Switzerland in the International Monetary Fund (IMF)
The main task of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is to ensure the stability of the international financial and monetary system. Switzerland has an important voice in the IMF and is a reliable partner in initiatives to maintain global financial stability. As a constituency leader, it is permanently represented in the IMF Ministerial Committee and Executive Board, where it plays an active role. The IMF's almost universal membership with 191 countries gives it a high degree of legitimacy as a multilateral player.
Switzerland has been a member of the IMF since 1992. The Head of the FDF represents Switzerland in the International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC). The IMFC convenes every six months, and these meetings are followed by meetings of the G20 finance ministers and central bank governors. As head of a voting group consisting of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Liechtenstein, Poland, Serbia, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, Switzerland has a permanent seat on the Executive Board. The Executive Board oversees the day-to-day business of the IMF and approves guidelines for the institution's activities. Switzerland and Poland have alternated their seat on the Executive Board since 2014. The constituency has a voting share of 2.93%, whereby Switzerland has a share of 1.17%.
Overview of Switzerland's relations with the IMF
IMFC Statements of the head of department (website FDF)
As an open and dynamic economy with a significant financial sector and its own currency, Switzerland has a major interest in helping to shape global financial and monetary cooperation. It is important to Switzerland that the IMF exercises its mandate to ensure the stability of the international financial system in a credible and effective manner and, as a major multilateral player, treats its members equally. Consequently, based on the principles of Switzerland's policy in the IMF, approved by the Federal Council, the country is committed to ensuring that the IMF conducts its activities in a rule-oriented and transparent manner and remains financially sound. At the same time, Switzerland promotes sustainability in the monetary, budgetary, debt and financial sector policies of the IMF's member countries.
Principles of Switzerland's policy in the IMF
The IMF's activities cover the following dimensions. It performs these tasks in ongoing dialogue with its members:
The Federal Department of Finance (FDF) and the Swiss National Bank (SNB) jointly attend to Switzerland's membership of the IMF. Moreover, there is close cooperation with the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) regarding development policy issues. The FDF regularly reports to Parliament on Switzerland's financial commitment to the IMF, as well as on the monetary assistance provided by Switzerland. For the IMF itself, the Independent Evaluation Office (IEO) is tasked with critically reviewing the IMF's activities.
Independent Evaluation Office of the IMF (IEO)
The IMF explains its activities and current focus areas in detail on its website.
Reference documents
Dossier FDF
Further information
Principles of Switzerland in the IMF
The principles of Swiss policy in the International Monetary Fund (IMF) are intended to ensure that Switzerland pursues a clear position over time in the IMF. They serve as a basis for formulating Switzerland's stance on the IMF's Executive Board's day-to-day business and for determining the general work priorities.
Switzerland's international monetary cooperation
One of the core tasks of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is to maintain and strengthen global financial stability. In order to achieve this, it works closely with the central banks and finance ministries of the member states. This cooperation also concerns the provision of resources to prevent or limit financial and currency crises.
IMF reports and statistics on Switzerland
The monitoring and analysis of its member states' economic and financial market policy is one of the IMF's main tasks. These so-called surveillance activities help in the early detection of macroeconomic imbalances (such as balance of payment problems and unsustainable debt developments) and risks to financial sector stability. They form the basis for advising members on implementing appropriate economic policy measures.
Media
13.10.2025
Switzerland at 2025 IMF and World Bank Annual Meetings and G20 Finance Ministers Meeting in Washington
Federal Councillor Guy Parmelin, State Secretary Daniela Stoffel and Martin Schlegel, Chairman of the Governing Board of the Swiss National Bank, will attend the Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank in Washington from 15 to 17 October 2025. The quarterly high-level G20 meeting on financial and monetary issues will also take place before the Annual Meetings. The Swiss delegation will additionally use the event for bilateral talks.
01.07.2025
IMF country review: Resilient and innovative Swiss economy in an uncertain global environment
In its concluding statement for the annual country review, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) commends the resilience of the Swiss economy. The IMF identifies challenges for the authorities mainly in the areas of government expenditure and the strengthening of financial stability.
16.04.2025
Switzerland at 2025 IMF and World Bank Group Spring Meetings and G20 Finance Ministers Meeting in Washington
President Karin Keller-Sutter and Federal Councillor Guy Parmelin will attend the Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Group in Washington from 23 to 25 April 2025. A meeting of G20 finance ministers and central bank governors will also take place during the Spring Meetings. The Swiss delegation, which also includes representatives of the Swiss National Bank, will additionally use the event for bilateral talks.
23.10.2024
Switzerland at 2024 IMF and World Bank Annual Meetings and G20 Finance Ministers Meeting in Washington
Federal Councillors Karin Keller-Sutter and Guy Parmelin, accompanied by Martin Schlegel, Chairman of the Governing Board of the Swiss National Bank, will attend the Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank in Washington from 23 to 25 October 2024. A meeting of G20 finance ministers and central bank governors will also take place during the Annual Meetings. The Swiss delegation will additionally use the event for bilateral talks.
11.04.2024
Switzerland at 2024 IMF and World Bank Spring Meetings and G20 Finance Ministers Meeting in Washington
Federal Councillors Karin Keller-Sutter and Guy Parmelin, together with Swiss National Bank Chairman Thomas Jordan, will attend the Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank in Washington from 17 to 19 April 2024. A meeting of G20 finance ministers and central bank governors, as well as a ministerial meeting of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), will also take place as part of this gathering. In addition, the two Federal Councillors will take this opportunity to hold bilateral meetings.