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LONDONJune 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — New research from the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) reveals how people around the world contribute to charitable causes and what influences their generosity. As the world’s leading study on generosity and civil society, CAF’s World Giving Report uses insights from over 60,000 people to explore giving across 105 countries.
Globally, 61% of people donated money directly to those in need, to charities, or for religious reasons last year. This is a slight decrease from 64% in 2024. On average, people donated 1% of their income, but levels vary. Africans contributed an average of 1.6% of their income, while Europeans contributed 0.6%.
Nigeria is the most generous country in the world, with people donating an average of 2.8% of their income to charities, for religious reasons, or to those in need. The ten most generous countries are in Africa and Asia.
As a proportion of income, the most generous age group is people aged 25 to 44, who donate on average twice as much of their income as those over 55 (1.2% vs. 0.6%).
Religious causes are the most popular among donors, with 31% of people supporting them. This is followed by children and youth, and poverty alleviation, each supported by 29% of people.
Globally, people are more likely to support charities working locally (56%) or nationally within their own country (55%) compared to those working in many countries (22%). However, donors in high-income countries (e.g., Europe) allocate a higher share of their donations to charities operating in many countries compared to donors in low-income countries.
The study explores factors influencing giving, including personal motivations, social norms, and sense of community belonging. Countries where more than 80% of the population has a strong sense of belonging to their local community have nearly three times the contribution rate of countries with low belonging.
Mark Greer, Managing Director of the Charities Aid Foundation, said: “Giving is based on different factors, including values, circumstances, and experiences. By understanding these influences and how they manifest around the world, we can learn what drives a vibrant culture of giving to support the resilience of civil society.
“We all have a role to play in growing giving. Encouraging dialogue and, more importantly, action by individuals, charities, businesses, and governments can help build stronger, more prosperous civil societies.”
For the report and country-level data, please visit: www.worldgivingreport.org