Japan
According to the latest Commodity Markets Outlook, overall commodity prices are forecast to rise 16% in 2026, driven by soaring energy and fertilizer prices and record-high prices for several key metals.
BY THE NUMBERS: JAPAN
OVERVIEW: JAPAN
Japan joined the World Bank in August 1952, the year after the signing of the San Francisco Peace Treaty. Starting in 1953, a number of projects were implemented in Japan with World Bank loans for the development of the nation’s economic foundation, such as electric power generation, basic industries development, transportation, water, and infrastructure.
Japan hosted the Annual Meetings of the World Bank Group and International Monetary Fund for the first time in 1964, a symbolic year that clearly showed Japan’s post-war reconstruction and return to the international community. In 1966, Japan signed its final World Bank loan, and graduated from borrower status in the following year.
Japan strengthened its status as a creditor in the 1970s, and became the second-largest shareholder of the World Bank in 1984, gaining a greater voice as one of the most important partners.
In 2012, moving toward recovery and reconstruction from the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami, Japan again became the hosting nation for the Annual Meetings. Meeting topics included lessons learned from the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami, and global health, based on Japan’s experience of universal health insurance.
Since the opening of its Tokyo Office in 1970, the World Bank has fostered a wide range of partnerships including with the Japanese government to the private sector, academics and research institutes, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and civil society organizations.
Japan is now the second-largest supplier of capital to the World Bank and an important partner to the World Bank in many fields. Japan is also one of the largest donors to trust funds that help the World Bank and its partners support the achievement of development results at global, regional, and country levels. These trust funds include:
Shares and Voting Power
The World Bank Group has a weighted system of voting. All members of the World Bank receive votes consisting of share votes (one vote for each share of the World Bank's capital stock held by the member) plus basic votes (calculated so that the sum of all basic votes is equal to 5.55% of the sum of basic votes and share votes for all members). The voting power distribution differs from agency to agency within the World Bank Group.
Japan holds 8.90% of shares in the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, with 8.43% of the voting power. It holds 8.55% of the voting power in the International Development Association, the World Bank’s fund for the poorest countries. It has 5.87% of the shares and 5.58% of the voting power in the International Finance Corporation, the World Bank’s private sector arm. And it has 5.07% of the shares and 4.21% of the voting power in the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency.
For the latest voting status, please visit the Voting Powers page.
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(NHK WORLD-JAPAN NEWS, September 18, 2024) - World Bank economist on what's behind global growth slowdownAyhan Kose, Deputy Chief Economist of World Bank Group and Director of Prospects Group, Development Economics, World Bank (February 8, 2024, NHK World JAPAN)
Youtube - World Bank eyes Central Asia to expand renewable energy project
Ajay Banga, President, World Bank (Nikkei Asia, January 22, 2024)
- Climate action crucial to reducing poverty, World Bank official says
Axel van Trotsenburg, Senior Managing Director, World Bank (Nikkei Asia, October 13, 2023)
- World Bank chief makes final appeal to China on developing nation debtDavid Malpass, President, World Bank Group (Nikkei Asia, May 29, 2023)
- With support, Bangladesh can improve its food securityRiccardo Puliti, Regional Vice President for Asia and Pacific, International Finance Corporation (Nikkei Asia, May 23, 2023)
- 'Compounding crises' threaten debt-burdened poor nations: World Bank VPAkihiko Nishio, Vice President, Development Finance, World Bank (Nikkei Asia, September 12, 2022)
- Growing debt is 'biggest risk' for East Asia: World Bank VPManuela Ferro, Vice President, East Asia and Pacific, World Bank (Nikkei Asia, August 19, 2022)
- Rethinking silver: Lessons from Japan’s age-ready citiesJuergen Voegele, Vice President, Sustainable Development, World Bank (International Development Journal, July 2022）
- Building resilience is vital for a sustainable COVID-19 recoveryJuergen Voegele, Vice President, Sustainable Development, World Bank (International Development Journal, April 2022）
- Fight against poverty under COVID: World Bank Vice President Aki Nishio elaborates on WBG strategiesAkihiko Nishio, Vice President, Development Finance, World Bank (International Development Journal, March 2022)
- A historic IDA replenishment hosted by Japan signals the global community’s unwavering commitment to the poorest countriesDavid Malpass, President, World Bank Group (International Development Journal, February 2022)
- Excessive debt is burden on global economy, World Bank headDavid Malpass, President, World Bank Group (Nikkei Asia, December 27, 2021)
News, blog posts, and events related to Japan.
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World Bank Tokyo Office
14F, Fukoku Seimei Bld.
2-2-2 Uchisaiwai-cho, Chiyoda-ku,
Tokyo 100-0011
Tel: (03) 3597-6650
ptokyo@worldbank.org
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