New CAF research covering 105 countries finds 71% of Canadians donated in 2025, giving 0.9% of income
Nearly three quarters of Canadians gave money to a charitable cause, a person in need, or a religious organization last year, according to new research from the Charities Aid Foundation.
The CAF World Giving Report, which surveyed more than 60,000 people across 105 countries, places Canada above the global average even as worldwide generosity rates edge lower. It found that 71% of Canadians donated in 2025 through at least one of those three channels.
Charitable giving was the most common route, with 55% donating to a registered organization, followed by 29% who gave directly to individuals in need and 18% through religious giving.
Canadian donors contributed an average of 0.9% of their income; 0.4% to charities, and 0.2% each through direct and religious giving. Of charitable donations specifically, nearly half went to local organizations, 37% to national ones, and 16% to international causes.
That local orientation mirrors a pattern seen across the broader study. Globally, 56% of donors gave to charities operating in their own community and 55% supported national organizations, while only 22% directed funds to groups working internationally. Donors in higher-income countries, including those in Europe, gave a greater share to international causes than those in lower-income nations.
Canadians also showed relatively open attitudes toward talking about their giving habits. On a seven-point scale rating how socially acceptable it is to discuss where and how someone donates, Canadians scored 5 out of 7; above the midpoint, though below Vietnam, which led all countries at 6 out of 7.
Global comparison
Globally, the picture is one of modest retreat. The share of people who gave in some form last year fell to 61% from 64% in 2024, with average donations across all countries sitting at 1% of income.
Regional differences are pronounced: donors in Africa gave an average of 1.6% of income compared to 0.6% in Europe. Nigeria topped the global rankings at 2.8%, and all ten of the most generous countries by income share are in Africa or Asia.
Younger working-age adults are driving a disproportionate share of generosity globally. Donors aged 25 to 44 gave twice the income share of those aged 55 and older — 1.2% versus 0.6%.
Religious causes attracted the widest support globally at 31%, followed by causes focused on children and young people and poverty relief, each supported by 29% of donors.
Community ties also proved a reliable indicator of giving behavior. Countries where more than 80% of residents feel a strong sense of belonging to their local community give nearly three times more than those where community attachment is low.
Mark Greer, managing director at the Charities Aid Foundation, said: "Giving is deeply personal based on different factors including values, circumstances and experiences. By understanding these influences and how they appear around the world, we can learn what drives vibrant cultures of giving to support the resilience of civil society.
"We all have a role to play in growing giving. Encouraging conversations, and more importantly, action by individuals, charities, businesses, and governments can help build stronger and more thriving civil societies."
