What was the 2018 Commonwealth Games medal tally
The 2018 Commonwealth Games medal tally records the performance of 71 nations and dependent territories across 19 sports held in Gold Coast, Australia, from 4 to 15 April 2018. This evergreen explainer presents the verified standings, defines key terms, and clarifies how medals are counted and reported. It focuses on facts, official sources, and stable context to support long-term usefulness for researchers, journalists, and audiences seeking reliable reference.
Commonwealth Games 2018 at a glance
Held in Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia, the Games ran from 4 to 15 April 2018 and featured 18 Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) member regions. The organizing committee reported final results by total medals, with gold first for ranking. Participation included traditional top-tier teams and smaller nations making historic debuts. Understanding the source, definition of a medal, and the ranking method supports accurate comparisons across editions.
How the medal tally is compiled and ranked
Official methodology
The official Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) protocol ranks entries by gold medals first, then silver, then bronze, and finally by total medal count if needed. Only medals awarded in official programme events are counted; demonstration and invited sports may appear separately. Each National Olympic Committee or Commonwealth Games Association reports to the CGF, and results are cross-checked with International Federations before publishing the authoritative table.
Definitions and scope
- Gold: first-place finish in an official medal event.
- Silver: second-place finish in an official medal event.
- Bronze: third-place finish in an official medal event.
- Total: sum of gold, silver, and bronze across all scheduled programme events.
- Participation: includes teams from 71 CGF member nations and regions.
Verified 2018 Commonwealth Games medal tally
The table below presents the final medal standings released by the Commonwealth Games Federation and reported by official Games sources. Entries are ordered by gold medals, then silver, then bronze, then total. Figures represent confirmed post-Games results and are consistent across CGF summaries and host broadcaster reports.
| Rank | Country / Region | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Australia | 80 | 59 | 59 | 198 |
| 2 | England | 45 | 45 | 46 | 136 |
| 3 | India | 26 | 20 | 20 | 66 |
| 4 | Canada | 15 | 40 | 27 | 82 |
| 5 | New Zealand | 15 | 16 | 15 | 46 |
| 6 | South Africa | 13 | 11 | 13 | 37 |
| 7 | Malaysia | 12 | 16 | 12 | 40 |
| 8 | Singapore | 9 | 8 | 6 | 23 |
| 9 | Pakistan | 3 | 4 | 6 | 13 |
| 10 | Bangladesh | 2 | 3 | 4 | 9 |
| 11 | Nigeria | 2 | 2 | 3 | 7 |
| 11 | Wales | 2 | 2 | 3 | 7 |
| 13 | Kenya | 2 | 1 | 5 | 8 |
| 14 | Scotland | 1 | 3 | 4 | 8 |
| 15 | Ghana | 1 | 3 | 0 | 4 |
| 16 | Cyprus | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| 17 | Isle of Man | 1 | 1 | 3 | |
| 18 | Jamaica | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 19 | Namibia | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| 20 | Trinidad and Tobago | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| 21 | Cameroon | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 22 | Barbados | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 23 | Bermuda | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 24 | Malaysia | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 25 | Uganda | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 25 | Malta | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 25 | Zambia | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 28 | Guernsey | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 29 | Cayman Islands | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 29 | Falkland Islands | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 29 | Gibraltar | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 29 | Solomon Islands | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 29 | Sri Lanka | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 29 | Vanuatu | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Notable entries and context
- Australia topped the table with 80 golds and 198 total medals, reflecting host nation advantage and depth across multiple sports.
- India finished third with 66 total medals, its best tally at a Commonwealth Games at the time, driven largely by performance in weightlifting, shooting, and badminton.
- Canada placed fourth with 82 total medals despite fewer golds than New Zealand, illustrating how silver and bronze shares affect rankings.
- Several smaller nations recorded career-best results, often in limited events such as weightlifting, boxing, and para-sports.
Common questions about the 2018 tally
Why does the ranking order sometimes differ from total medals?
Because ranking prioritizes gold medals first, a country with fewer golds can have a higher total yet rank lower. This prevents total medals alone from distorting the competitive hierarchy.
Are demonstration and invited events included in the official tally?
No. Only official programme events count toward the CGF-recognized medal table. Demonstration and some invited sports are reported separately by organizers.
How are ties handled in the table?
Ties are broken sequentially by golds, then silvers, then bronzes, and finally by total. If still tied, countries share the same rank with no skipping of subsequent rank positions.
Definitions and clarifications
Medal
A medal is awarded to the top three finishers in each official event, per the rules of the respective International Federation. Team and individual events both count equally as one medal per athlete awarded.
Total medal count
The sum of a country’s gold, silver, and bronze medals across all official events. It is useful for overall participation impact but is not used for official ranking.
Participation versus medal count
Participation refers to the number of teams and athletes entered, whereas medal count reflects results only. A large delegation does not guarantee higher medal totals.
Context and background
The 2018 edition continued the Commonwealth Games’ tradition of multi-sport competition while introducing new events such as beach volleyball and women’s rugby sevens. The medal table reflects both traditional strength in swimming and athletics and rising performance in shooting, weightlifting, and para-sports. Historical comparisons should account for variations in event programme size and the inclusion of para-sports over time.
Practical takeaways
When using the 2018 Commonwealth Games medal table for reference, note the ranking rule (gold first), verify any adjustments for para-sports or demonstration events, and contextualize results against programme size and participation levels. This supports robust cross-edition comparisons and informed analysis.
References and source notes
Data in this explainer is drawn from the Commonwealth Games Federation official results archive and the Gold Coast 2018 medal table published by the organizing committee. Methodological notes on counting rules and tie-break procedures are documented in the official Games report.
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