World Bank Group Information

With 189 member countries, staff from more than 170 countries, and offices in over 130 locations, the World Bank Group is a unique global partnership: five institutions (IBRD, IDA, IFC, MIGA, and ICSID) working for sustainable solutions that reduce poverty and build shared prosperity in developing countries.

Together, IBRD and IDA form the World Bank, which provides financing, policy advice, and technical assistance to governments of developing countries.  IDA focuses on the world’s poorest countries, while IBRD assists middle-income and creditworthy poorer countries.  

IFC, MIGA, and ICSID focus on strengthening the private sector in developing countries.  Through these institutions, the World Bank Group provides financing, technical assistance, political risk insurance, and settlement of disputes to private enterprises, including financial institutions.

How is the Bank Group organized? Unit explanations and charts

Boards of Governors

The 189 member countries, or shareholders, are represented by a Board of Governors, who are the ultimate policymakers at the World Bank. They meet once a year at the Annual Meetings.

The Bank Group President chairs meetings of the Boards of Directors and is responsible for overall management of the Bank Group. The President is selected by the Board of Executive Directors for a five-year, renewable term.

The Executive Directors make up the Boards of Directors of the World Bank Group. They normally meet at least twice a week to oversee the Bank's business; including approval of loans and guarantees, new policies, the administrative budget, country assistance strategies, and borrowing and financial decisions.

• IBRD

  IBRD raises most of its funds on the world’s financial markets by selling World Bank bonds to investors. IBRD is an AAA-rated financial institution with unusual characteristics: its shareholders are sovereign governments; its member borrowers have a voice in setting the Bank’s policies; and, unlike commercial banks, its goal is improved development impact rather than profit maximization.
• IDA

  IDA is funded largely by contributions from donor member governments, who meet every three years to replenish its funds. Additional funds come from IBRD net income, and repayments of IDA credits go into issuing new credits.
• IFC

  IFC raises virtually all funds for lending activities through the issuance of debt obligations in international capital markets. IFC issues bonds in a variety of markets and formats, including U.S. dollar benchmarks bonds; themed bonds that support a specific program such as green bonds; uridashi notes; private placements; and discount notes. In addition, IFC issues local-currency bonds to develop domestic capital markets and facilitate local-currency lending.

Financial statements are prepared on a quarterly basis for:

• IBRD
• IDA
• IFC

The information is also available as a downloadable spreadsheet of the Condensed Balance Sheets (entirety of Bank Group)

Overall finances can be seen on the Open Finances site.

A database of all IBRD bonds (1947-present) is updated periodically.

The Articles of Agreement and equivalent governing documents outline the conditions of membership and the general principles of organization, management, and operations.

Governors resolutions – Generally passed at Annual Meetings, these concern membership, elections, financial statements, net income allocation, transfer from surplus, and similar topics.

• IBRD Governors' resolutions
• IDA Governors' resolutions
• IFC Governors' resolutions
• MIGA Governors' resolutions