IMF Quotas

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Quotas are the building blocks of the IMF’s financial and governance structure.
An individual member country’s quota broadly reflects its relative position in the world economy.
Quotas are denominated in Special Drawing Rights (SDRs), the IMF’s unit of account.

Quotas underpin members’ balance of payments financing capacity and the IMF’s ability to help meet members’ financing needs.
Quotas determine members’ voting power and access to IMF resources.

The IMF's Board of Governors conducts general quota reviews at least every five years.
A general review addresses:
- the size of an overall quota increase; and
- the distribution of the increase among members.
A member may request an ad hoc quota adjustment at any time outside of a general review.
Any changes in quotas require approval by 85% of the total voting power.
A member’s own quota cannot be changed without its consent.

A quota formula is used to help assess members’ relative position in the world economy and can guide distribution of quota increases.
The current formula was agreed to in 2008.

The 14 th General Review of Quotas was completed in 2010 and became effective in 2016; it was part of a package of reforms to IMF quotas and governance and aimed to better reflect the increasing role of dynamic emerging market and developing countries.
The 15 th General Review of Quotas concluded in 2020 with no increase in quotas and provided guidance for the 16 th Review.
The Board of Governors concluded the 16 th quota review in December 2023, approving an increase in quotas by 50 percent.
The next step is for member countries to consent to their respective quota increases.