Ukraine Becomes Second Most Generous Country in the World

Every year, the British organization Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) compiles its World Giving Index, an international rating of charitability of the populations of 142 countries. In its most recent Ukraine took second place.

According to CAF, Ukraine gained 13 points in its score since 2022, for which it said, “Ukraine is this year’s highest climber.” A year ago, Ukraine ranked 10th in the rating. And five years ago, the country was in 81st place.

According to an analysis by Opendatabot, during the first six months of 2023, the accounts of the three largest Ukrainian charitable foundations – United24, "Come Back Alive" and the Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation – received Hr.8.35 billion ($230 million). This is 22 percent less than in the second half of 2022.

In nine months, the three largest funds raised Hr.12.5 billion ($350 million).

Among them, the United24 platform continues to hold the lead.

Points in the CAF are given based on responses to a survey conducted by the Gallup international polling organization. The survey asked three questions of over 147,000 people around the globe:

• Have you donated money to a charity?
• Have you helped a stranger or someone you didn’t know who needed help?
• Have you volunteered your time to an organization?

CAF creates its index based on respondents replies to these questions. The CAF website says:

An average of the positive responses is calculated for each country, giving an index score and a global ranking. A higher score indicates that more of the population is engaged with giving. The lowest possible score is zero and the highest possible score is 100.are calculated based on the average response value of each country.

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The report said that among adult Ukrainians 78 percent help strangers, 70 percent make donations and 37 percent volunteer.

Indonesia has been in first place for the sixth consecutive year as the country with the highest rating.

And Poland has taken the last, in 142nd place.

Russia also did not enter the top 100, taking 102nd place in the CAF rating. 

The World Giving Index mean value is currently 39, while Ukraine’s generosity rating is 62. Indonesia, at the top, has a score of 68. The US is in fifth place at 58, Canada is in eighth place with 54. Russia has a rating of 34, and Poland is last with a rating of 15.

According to the study, 72 percent of the world’s adult population, about 4.2 billion people, support those who need help.

The results show that the increase in global donations seen during the pandemic has generally persisted.

CORRECTION: A previous version of this article stated Hr.12.5 billion was $35 million. It is in fact $350 million.