- Welcome to the UK
- In the Commonwealth
- Facts and Figures
- Queen Elizabeth II is Head of the Commonwealth
- The UK hosts in London the HQ of the Commonwealth Secretariat, Commonwealth Foundation, Commonwealth Business Council, Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, Commonwealth Local Government Forum, Association of Commonwealth Universities, Commonwealth Games Federation
- United Kingdom has been competing in the Commonwaelth Games since 1930, and has won an impressive 2246 medals (between England, Wales, and Scotland)
- Two Britons have won the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize; and four have taken the Best First Book award
- UK nationals currently hold 12 Commonwealth Games records
- Dr Mark Collins, Director of the Commonwealth Foundation 2005-
- Dr Fatiha Serour, Director of Youth Affairs, Commonwealth Secretariat 2006-
- Professor John Tarrant, Secretary-General of the Association of Commonwealth Universities
- 1959 First Conference of Commonwealth Education Ministers
- 1977 CHOGM in London, resulting in the Commonwealth Statement on Apartheid in Sport (Gleneagles Agreement)
- 1986 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh
- 1997 CHOGM in Edinburgh
- 2002 Commonwealth Finance Ministers Meeting
- 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester
- 2003 Fifteenth Conference of Commonwealth Education Ministers in Edinburgh
- 2005 The Third Commonwealth Local Government Conference held in Aberdeen, Scotland
- 2007 Meeting of Law Ministers and Attorneys-General of Small Commonwealth Jurisdictions
- 2014 Commonwealth Games to be held in Glasgow
Rt Hon. Boris Johnson, MP
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
Welcome to the United Kingdom portal of the “Commonwealth of Nations” website.
The UK is proud to be a member of the Commonwealth. It is a unique organisation. Its 54 members span the globe, represent almost a third of the world’s population and a fifth of all global trade, and include all of the world’s major faiths. It is an organisation that shares a heritage based on common history, culture and values. The core Commonwealth values of democracy and development are relevant today and will be increasingly relevant in the future.
The Commonwealth has a value role to play in championing democracy and promoting trade and development in the twenty-first century, which is why the UK will work with other member states to strengthen and reinvigorate this exceptional organisation.
The UK, like the Commonwealth, has a diverse population. Its citizens reflect all 54 members of the Commonwealth, their cultures and religions. We are keen to participate in the Commonwealth’s networks and numerous events. We look forward to hosting the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
As Prime Minister, I will work closely with heads of Governments of other member states to bring about a strengthened Commonwealth that all its citizens can be proud of, for its future achievements as well as its proud past.
The above message was provided by the previous Prime Minister.
The United Kingdom in the Commonwealth
did you know?
Senior Commonwealth officers
Commonwealth meetings hosted
Population
Total area: 243,305 sq. km
Population in thousands (2010): 62,036
Population density (2010): 255 per sq. km
Proportion of population under 18 (2010): 21.1%
Proportion of population over 60 (2010): 23.2%
Proportion of population living in urban areas (2010): 80%
Economy
GNI in thousands (2010): US$2,387,064,419
GNI per capita (2010): US$38,370
GDP average annual growth (2006-10): 0.3%
Inflation, average annual (2006-10): 2.7%
Education
Net enrolment rate (2009): 99.6%
Adult literacy rate: 99.0%
Gross enrolment ratio all levels (2007-10): 58.5%
Primary pupil-teacher ratio (2007-10): 18
Secondary pupil-teach ratio (2007-10): 14
Public spending on education (2007-10): 5.6%
Gross tertiary enrolment ratio (2007-10): 58.5%
Health
Proportion of people living with HIV/AIDS aged 15-49 (2009): 0.2%
Under 5 mortality per 1,000 live births (2010): 5
Population with access to adequate sanitation facilities (2008): 100%
Population with access to an improved water source (2008): 100%
Life expectancy (2010): 80
Public spending on health per capita (2009): US$3,285
Public spending on health as a proportion of total public expenditure (2009): 8%
Medical doctors per 100,000 people (latest data): 274
Nurses and midwives per 100,000 people (latest data): 1,030
Environment
CO2 emissions per capita (2008): 8.5 tonnes
Overall change in annual CO2 emissions (1990-2008): -8.3%
Forest area as a proportion total land area: 11.9%
Overall deforestation since 1990 (2008): 10.3%
Energy use per capita (2007-09): 3,465kg of oil equivalent
Electric power consumption per capita (2006-09): 5,692 kilowatt-hours
ICTs
Landline telephones per 1,000 people (2010): 537
Cumulative growth/decline in landline telephones (2005-10): -2.0%
PCs per 1,000 people (2009): 802
Mobile subscribers per 1,000 people (2010): 1,303
Overall growth in mobile subscribers (2005-10): 23.9%
Internet users per 1,000 (2010): 850
United Kingdom
in the Commonwealth Yearbook
The flagship publication of the Commonwealth Secretariat and the essential reference on the modern Commonwealth for
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