Royal Commonwealth Society  -  Ottawa

The Commonwealth is made up of 54 independent countries that work together to pursue common goals which promote development, democracy, and peace. Our combined population of 2.2 billion is almost a third of the global population.
 

• Twenty-Seven Commonwealth countries have high or very high human development according to the inequality-adjusted Human Development Index.

• Seven of the top 10 countries in the Ibrahim Index of African Governance, which measures rule of law, human rights, participation, human development and sustainable economic opportunity, are Commonwealth members.

• Seven of the top 10 countries for gender equality in Sub-Saharan Africa are Commonwealth countries, according to World Economic Forum's Global Gender Gap Report 2015.

• Five of the best performing 15 countries in the Youth Development Index are Commonwealth members.

• Since 1991, 12 Commonwealth member countries have moved to multi-party democracy from military or one-party rule.

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