Citizens of Commonwealth nations make up 30% of the world's population: India is the most populous member, with a billion people at the 2001 census, while Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nigeria each contain more than 100 million people: Tuvalu, in contrast, has only 11,000 inhabitants. The Commonwealth has long been distinctive as an international forum where hisghly developed economies (the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and many of the world's poorer countries seek to reach aggreement by consensus. This aim has sometimes been elusive, as during disagreements over Rhodesia in the 1970s and apartheid South Africa in the 1980s. However, with the mutual decline of interest in each other as former British colonies forge closer relationships with trading partners and close geographic neighbours, the Commonwealth's direct practical importance has declined. It mainly restricts itself to encouraging community between nations and to placing moral pressure on members who violate international laws, such as human rights laws, and abandon democratically elected government. Key activities include training experts in developing countries and assisting with and monitoring elections. It is also useful as an international organisation that represents cultural and historical links between wealthy first-world countries and poorer developing nations with diverse social and religious backgrounds.
Fiji and Pakistan have had their membership suspended in recent years because of military coups removing democratic regimes. South Africa's membership was effectively suspended during the Apartheid era (South Africa actually withdrew of its own accord in 1961 before the suspension resolution was passed), but reinstated in 1994.
Heads of state of the Commonwealth countries meet biennally at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). This was to have been held in Brisbane, Australia in October 2001, but was postponed until March 2002 due to the uncertainty in international affairs engendered by the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.
The Commonwealth countries also share sporting and cultural links, notably including the sport of cricket. A multi-sport championship called the [Commonwealth Games]? is held every four years, and as well as the usual athletic disciplines that includes sports popular throughout the Commonwealth such as bowls.
It is the successor of the British Empire, that was largely dismantled after World War II, partly owing to the rise of independence movements in the then subject territories (most importantly in India under the influence of the famous pacifist Mohandas Gandhi) and partly owing to the British Government's straitened circumstances resulting from the cost of the war.
Commonwealth Members:
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