Since 2012, Giving Tuesday has turned one day into a worldwide generosity wave. Held the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, it inspires millions to do good—whether that means giving money, giving time, or giving their voice to social change.
Measuring generosity is not straightforward, but for more than a decade the Charities Aid Foundation has assessed global giving through its World Giving Index. This annual study analyzes behavior in over 100 countries, using three criteria: how often people donate to charity, participate in volunteer work, and assist strangers in need.
Consistent with earlier findings, the country ranked as the most generous is not among the world’s wealthiest. In 2024, Indonesia led the index with a score of 74. A striking 65 percent of its population engages in volunteering, nearly triple the global average of 24 percent—and close to 90 percent of Indonesians contributed to charitable causes in 2023, when the data was collected. Until 2025 Indonesia had maintained its position as the world’s most generous country for the seven consecutive years, a title it first claimed in 2017. Around 90% of Indonesians reported donating money to charity, and over 60% volunteered their time, a remarkable achievement that reflects the nation's deeply rooted cultural and religious values, particularly the emphasis on giving (zakat) in Islam. Kenya followed in second place with a score of 63, exemplifying Africa’s strong tradition of communal support and mutual aid while Singapore and The Gambia shared third place, each scoring 61.
The stability of the top 20 countries over time suggests that generosity is strongly shaped by cultural and religious traditions. Islamic principles of charitable giving, such as zakat, play a major role in countries like Indonesia. Likewise, Theravada Buddhism, which places strong emphasis on donations and offerings, influences giving in nations such as Thailand, ranked 14th, and Myanmar, ranked 19th. Countries with Anglo-Saxon and Protestant backgrounds also feature prominently, reflecting their deep-rooted cultures of philanthropy.
The World Giving Index and the global momentum of Giving Tuesday show that generosity is not defined by wealth, but by values. Across continents and cultures, traditions rooted in faith, community, and shared responsibility continue to inspire people to help others.
At Giving for the Living, we exist to strengthen that generosity and make it more meaningful. We believe that when people give, they should be able to see the journey of their impact. By making charities more accessible and donations fully transparent, we help donors move beyond a single act of giving to an ongoing relationship with the cause.
In a world where generosity is already alive and thriving, our role is to ensure it feels personal, trusted, and connected, turning values into visible impact, and one moment of giving into a lasting journey of change.
Sources:
World Giving Index | CAF
Chart: The World's Most Generous Countries | Statist
Authored by: Shwan Fraidoon Abdulqader
