---
title: 7 Facts About Co-ops That Will Impress Your Friends
description: <p>A few tidbits you might not know about co-ops.</p>
---

[Common Share](https://blog.cooperativesfirst.com)

# [7 Facts About Co-ops That Will Impress Your Friends](https://blog.cooperativesfirst.com/blog/2017/07/21/20177217-facts-about-co-ops-that-will-impress-your-friends)

 Written by [Aasa Marshall](https://blog.cooperativesfirst.com/author/aasa-marshall) | Jul 21, 2017 6:40:30 PM

### **The co-op business model is at least 519 years old.**

The Shore Porters Society in Aberdeen, Scotland claims to have established the world’s first co-operative in 1498. Though it’s no longer a co-op, this removals and storage company still exists today.

### **The world’s biggest co-operative is Credit Agricole Group**

According to the International Co-operative Alliance’s list of the the world’s top 300 co-ops, Credit Agricole Group is the world's biggest co-op. This credit union in France generated $103 billion in revenue in 2008. The first Canadian co-operatives to join the top-300 list is Desjardins, which sits in the 36th spot, and Federated Co-operatives Ltd at 52nd in the world.

<https://youtu.be/ayps52UCr1k>

### **New Zealand is the world’s “most co-operative economy.” **

Co-operatives make up 20 per cent of the country’s economy, with the world’s highest co-op revenue to GDP ratio. It also boasts the highest percentage of co-op employees relative to the population. New Zealand is followed in the rankings by Netherlands, France, and Finland.

### **Forty per cent of Canadians belong to a co-op.**

In Quebec this number rises to 70%; and, in Saskatchewan, it’s 56%.

### **Co-ops have a better chance of surviving an economic crisis.**

Co-operatives have a different focus than other business models, and it can help them survive a downturn in a shrinking local market or economic slowdown. As community-driven, member-controlled organizations, co-operative business start ups are twice as likely to succeed and still be in business after 5 years. [They also tend to stay in business longer.](https://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/061.nsf/eng/h_03013.html#point3-1) When times or markets are tough, co-ops are often there.

### **Co-ops exist in every sector.**

If you’re thinking of starting a business and wonder, “Can \_\_\_\_ be a co-operative?” the answer is likely “Yes”. Most people know that grocery stores and gas stations can be co-operatives, but have you ever heard of a tourism co-operative? A music co-op? How about a co-op radio station? Daycares, breweries, community gardens, and renewable energy producers are among the endless examples of co-operatives.

### **There are over one billion co-op members in the world.**

That’s a lot.

[View full post](https://blog.cooperativesfirst.com/blog/2017/07/21/20177217-facts-about-co-ops-that-will-impress-your-friends)

```json
{
  "@context" : "http://schema.org",
  "@type" : "BlogPosting",
  "author" : {
    "@type" : "Person",
    "name" : "Aasa Marshall"
  },
  "dateModified" : "2019-01-18T19:26:21.256Z",
  "datePublished" : "2017-07-21T18:40:30Z",
  "headline" : "7 Facts About Co-ops That Will Impress Your Friends",
  "image" : {
    "@type" : "ImageObject",
    "height" : 60,
    "url" : "/hs/hsstatic/content_shared_assets/static-1.4092/img/default-amp-logo.png",
    "width" : 60
  },
  "mainEntityOfPage" : "https://blog.cooperativesfirst.com/blog/2017/07/21/20177217-facts-about-co-ops-that-will-impress-your-friends",
  "publisher" : {
    "@type" : "Organization",
    "logo" : {
      "@type" : "ImageObject",
      "height" : 60,
      "url" : "/hs/hsstatic/content_shared_assets/static-1.4092/img/default-amp-logo.png",
      "width" : 60
    },
    "name" : "The Common Share"
  }
}
```