Asian Development Bank (ADB)
The Asian Development Bank is a development bank based in Manila that lends to and invests in Asia and the Pacific; it committed $29.3 billion from its own resources in 2025 (ADB). It is owned by 69 members, 50 from the region and 19 from outside, including the UK as a founding member. Its President, Masato Kanda, chairs the Board of Directors.
Who leads it
- President and Chair of the Board of Directors: Masato Kanda (since 24 February 2025) (adb.org)
The UK and the ADB
The UK is a founding member holding 216,786 shares (2.038% of total) and 1.92% of total membership votes, with a capital subscription of $2.97 billion valued at 31 December 2025 (ADB United Kingdom page).
Key figures
| Figure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Own-resource commitments (2025) | $29.3 billion (up 20%) | ADB, read 20 October 2026 |
| Cofinancing from partners (2025) | $14.7 billion | ADB, read 20 October 2026 |
| Private sector commitments (2025) | $5.5 billion | ADB, read 20 October 2026 |
| Members (as stated when read) | 69 (50 regional, 19 non-regional) | ADB, read 16 October 2026 |
| UK shares held (valued at 31 December 2025) | 216,786 (2.038% of total shares) | ADB, read 20 October 2026 |
| UK votes (as stated when read) | 255,333 (1.92% of total membership) | ADB, read 20 October 2026 |
| UK capital subscription (31 December 2025) | $2.97 billion (paid-in $148.6 million) | ADB, read 20 October 2026 |
| UK international staff at ADB (31 December 2025) | 106 (6.52% of international staff) | ADB, read 20 October 2026 |
| Contracts awarded to UK firms and consultants (since 1966) | 4,724 goods/works contracts ($2.45 billion) and 5,331 consulting contracts ($1.44 billion) | ADB, read 20 October 2026 |
What it decides
- Provides loans, grants, equity investments, guarantees and technical assistance to governments and private companies in Asia and the Pacific.
- Board of Governors elects the President; the President chairs the Board of Directors (ADB).
- In 2009 the Board of Governors agreed to triple ADB's capital base from $55 billion to $165 billion (ADB history).
- Runs the Asian Development Fund, set up in 1974, for grants to its poorest members.
Records you can check
- ADB and the United KingdomUK shareholding, votes, contributions and contracts won by UK firms
- ADB projects and tendersEvery ADB project and its documents
- ADB Annual ReportYearly operations and audited financial statements
Common questions
How much of the ADB does the UK own?
216,786 shares, or 2.038% of the total, giving 1.92% of membership votes (ADB United Kingdom page).
How much has the UK put into the ADB?
A $2.97 billion capital subscription (of which $148.6 million paid in), valued at 31 December 2025, according to the ADB.
How much did the ADB lend in 2025?
$29.3 billion from its own resources, plus $14.7 billion from partners (ADB Annual Report 2025 release, 23 April 2026).
Who runs the ADB?
President Masato Kanda, who took office on 24 February 2025 and chairs the Board of Directors (ADB).
Other bodies at level 9
- African Development Bank
- Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank
- Bank for International Settlements
- Basel Committee on Banking Supervision
- European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
- European Investment Bank
- Financial Stability Board
- International Monetary Fund
- Paris Club
- World Bank Group
Sources
- ADB: About, read 16 October 2026
- United Kingdom's Work with ADB, read 20 October 2026
- ADB: Masato Kanda, read 20 October 2026
- ADB Scaled Up Operations to $29.3 Billion in 2025, read 20 October 2026