Who are the biggest funders of the World Bank?
The World Bank and the United States. As the World Bank Group's largest shareholder, the United States has a long history of supporting the Bank Group's mission and addressing development challenges of vital importance through its support of Bank Group programs.
THE WORLD BANK MANDATE
World Bank assistance is generally long-term and is funded by member country contributions and by issuing bonds.
Traditionally, the president of the bank has always been a U.S. citizen nominated by the United States, the largest shareholder in the bank (the managing director of the International Monetary Fund having always been a European).
Member countries govern the World Bank Group through the Boards of Governors and the Boards of Executive Directors. These bodies make all major decisions for the organizations.
India takes the top spot. Its $39.7bn debt towards the WB recorded at the end of 2021 is double that of the next biggest debtor, Indonesia, with $19.6bn. Pakistan and Bangladesh follow with $18.3bn and $17.8bn, respectively, according to WB figures.
- Bill Gates. Lifetime donations: $27 billion. ...
- Warren Buffett. Lifetime donations: $21.5 billion. ...
- George Soros. Lifetime donations: $8 billion. ...
- Azim Premji. Lifetime donations: $8 billion. ...
- Charles Francis Feeney. ...
- Sulaiman bin Abdul Aziz Al Rajhi. ...
- Gordon Moore. ...
- Carlos Slim Helú
To fund development projects in member countries, IBRD finances its loans from its own equity and from money borrowed in the capital markets through the issuance of World Bank bonds. IBRD is rated Aaa by Moody's and AAA by Standard & Poor's, and investors view its bonds as high-quality securities.
List Of Countries With Biggest Loans From World Bank. With a borrower's obligation of more than 2,000 crore dollars currently, India owes the most amount as loan repayment to the World Bank. Here's the list of 10 countries that are serving the biggest loans to be repaid to the World Bank (as per world bank data).
Although governments do hold power over countries' economies, it is the big banks and large corporations that control and essentially fund these governments. This means that the global economy is dominated by large financial institutions.
As of 2023, the bank's 6 largest [PDF] shareholders—out of its 189 members—are the United States, Japan, China, Germany, France, and the United Kingdom. Ultimate policymaking authority at the bank rests with the board of governors, mostly made up of senior finance or development officials from member countries.
How much does the US contribute to the World Bank?
The United States has the largest financial commitment to the IBRD, accounting for 16.69% of total IBRD resources. U.S. paid-in capital is $3.5 billion and U.S. callable capital is $47.8 billion.
The World Bank's president is chairman of the Board and elected by the Board of Directors.
United States At-A-Glance
As the only World Bank shareholder that retains veto power over changes in the Bank's structure, the United States plays a unique role in influencing and shaping development priorities.
The United States was a leading force in the establishment of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) in 1944 and remains the largest shareholder of the World Bank Group today.
The IMF is governed by and accountable to 190 countries that make up its near-global membership. The IMF was founded by 44 member countries that sought to build a framework for economic cooperation. The IMF was established in 1944 in the aftermath of the Great Depression of the 1930s.
1) Switzerland. It is no surprise to see Switzerland on this list. Switzerland is a country that, in practically all economic and social metrics, is an example to follow. With a population of almost 9 million people, Switzerland has no natural resources of its own, no access to the sea, and virtually no public debt.
| Country/territory | US foreign-owned debt (January 2023) |
|---|---|
| Japan | $1,104,400,000,000 |
| China | $859,400,000,000 |
| United Kingdom | $668,300,000,000 |
| Belgium | $331,100,000,000 |
The 25 biggest givers are together now worth an estimated $1.35 trillion–up an astonishing 44% more than a year ago, largely thanks to a dramatic rise in U.S. stocks. Warren Buffett tops our list as the biggest giver for the fourth year in a row, with $56.7 billion in lifetime giving.
These giving levels vary by particular faith. Mormons are the most generous Americans, both by participation level and by size of gifts.
According to the EdelGive Foundation and Hurun Report 2021, the founder of Tata Group, Jamsetji Tata, has been recognized as the most charitable person of the past century, having donated a staggering Rs 829,734 crore.
Does China get money from the World Bank?
Within the World Bank Group, China is one of the largest loan-taking countries. From 2016 to 2018, China was the second largest borrower with $6.19 billion in loans, a number less than India ($8.05 billion) and more than Egypt ($5.23 billion).
Lack of Transparency and Accountability: The World Bank has also been criticized for its lack of transparency and accountability. Critics argue that the Bank has not been transparent in its decision-making processes, and that it has not adequately engaged with civil society and other stakeholders in its operations.
The results of the survey demonstrated that the World Bank has substantially greater influence over the direction, design, and implementation of government policies than most of its bilateral and multilateral peers.
Top Foreign Holders of U.S. Debt
With $1.1 trillion in Treasury holdings, Japan is the largest foreign holder of U.S. debt.
At the top is Japan, whose national debt has remained above 100% of its GDP for two decades, reaching 255% in 2023.
