“Global generosity wanes, but Filipinos remain among most dedicated volunteers”

Dominique Nicole Flores – Philstar.com February 27, 2025 

An elderly woman is carried by a volunteer rescuer as residents are evacuated to safer grounds in Bato town, Camarines Sur province South of Manila on Oct. 23, 2024.

AFP / Charism Sayat

MANILA, Philippines — Despite a global decline in generosity in 2024, a recent study found that the Philippines remains among the top countries where people dedicate their time to helping others.

Global analytics and advisory firm Gallup released their study’s initial findings on Wednesday, February 26, revealing fewer adults worldwide who reported helping a stranger, donating to charity or volunteering with an organization.

The survey, conducted in 144 countries with at least 1,000 respondents per country, found that volunteering was the least common of the three activities. 

Gallup’s data visualization showing the global trend of generosity.

Gallup

Only one in four adults reported volunteering in the past month they were surveyed, though participation varied widely — ranging from as low as 4% in some countries to as high as 65% in others, primarily in Africa and Southeast Asia. The Philippines ranked fourth, with 44% of respondents saying they had volunteered in 2024. Indonesia led with 65%, followed by Liberia and Kenya..

It placed 30th out of 142 countries in terms of overall generosity, with nearly seven in 10 Filipino adults reporting they helped a stranger in 2023 and 24% saying they donated.