Volunteering: more than one in four people do it

BVA DOXA, in collaboration with WIN, the International Network of Market Research and Public Opinion companies, announces the results of the global survey on volunteering carried out in 41 countries. In 2018 more than one in four people in the world spent time in a non-profit organization without receiving any compensation in return.

BVA DOXA, in collaboration with WIN, the International Network of Market Research and Public Opinion companies, of which it is a founding member, announces the results of the global survey on volunteering which involved 31,890 people in 41 countries. Here are the most significant data:

– 28.5% of all people interviewed in 2018 spent time on a non-profit organization without receiving any compensation in return

– Males and females volunteer equally

– The highest percentage of people engaged in voluntary work is in the 18-24 age group (33%) and among those over 65 (29%)

– Those who have reached a higher education level are more involved in voluntary activities (42%) than those who have a lower education level (18%)

– The countries with the highest rate of volunteering are Paraguay (57%) and China (57%), while those with the lowest rate are South Korea (6%) and Italy (7%).

With a peculiarity as regards Italian data: probably Italian people responded more scrupulously respecting exclusively the voluntary activities carried out in a regular / systematic way (and not only occasionally) and above all limiting to what was done on behalf of non-profit organizations, thus excluding everything they do on an individual initiative or on behalf of other types of reality (e.g. parishes, schools, associations, sports societies, communities, groups of citizens, and so on).

– Very high levels of volunteering are also recorded in Australia (46%), South Africa (44%), India (43%) and the United States (42%). Low levels instead are recorded in Indonesia (10%), Japan (14%) and Pakistan (16%).

Vilma Scarpino, CEO of BVA Doxa and president of WIN, said:

“The role of volunteers is increasingly crucial. It is important that our media, our governments and our institutions continue to reward and encourage volunteering. In addition to help others, volunteering has also been shown to improve the well-being of the volunteers themselves. It is natural that everyone feels satisfied after helping someone. Our global survey with data from 31,890 people in 41 countries also found that there are very large differences at national level with respect to the theme of volunteering and, like WIN, we hope they can be reduced”.