MADISON, Wisconsin, August 30, 2026 — World Council of Credit Unions [ WOCCU ] recently 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 Chief Executive Officer of WOCCU.
“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 organisations 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 [AI], 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 organisations for which complete board composition could be verified, women held approximately 28 percent 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of authoritative country-level sources, broader national coverage where credible data were available and the removal of outdated or unverifiable datasets.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.
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