The Colombo Plan Secretariat

Member Countries

Member Countries

At its inception, The Colombo Plan was a hallmark Commonwealth initiative with all seven founding members being realms of the British Empire. India, Pakistan, and Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) went on to become Republics in 1950, 1956 and 1972 respectively. The United States of America was the first non-Commonwealth country to join in 1951.

Today, the Colombo Plan boasts a membership of 28 countries, with Chile being the last new member to join in 2021.

The following is a list of all member countries, in alphabetical order (or by region) and their respective year of accession to the Colombo Plan or its predecessor, the Colombo Plan Bureau for Technical Co-operation.

Afghanistan

Since 1963

Australia

Since 1950

Bangladesh

Since 1972

Bhutan

Since 1962

Brunei Darussalam

Since 2008

Chile

Since 2021

Fiji

Since 1972

India

Since 1950

Indonesia

Since 1953

Iran

Since 1966

Japan

Since 1954

Republic of Korea

Since 1962

Lao PDR

Since 1951

Malaysia

Since 1957

The Maldives

Since 1963

Mongolia

Since 2004

Myanmar

Since 1952

Nepal

Since 1952

New Zealand

Since 1950

Pakistan

Since 1950

Papua New Guinea

Since 1973

The Philippines

Since 1954

Saudi Arabia

Since 2012

Singapore

Since 1966

Sri Lanka

Since 1950

Thailand

Since 1954

The United States

Since 1951

Vietnam

Since 2004

Member Country Year of Accession
Afghanistan
1963
Australia
1950
Bangladesh
1972
Bhutan
1962
Brunei Darussalam
2008
Chile
2021
Fiji
1972
India
1950
Indonesia
1953
Iran
1966
Japan
1954
Republic of Korea
1962
Lao PDR
1951
Malaysia
1957
The Maldives
1963
Mongolia
2004
Myanmar
1952
Nepal
1952
New Zealand
1950
Pakistan
1950
Papua New Guinea
1973
The Philippines
1954
Saudi Arabia
2012
Singapore
1966
Sri Lanka
1950
Thailand
1954
The United States
1951
Vietnam
2004

Former Member Countries

The Colombo Plan boasts a rich and diverse membership history, with four former members, including two of its founding members, namely, Canada and the United Kingdom. South Vietnam and Cambodia followed suit in 1951.

South Vietnam was succeeded by the Socialist Republic of Vietnam on 2 July 1976, and withdrew from membership in 1978. Vietnam’s membership journey with the Colombo Plan took a pivotal turn when it became a provisional member from 5 November 2001 to 18 November 2003, before being accepted as a full member in 2004.

Member Country
Year Of Accession
Year Of Deposition

Canada

1950

1992

United Kingdom

1950

1950

Cambodia

1951

1975

South Vietnam

1951

1975

Greece

1957

1979

Tanzania

1962

1964

Italy

1962

1964