UAE among top 10 most generous nations; Pakistan secures 17th spot
Qatar and India also report high donation-to-income ratios
DUBAI: The United Arab Emirates has secured a spot among the world’s top 10 most generous nations, according to the Charities Aid Foundation’s World Giving Report 2025.
Based on income-adjusted donations across 101 countries, the UAE ranked joint seventh, with an average of 1.92% of personal income donated in 2024.
The ranking places the UAE alongside India and Qatar – the only three high-income nations to reach that mark.
High-income leaders
The UAE and Qatar stood out among high-income countries, which, on average, contributed just 0.7% of annual income to charitable causes. In contrast, both nations recorded donations nearly three times higher than the group average. Saudi Arabia followed at 1.13%, while most high-income nations, including the G7, reported less than 1%.
The UAE also leads globally in giving to international humanitarian crises, with 32% of its population donating abroad, ahead of Saudi Arabia (29%) and Norway (28%). This reflects both international awareness and a strong religious and community-based motivation behind charitable actions in the country.
Regional generosity insights
India matched the UAE and Qatar at 1.92%, placing it in the top 10 alongside Nigeria (2.83%), Egypt (2.45%), and Ghana (2.19%). The report notes that people in low- and lower-middle-income countries tend to give more proportionally – with Uganda, Malawi, and Tanzania ranking among the top donors globally by income percentage.
Meanwhile, Qatar topped the list for time spent volunteering, with its residents dedicating an average of 27.5 hours per person annually, the highest recorded globally.
Pakistan in top 20
Pakistan also made a significant appearance in the rankings, placing 17th overall, with an average donation of 1.64% of income. The report credits this to strong faith-based giving traditions such as Zakat, informal community support systems, and active volunteering across key social sectors. Nearly 60% of Pakistanis reported helping strangers, with many also contributing time and money throughout the year.
The World Giving Report 2025, a revamped version of the annual World Giving Index, explores donation patterns, motivations, and the influence of religious and social norms. It reveals that generosity does not necessarily align with national wealth, and that countries facing economic or social challenges often show the strongest cultures of giving.