The World Bank is the largest development-bank institution by the number of countries that participate in its membership.
The World Bank is principally made up of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the International Development Association. Together, these institutions lend to governments, provide grants or highly concessional finance, and support projects involving infrastructure, health, education, institutions, and poverty reduction.
The World Bank is not the same thing as the International Monetary Fund. The World Bank focuses mainly on long-term development and poverty-related financing, while the IMF concentrates on international monetary cooperation and balance-of-payments support. The term “World Bank” also differs from “World Bank Group,” which includes three additional institutions.