The CPA Africa Region is the largest region, comprising of 63 legislatures, ranging from Tanzania and the Seychelles to Ghana and The Gambia.
Where we work
Where we work
The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association is comprised of over 180 CPA Branches formed in legislatures in Commonwealth countries and territories which subscribe to parliamentary democracy. Parliamentarians in these legislatures are entitled to become members of the CPA Branch that is formed. For a Branch to qualify for CPA membership, it must be a law-making legislative body. Therefore both national, state or provincial parliaments, as well as the legislatures of dependent territories, may be members.
Every Branch is autonomous and their affairs are typically managed by a Branch Executive Committee, elected annually by Members and usually representative of all main parties or groups. Some CPA Branches require their Members to pay an annual subscription and many permit Members to apply for associate or honorary status on ceasing to belong to the legislature.
CPA Branches are currently grouped geographically into nine CPA Regions in the Commonwealth for representation on the CPA International Executive Committee and for the organisation of regional conferences and seminars on parliamentary practice and procedure.
The nine Regions of the CPA are: Africa; Asia; Australia; British Islands and Mediterranean (BIM); Canada; Caribbean, Americas and the Atlantic (CAA); India; Pacific; and South-East Asia.
More information on each of the CPA Regions and CPA Branches, and our work with them can be found below.
You can also find an A to Z Directory of all eligible CPA Branches here.
CPA ASIA REGION
Unlike the CPA Africa Region, the CPA Asia Region is one of the smallest, comprising of only four countries - Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and The Maldives.
CPA AUSTRALIA REGION
Much like the CPA Canada and CPA India Regions, the CPA Australian Region comprises of the national and subnational Parliaments and Legislatures across Australia, ranging from Western Australia in the west to New South Wales in the east.
CPA BRITISH ISLANDS AND MEDITERRANEAN REGION
The CPA British Islands and Mediterranean Region (BIMR) covers the largest geographic area and includes some of the most remote legislatures in the Commonwealth as well as the Parliament of the United Kingdom.
CPA CANADA REGION
The CPA Canadian Region includes the fourteen provincial, territorial and national legislatures of Canada - the largest country of the Commonwealth in area.
CPA CARIBBEAN, AMERICAS AND ATLANTIC REGION
Nineteen legislatures make up the CPA Caribbean, Americas and the Atlantic (CAA) Region. These include Bermuda in the Atlantic Ocean and the two non-Island states of Belize and Guyana in the Americas.
CPA INDIA REGION
With a population of over 1.3 billion people and making up nearly 18% of the global population, the CPA India Region is the largest parliamentary democracy in the world. The CPA India Region includes all 33 subnational legislatures and the India Union Parliament.
CPA PACIFIC REGION
Unique for being the only region which comprises of only Island jurisdictions, the CPA Pacific Region includes thirteen legislatures, including New Zealand, Fiji, Tonga, to name a few.
CPA SOUTH-EAST ASIA REGION
The CPA South-East Asia Region is dominated by the fourteen legislatures of Malaysia (national and subnational), with the Parliament of Singapore making up the fifteenth Branch of the Region.