World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU) released its latest Statistical Report, providing its clearest picture yet of the global credit union and financial cooperative movement.
At year-end 2025, approximately 61,838 credit unions and financial cooperatives across 93 countries served nearly 420 million members and managed US$3.98 trillion in assets. The global system also reported US$3.34 trillion in savings and shares and US$2.83 trillion in loans.
“These numbers demonstrate the extraordinary scale of cooperative finance, but they tell only part of the story,” said Paul Treinen, President and CEO of World Council of Credit Unions. “What stands out in this year’s report is the diversity of the movement and the different ways credit unions create value in their communities. Our continued relevance will depend on how well we adapt while preserving the trust, member focus and cooperative identity that distinguish our model.”
The report shows significant differences in the size and structure of credit union systems around the world. North America accounts for roughly three-quarters of reported global assets, while Asia, Latin America and Africa represent a substantial share of global membership and demonstrate the cooperative model’s reach across diverse economic and institutional environments.
This year’s report also includes new insights from WOCCU member organizations on the forces shaping the movement’s future. Regulation and digital competition were identified as the trends expected to have the greatest impact over the next five years, while digital transformation emerged as the leading strategic priority. The report also examines the growing use of artificial intelligence, barriers to adoption and evolving governance priorities.
For the first time, WOCCU also examined the gender composition of leadership across a sample of national and regional member organizations. Among 39 organizations for which complete board composition could be verified, women held approximately 28% of 406 board seats.
The 2025 report also reflects a strengthened methodology, including greater use of authoritative country-level sources, broader national coverage where credible data were available and the removal of outdated or unverifiable datasets.
Taken together, the findings depict a movement defined by scale, diversity and transition and highlight the importance of adapting to change, strengthening leadership and learning across borders.
The 2025 Statistical Report is available here: https://www.woccu.org/documents/2025_Statistical_Report_EN
WOCCU President and CEO Paul Treinen will discuss the findings during the State of the Movement Address webinar on August 31, 2026.
(World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU) is the global trade association for the credit union movement, advancing cooperative finance worldwide. Through advocacy, education and more than 300 technical assistance programs in 90 countries, WOCCU advances financial inclusion and strengthens cooperative finance across diverse markets. Globally, more than 61,000 credit unions across over 95 countries serve more than 419.9 million people and hold over $3.98 Trillion (USD) in assets. Learn more at www.woccu.org.)
