenya Protectorate* (1920–1963)
   Barotseland Protectorate (1900-1964)
   Northern Rhodesia (1924–1964)
   Northern Territories of the Gold Coast (1902–1957)
   Nyasaland Protectorate (1893–1964) - known as British Central Africa until 1907
   Northern Nigeria Protectorate
   Eastern Nigeria Protectorate
   Western Nigeria Protectorate

   Sierra Leone Protectorate* (1896–1961)
   Swaziland (1902–1968)
   Uganda Protectorate (1894–1962)
   Walvis Bay protectorate (1878–1884)
   Zanzibar (1890–1963)

Oceania

   British Solomon Islands (1893–1978)
   Cook Islands (1888–1901)
   Gilbert and Ellice Islands (1892–1916)
   Niue (1900–1901)
   Tokelau (1877–1916)
   Tonga (1900–1970)

Former British Mandates Class A mandates Palestine and Transjordan Syria and Lebanon Mesopotamia (draft) Iraq treaty The three class A mandates of Palestine and Transjordan, Syria and Lebanon and Mesopotamia. The Mesopotamia mandate was not enacted and was replaced by a treaty with the Kingdom of Iraq.

The first group, or Class A mandates, were territories formerly controlled by the Ottoman Empire that were deemed to "... have reached a stage of development where their existence as independent nations can be provisionally recognized subject to the rendering of administrative advice and assistance by a Mandatory until such time as they are able to stand alone. The wishes of these communities must be a principal consideration in the selection of the Mandatory."

The Class A mandates were:

   Palestine (United Kingdom), from 29 September 1923 – 15 May 1948.[53][54][55] In April 1921, Transjordan provisionally became an autonomous area for 6 months but then continued to be part of the Mandate until independence.[56][57] It eventually became the independent Hashemite Kingdom of Transjordan (later Jordan) on 25 May 1946. A plan for peacefully dividing the remainder of the Mandate failed. The Mandate terminated at midnight between 14 and 15 May 1948. On the evening of 14 May, the Chairman of the Jewish Agency for Palestine had declared the establishment of the State of Israel.[58] Arab states attacked the following day, marking the start of the 1948 Arab–Israeli War. Following the war, 75% of the area west of the Jordan River was controlled by the new State of Israel.[59] Other parts, until 1967, formed the West Bank of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the Egyptian-occupied Gaza Strip. Small slivers of territory east and south of the Sea of Galilee were held by Syria.

   Mesopotamia (United Kingdom), not enacted and replaced by the Anglo-Iraqi Treaty

Class B mandates

The second group of mandates, or Class B mandates, were all former Schutzgebiete (German territories) in West and Central Africa which were deemed to require a greater level of control by the mandatory power: "...the Mandatory must be responsible for the administration of the territory under conditions which will guarantee freedom of conscience and religion." The mandatory power was forbidden to construct military or naval bases within the mandates.

The Class B mandates were:

   Tanganyika (United Kingdom), from 20 July 1922 to 11 December 1946. It became a United Nations Trust Territory on 11 December 1946, and was granted internal self-rule on 1 May 1961. On 9 December 1961, it became an independent Commonwealth realm, transforming into a republic on the same day the next year. On 26 April 1964, Tanganyika merged with the neighbouring island of Zanzibar to become the modern nation of Tanzania.

   Kamerun was split on 20 July 1922 into British Cameroons (under a Resident) and French Cameroun (under a Commissioner until 27 August 1940, then under a Governor), on 13 December 1946 transformed into United Nations Trust Territories, again a British (successively under senior district officers officiating as Resident, a Special Resident and Commissioners) and a French Trust (under a Haut Commissaire)

   Togoland was split into British Togoland (under an Administrator, a post filled by the colonial Governor of the British Gold Coast (present Ghana) except 30 September 1920–11 October 1923 Francis Walter Fillon Jackson) and French Togoland (under a Commissioner) (United Kingdom and France), 20 July 1922 separate Mandates, transformed on 13 December 1946 into United Nations trust territories, French Togo Associated Territory (under a Commissioner till 30 August 1956, then under a High Commissioner as Autonomous Republic of Togo) and British Togoland (as before; on 13 December 1956 it ceased to exist as it became part of Ghana)

Class C mandates

A final group, the Class C mandates, including South-West Africa and certain of the South Pacific Islands, were considered to be "best administered under the laws of the Mandatory as integral portions of its territory"

The Class C mandates were former German possessions:

   former German New Guinea became the Territory of New Guinea (Australia/United Kingdom) from 17 December 1920 under a (at first Military) Administrator; after (wartime) Japanese/U.S. military commands from 8 December 1946 under UN mandate as North East New Guinea (under Australia, as administrative unit), until it became part of present Papua New Guinea at independence in 1975

   Nauru, formerly part of German New Guinea (Australia in effective control, formally together with United Kingdom and New Zealand) from 17 December 1920, 1 November 1947 made into a United Nations trust territory (same three powers) until its 31 January 1968 independence as a Republic - all that time under an Administrator

   former German Samoa (New Zealand/United Kingdom) 17 December 1920 a League of Nations mandate, renamed Western Samoa (as opposed to American Samoa), from 25 January 1947 a United Nations trust territory until its 1 January 1962 independence

   South-West Africa (South Africa/United Kingdom)
       from 1 October 1922