About us

The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of 56 independent and equal countries.

It is home to 2.5 billion people, and includes both advanced economies and developing countries. 33 of our members are small states, including many island nations.

Our member governments have agreed to shared goals like development, democracy and peace. Our values and principles are expressed in the Commonwealth Charter.

The Commonwealth's roots go back to the British Empire. But today any country can join the modern Commonwealth. The last two countries to join the Commonwealth were Gabon and Togo in 2022.

Our history

Commonwealth facts

Organisations

The Commonwealth is often described as a 'family' of nations. At the heart of this family are three intergovernmental organisations:

The Commonwealth Secretariat supports member countries to achieve the Commonwealth's aims. This website is run by the Commonwealth Secretariat.
The Commonwealth Foundation supports people's participation in democracy and development.
The Commonwealth of Learning promotes open learning and distance education.

The international headquarters of the Commonwealth Secretariat and Commonwealth Foundation are located in Marlborough House on Pall Mall in London.

Commonwealth member countries are also supported by a network of more than 80 intergovernmental, civil, cultural and professional organisations

About the Commonwealth Secretariat

The Commonwealth Secretariat is the intergovernmental organisation that supports member countries to achieve the Commonwealth's aims of development, democracy and peace.

We:

are a voice for small and vulnerable states
champion young people
promote justice and human rights
address threats like climate change, debt and inequality
help grow economies and boost trade
support decision-makers to make good laws and deliver policies
help strengthen governance and build inclusive public institutions
provide technical help and training
send experts and observers to countries to give impartial advice and help solve national problems
provide systems, software and research for managing resources.

Explore our work and programmes

At Commonwealth summits, we bring government leaders together to make decisions which impact the lives of all Commonwealth citizens.

By uniting our member countries, we amplify their voices and help them work together on global challenges.

Leaders agree priority areas of work at Commonwealth Heads of Government Meetings (CHOGM), which happen every two years.

The next CHOGM summit is in Samoa in 2024.

Commonwealth Heads of Government Meetings

Commonwealth Declarations

The Commonwealth Secretary-General is responsible for:

promoting and protecting the Commonwealth’s values
representing the Commonwealth publicly
the management of the Commonwealth Secretariat.

The Secretary-General is nominated by Commonwealth leaders and can serve a maximum of two terms of four years each.

The Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC is the current Commonwealth Secretary-General.

Former Commonwealth Secretaries-General

Kamalesh Sharma of India (2008-2016)
Don McKinnon of New Zealand (2000-2008)
Chief Emeka Anyaoku of Nigeria (1990-2000)
Sir Shridath ‘Sonny’ Ramphal of Guyana (1975-1990)
Arnold Smith of Canada (1965-1975)

Our vision

To help create and sustain a Commonwealth that is mutually respectful, resilient, peaceful and prosperous and that cherishes equality, diversity and shared values.

Our mission

We support member governments, and partner with the broader Commonwealth family and others, to improve the well-being of all Commonwealth citizens and to advance their shared interests globally.

How we are run

The Commonwealth

The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of 56 independent and equal countries.

How countries can join

Head of the Commonwealth

His Majesty King Charles III is Head of the Commonwealth.

The role:

is an important symbolic one
has no maximum fixed term
is not hereditary, and future Heads will be chosen by Commonwealth leaders.

On 8 September, 2022, the Royal Family announced the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. We join the Royal Family, the whole of the Commonwealth and the world in mourning her passing.

Remembering Her Majesty The Queen

The Commonwealth Secretariat

The Commonwealth Secretariat is the intergovernmental organisation which supports member countries and co-ordinates Commonwealth activities.

2022 Further Revised Agreed Memorandum on the Commonwealth Secretariat

Commonwealth Secretary-General

The Commonwealth Secretary-General is responsible for representing the Commonwealth publicly, and is the Chief Executive Officer of the Commonwealth Secretariat.

The Right Honourable Patricia Scotland KC is the current Commonwealth Secretary-General.

Board of Governors

All member governments are represented on the Commonwealth Secretariat Board of Governors by their High Commissioners. The role of the Board of Governors, which usually meets once a year, is to approve the Secretariat’s strategic plans, work programmes and budgets.

The Chairperson of the Board of Governors and the representative of the Chair in Office also sit on the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee is a sub-committee of the Board of Governors that can make policy recommendations to the Board and oversees budgets and audit functions. The Executive Committee includes the eight largest contributors to the Secretariat’s total resources, with additional member countries from each region elected to serve two-year terms.

Commonwealth Chair-in-Office

Rwanda's President Paul Kagame is the current Commonwealth Chair-in-Office.

The Chair-in-Office represents the Commonwealth at high-level international meetings and reinforces the Good Offices role of the Commonwealth Secretary-General. The term ‘Good Offices’ refers to the Commonwealth's conflict prevention and resolution work.

The Chair-in-Office is the leader of the Commonwealth country that hosts a Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). The two-year role comes into effect at the start of the CHOGM. The next CHOGM is in 2024, when Samoan Prime Minister Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa will become Chair-in-Office.

Staff

Staff at the Commonwealth Secretariat are structured around areas of work and a Senior Management Committee (SMC). You can download our senior team organogram below.

Senior Team Organogram (PDF)

Commonwealth Secretariat Arbitral Tribunal

Contractual disputes involving the Secretariat are resolved by the Commonwealth Secretariat Arbitral Tribunal (CSAT) established by Commonwealth Governments. More information about CSAT, including its Statutes and Rules, can be found on the CSAT page.

The establishment of the Commonwealth Secretariat in 1965 emphasised the equality of all members, and gave final discouragement to the lingering sentiment that one member had a right to some predominance over others. It has enabled the Commonwealth to develop along independent lines in accordance with the interest of all its members.
Share on Twitter
Julius Nyerere
, President of Tanzania (1973)

Useful links

Marlborough House

Official Declarations

Commonwealth Secretariat logo kit and brand guidelines

Accounts and internal reports

Stay up to date

Subscribe to our newsletter

About us