About World Bank

• Establishment:1944 as the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) alongside the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
• Headquarters: Washington D.C.
• World Bank Chief: Ajaypal Singh Banga
• Purpose: It is a unique global partnership of five institutions focused on sustainable solutions that alleviate poverty and foster shared prosperity in developing countries.
• UN Agency: The World Bank operates as one of the specialized agencies of the United Nations.
• Membership: Comprises 189 member countries, including India.
• Major Reports
  • Ease of Doing Business (no longer published).
  • Human Capital Index
  • World Development Report
• Five Development Institutions
  • International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD)
  • International Development Association (IDA)
  • International Finance Corporation (IFC)
  • Multilateral Guarantee Agency (MIGA)
  • International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) (India is not a member)
• Shareholding Structure
  • Largest Shareholder: The United States holds the largest share with 16.41% of the votes.
  • Other Major Shareholders:
    • Japan: 7.87%
    • Germany: 4.49%
    • United Kingdom: 4.31%
    • France: 4.31%
  • Remaining Shares: Distributed among other member countries.

The World Bank: Logo