Key facts
- China's funding for multilateral development institutions has increased tenfold since 2010.
- China's funding for development banks reached $3 billion in 2024.
- China's funding for UN development-related bodies surged by 47% in 2024.
- China's share of the World Bank is around 6%, while the US holds about 16%.
- China is the fifth-largest donor to the World Bank's fund for the poorest countries.
- China's borrowing from development banks has fallen to $4.7 billion in 2024 from $8 billion in 2021.
China has significantly increased its financial contributions to multilateral development institutions, but its influence and voting power within these bodies have not kept pace with its economic growth, according to a study by the Center for Global Development released on Thursday.
Beijing's funding for development banks reached $3 billion in 2024, a tenfold increase since 2010. Funding for UN development-related bodies also surged by 47% in the same year. China also increased its contributions to multilateral climate finance to $5.25 billion in 2025, though it reduced support for vaccine procurement by 32%.
Despite these increases, co-author Ian Mitchell noted that China's contributions represent a small fraction of its economy and that its funding decisions have been selective, with limited voluntary support for UN entities. China has long sought greater representation at the World Bank and IMF to reflect its economic size, but Western officials have resisted changes to shareholder structures, citing a lack of consensus and transparency concerns.
The study found China is now the fifth-largest donor to the World Bank's fund for the poorest countries, following a $1.5 billion pledge. Its borrowing from development banks has also decreased significantly, from $8 billion in 2021 to $4.7 billion in 2024, and the World Bank plans to end lending to China after 2031.