World Giving Index

The World Giving Index is a leading study conducted by Charities Aid Foundation which is an international non-profit organization promoting effective giving and philanthropy. The study provides a picture of charitable behaviour around the world. The CAF World Giving Index measures the average percentage of people in each country who donate money, volunteer or help a stranger.

The study is based upon data from the Gallup World Poll, which is an ongoing research project. By measuring three different kinds of giving, it provides a simple and universally understood picture of charitable behaviour across the world. The CAF World Giving Index is scored by averaging the percentage of people in each country who donated money, volunteered or helped a stranger in the previous month.

World Giving Index 2016

• In the year 2016, 140 countries were surveyed, representing around 96% of the world’s population.
• Myanmar topped the World Giving Index again in terms of overall score by surpassing the USA – as it did last year – to the top spot. Its ranking is largely driven by high levels of participation by donating money (91%) and volunteering (55%), although it has seen an increase in the proportion of people helping a stranger this year (63%).
• Myanmar was followed by United States, Australia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Canada, Indonesia, United Kingdom, Ireland, and the United Arab Emirates.
• According to the study, the UK is the most generous country in Europe, followed by Ireland and the Netherlands.
• The Study also found out that in many countries, men are significantly more likely than women to engage in volunteering or helping a stranger.
• Iraq ranks highest for helping a stranger for the second year running.
• In terms of the sheer number of people, India tops the list in all three parameters of the World Giving Index 2016. According to the report, in 2015, 401 million Indians had helped a stranger (up from 334 million during 2014), 203 million had given money (up from 183 million during 2014) and 200 million had volunteered in the last month (up from 156 million). Although on the master list, India ranked at number 91 among 140 nations.
• The report found out that as much as 203 million Indians have made donations in 2015.