Yahoo Finance UK trails the US as most generous country in the world
The UK is the seventh most generous country in the world, according to a benchmark report on charitable giving. Canada is ranked sixth most generous country in the world in the same report, putting it ahead of UK.
The study by international group Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) surveyed 1.3 million people in 128 countries over a decade. It asked them if they had helped a stranger, given money or volunteered for a good cause in the month before being interviewed. It then compiled the results to make the World Giving Index.
US came out as the most generous country in the world while the UK came seventh and China came in last position.
The CAF found that 60% of people in the UK had helped a stranger in the four weeks before being interviewed for the overall study and that 71% had given money to charity. Around 30% of Brits also said they had volunteered their time to help a good cause.
However, CAF warned that there has been a recent downward trend in donations from countries, such as the UK, US, and Canada, which have long histories of philanthropy and household charitable giving. It says that in 2011, 2013, and 2015, these were peak levels of giving for the UK and now it is lower than the immediate aftermath of the financial crisis of 2008.
“We are once again reminded of the kindness and generosity of people across the world as they dig deep despite uncertain times and significant geo-political unrest to give their time and money to help others,” said John Low, CEO of the CAF in a statement.
“We know that there is no single solution to success. It is about hard work, shared values and knowing in ourselves the inherent benefit to all of us when we work to improve the lives of our friends and neighbours, and strangers who need our help.”
