What is a Small State? The criteria to determine whether a state is a small state can be several, including such considerations as GNP and arable land. For the purposes of the Association a state is considered to be a Small State if it has a population of 1.5 million or less.

Over 24.5 million people live in the over 80 countries which are considered by the Association as having a small population. The variety of cultures, languages, technologies and educational systems, as well as divergence in geographical location, all present challenges. The Association believes that these challenges may be overcome through the cooperation of individuals and institutions operating in the different countries. The Association’s Mission Statement outlines how the Association believes that these challenges may be overcome.