Cooperative Statistics & Data
The scale of the cooperative economy in numbers. 3 million cooperatives serve 1 billion+ members, support 280 million jobs, and hold $20 trillion in assets — every figure here links to the cited article it comes from.
The global cooperative economy
Worldwide figures from the International Cooperative Alliance, the World Council of Credit Unions, and the ILO.
3 million
Cooperatives operating worldwide
Source: ICA
1 billion+
Cooperative members — roughly 1 in 8 people on earth
Source: ICA
280 million
Jobs supported by cooperatives — about 10% of the global workforce
Source: ICA / ILO
$20 trillion
Assets held by cooperative enterprises
Source: ICA
$2.5 trillion
Combined revenue of the top 300 cooperatives
Source: ICA World Cooperative Monitor
92,000+
Credit unions worldwide, across 118 countries (400M+ members)
Source: WOCCU, 2022
United States
The largest cooperative market by membership and diversity — credit unions, agricultural, electric, and housing co-ops lead.
65,000+
Cooperatives in the United States, with 350M+ memberships
Source: US cooperative associations
$2.2 trillion
US credit-union assets — 130M+ members across 4,600+ credit unions
Source: NCUA, 2023
1,620
US agricultural cooperatives, with $200B+ in combined revenue
Source: USDA
900+
US electric cooperatives serving 42M people across 56% of US land
Source: NRECA
1.5 million
US families living in housing cooperatives — 425,000+ co-op units in New York City alone
Source: NCBA CLUSA
Around the world
Cooperatives are a major economic force well beyond the US — from European banking to Japanese agriculture, Indian dairy, and the Basque worker-cooperative model.
5–10%
Cooperatives' share of total economic output in several EU member states — Europe has the most developed co-op economy relative to GDP
Source: ICA
Largest
France hosts Crédit Agricole, the world's largest cooperative bank by assets; Crédit Mutuel adds €900B+ more
Source: World Cooperative Monitor
10 million
Members of Japan's JA agricultural cooperative group, holding over ¥100 trillion in assets
Source: JA Group
60M+ litres
Milk procured daily by India's dairy cooperatives from smallholder villages (the Amul / Anand model)
Source: National Dairy Development Board
500,000+
Homes managed by Sweden's HSB federation — cooperative tenure is the most common form of urban homeownership
Source: HSB
81,000
Worker-owners at Spain's Mondragon, the world's largest worker cooperative (revenue €12B+)
Source: Mondragon
Cooperative statistics: quick answers
The questions people ask most about the size of the cooperative economy — answered from the figures above, each linking to its source.
How many cooperatives are there in the world?
About 3 million cooperatives operate worldwide, serving members in virtually every country and economic sector. The cooperative economy in numbers →
How many people are cooperative members?
More than 1 billion people are cooperative members globally — roughly one in eight people on earth belongs to at least one cooperative. What are cooperatives? →
How many jobs do cooperatives provide?
Cooperatives support around 280 million jobs, representing approximately 10% of the world's employed population. Cooperative jobs and employment →
How large is the cooperative economy?
Cooperative enterprises hold roughly $20 trillion in assets, and the top 300 cooperatives alone generate about $2.5 trillion in combined annual revenue. Size and scope of the cooperative economy →
How many credit unions are there worldwide?
Around 92,000 credit unions operate across 118 countries, which makes cooperative banking the largest cooperative sector by assets. Banking and credit cooperatives →
How many cooperatives are in the United States?
More than 65,000 cooperatives operate in the United States with over 350 million memberships, led by credit unions, agricultural, electric, and housing cooperatives. Cooperatives in the United States →
Which countries have the strongest cooperative sectors?
Cooperatives account for 5–10% of GDP in several European countries, and France, Germany, Japan, and India host some of the world's largest cooperative banks and agricultural cooperatives. Browse cooperatives by country →
About these figures
Each statistic is drawn from one of our cited articles (linked on every card and answer) and attributed to its original source — the ICA, WOCCU, NCUA, USDA, NRECA, or national cooperative bodies. Figures reflect the most recent published year available and are updated as sources publish new data. Explore the full picture in the cooperative economy report, browse all eight sectors, find cooperatives by country, or search the full directory. See how we source and verify these numbers in our editorial standards.