How to cite a government document
Quick answer
Use the agency as author, cite the specific document title and number, and note the government body's country.
Why this one is tricky
Authorship often belongs to an agency, and documents may go through multiple revisions.
Example (APA 7)
World Bank. (2023). World development report 2023: Migrants, refugees, and societies. World Bank Group. https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/EXAMPLE
Most common mistake
Attributing to an individual author listed on the title page when the document is institutional.
Citing a government document more than once?
Use the free Citation Generator for a single reference, or upload your whole .docx to DEEPNOTIS to handle every tricky citation at once.
Last updated: 5 May 2026