The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is an international financial institution headquartered in Washington, D.C. Established in 1944 at the Bretton Woods Conference, its primary mission is to ensure the stability of the international monetary system. The IMF accomplishes this through three main functions: economic surveillance (monitoring the financial and economic policies of its member countries), lending (providing loans to member countries experiencing balance of payment problems), and capacity development (offering technical assistance and training to help countries improve their economic management). It is governed by and accountable to its 190 member countries.

Founded in

United States