The Commonwealth defines small states as:

• countries with a population of 1.5 million people or less.
• countries with a bigger population but which share many of the same characteristics. For example, Botswana, Jamaica, Lesotho, Namibia, and Papua New Guinea.
• Thirty-two of the 56 member countries of the Commonwealth are small states.

The Commonwealth Secretariat bring together member states to discuss ideas and build consensus on Commonwealth policy positions which we promote internationally.

Key meetings organised by the Commonwealth include:

• Commonwealth Finance Ministers Meeting (CFMM)
• Commonwealth Ministerial Meeting on Small States (CMMSS)
• Commonwealth Central Bank Governors Meeting (CCBGM)
• Global Biennial Conference on Small States (GBCSS)
• Annual Commonwealth-Francophonie G20 Dialogue

Publications

We produce publications including:

• Small States Bulletin
• Small State Digests
• Economics Technical Paper Series
• Small States Matters

Explore our Small States publications and research

Latest reports

• Small States Economic Review and Basic Statistics Volume 21 (PDF)

The 21^st volume of the Small States Economic Review examines the impacts of COVID-19 on Commonwealth small states. As well as climate change impacts and persistent debt levels, the Review highlights the sharper economic contractions felt by small states at the height of the pandemic, due to high dependence on trade and tourism sectors. There is also analysis of the impacts and solutions for the tourism industry.

• Application of the Commonwealth Universal Vulnerability Index: GDP+ (PDF)

The economic impacts of COVID-19 were felt by every country, with Commonwealth small states worst affected. As many small states import basic produce such as food, their economies are often vulnerable to external and natural shocks. Yet vulnerability is not identified in the current measurement system used to provide development finance to countries most in need. Among suggestions, the paper proposes including vulnerability as a measure of income, combining the Commonwealth Universal Vulnerability Index with GDP.

• 2021 Commonwealth Economic Development Report

This report, now in its second edition, provides an analysis of the recent economic developments within the Commonwealth. The Report finds that while post-COVID-19 economic recovery is underway, it is necessary to rethink output processes while considering climate change – a key message from COP26. The circular economy proposes a viable alternative, and the Commonwealth Universal Vulnerability Index offers a multidimensional approach to assessing vulnerability.

Research

In 2021 we launched the Small States Policy Simulation Labs Project, a collaboration between the Commonwealth Secretariat and the Centre for Resilience and Sustainable Development at the University of Cambridge.

Read about 'Their Future, Our Action': Cambridge Small States Policy Simulation Labs

Small States facts 

Small States Quarterly Series 

Disaster Risk Finance Portal

More videos 

• Building the Resilience of Small States
• Commonwealth Debt Swaps initiative
• Small states: safeguarding against disaster