30-year-old Toure who has been nominated for the award in the past four years beat John Mikel Obi, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Victor Moses and Jonathan Pitroipa to this year's crown.
"I think I've been nominated for five years in a row and finally winning the award is amazing," he told BBC Sport.
"I also think African football is improving and that means a lot to us. And as an African, I'm very happy."
The Ivorian, who is also a two-time winner of the Confederation of African Football’s Player of the Year award, is the only African footballer on FIFA's 23-man shortlist for this year’s World Player of the Year Award.
