The Commonwealth Context

The Commonwealth is a family of 54 developed and developing nations around the world.

It is a voluntary association of independent sovereign states on every continent. Its population of 1.7 billion represents 30% of the world's population. The member countries of the Commonwealth are a diverse group of nations, sharing common values, who represent almost one-third of the world's population.

Today's Commonwealth has progressed from the handful of Dominions which were the first Commonwealth members. The modern Commonwealth helps to advance democracy, human rights, sustainable economic and social development within its member countries and beyond.

The Commonwealth Secretariat based at Marlborough House in London acts as the Commonwealth's central administration.

Links to other Commonwealth organisations: 

Commonwealth Institute http://www.commonwealth.org.uk/
Commonwealth Foundation http://www.commonwealthfoundation.com/
Commonwealth Youth Exchange Council http://www.cyec.org.uk/
Council for Education in the Commonwealth http://www.cecomm.org.uk/
Commonwealth of Learning http://www.col.org/
Royal Commonwealth Society http://www.rcsint.org/