Diversity and Unity

The world’s largest and smallest, richest and poorest countries make up the Commonwealth and are home to two billion citizens of all faiths and ethnicities – over half of whom are 25 or under. Member countries span six continents and oceans from Africa to Asia, the Americas, Australasia, the Caribbean, and Europe.

Your Commonwealth


There are small states programmes to help the member countries which have fewer than 1.5 million people. This is particularly important when countries around the world meet to make decisions about trade and where farmers can sell the crops they produce.

There are also environmental programmes such as:

  • Dealing with the effects of global warming in Commonwealth countries like Maldives.
  • Managing the effects of drought in Africa – especially in Kenya, which has recently suffered its worst drought in 20 years.
  • Protecting rainforests in places like the Iwokrama rainforest in Guyana.
  • Checking sea level rises in Pacific Island states and countries like Bangladesh, which often suffers from flooding.

Skills and Knowledge

Member countries share skills and knowledge to solve development problems and improve their people’s lives.

Special efforts are made to help women and young people start and run their own businesses and to look after their health.

Every two years, the Commonwealth Heads of Government meet to discuss their problems and suggest possible solutions. In 2011 they are meeting in Perth, Western Australia.

There are also hundreds of non-governmental organisations which link the people of the Commonwealth through sport, art, music, health, education, law and work.