Highlights of this section:

• Functional Departments
• Area Departments
• Information, Liaison, and Support Departments
• IMF Offices Around the World

The IMF currently employs about 2,400 staff, half of whom are economists. Most of them work at the IMF's Washington, D.C., headquarters but a few serve in member countries around the world in small IMF overseas offices or as resident representatives.

With its nearly universal membership, the IMF strives to employ a staff that is as diverse and broadly based geographically as possible.

The IMF has eight functional departments that carry out its policy, analytical, and technical work and manage its financial resources.

Finance Department: Mobilizes, manages, and safeguards the IMF's financial resources.

Fiscal Affairs Department: Provides policy and technical advice on public finance issues to member countries.

Monetary and Capital Markets Department: Monitors financial sectors and capital markets, and monetary and foreign exchange systems, arrangements, and operations. Prepares the Global Financial Stability Report.

Legal Department. Advises management, the Executive Board, and the staff on the applicable rules of law. Prepares decisions and other legal instruments and provides technical assistance to member countries.

Strategy, Policy, and Review Department: Designs, implements, and evaluates IMF policies on surveillance and the use of its financial resources.

Research Department: Monitors the global economy and the economies and policies of member countries and undertakes research on issues relevant to the IMF. Prepares the World Economic Outlook. 

Statistics Department: Develops internationally accepted methodologies and standards. Provides technical assistance and training to promote best practices in the dissemination of economic and financial statistics.

IMF Institute: Provides training in macroeconomic analysis and policy for officials of member countries and IMF staff.

The IMF's five area, or regional, departments are responsible for advising member countries on macroeconomic polices and the financial sector, and for putting together, when needed, financial arrangements to support economic reform programs.

African Department: Covers 44 countries. Read the profile of the Director, Antoinette Sayeh

Asia and Pacific Department: Covers 33 countries.

European Department: Covers 46 countries (44 of which are IMF members).

Middle East and Central Asia Department: Covers 31 countries.

Western Hemisphere Department: Covers 34 countries. Read the profile of the Director, Nicolás Eyzaguirre

The IMF also has four support departments:

External Relations Department: Works to promote public understanding of and support for the IMF and its policies.

Technology and General Services Department: Provides services to manage information; facilitates communication, including across languages; and helps build an effective work environment.

Secretary's Department: Organizes and reports on the activities of the IMF's governing bodies and provides secretariat services to them. Assists management in preparing the work program of the Executive Board and other official bodies. It is the creator and custodian of IMF records.

Human Resources Department: Provides staff with a full range of information and personnel services. Manages the system of compensation and benefits, oversees staff training, offers career and education counseling, and provides legal services.

IMF offices around the world

The IMF has small offices in countries around the world. These comprise resident representative posts; overseas offices (Guatemala City, New York, Paris, Tokyo, Warsaw); and regional technical assistance centers and training institutes.

Organizational Chart