World's most charitable nations
A country's social and political cultures influence how much money citizens give to charity, according to a November 2006 study by England's Charities Aid Foundation that ranks philanthropic donation as a percentage of gross domestic product. Among nations surveyed, these 10 are the most generous.
• 1. United States, 1.67 percent of GDP
• 2. United Kingdom, 0.73
• 3. Canada, 0.72
• 4. Australia, 0.69
• 5. South Africa, 0.64
• 6. Ireland, 0.47
• 7. Netherlands, 0.45
• 8. Singapore, 0.29
• 9. New Zealand, 0.29
• 10. Turkey, 0.23
Federal tax laws -- notably low income tax, plus breaks for donations -- are often cited for American's generosity. As is religion, which drives one-third of U.S. charitable giving.
Actual aid given by monetary value:
According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development:
# 1. United States - $22.739 billion
# 2. United Kingdom - $12.607 billion
# 3. Japan - $11.608 billion
# 4. France - $10.448 billion
# 5. Germany - $10.351 billion
# 6. Netherlands - $5.452 billion
# 7. Sweden - $3.962 billion
# 8. Spain - $3.801 billion
# 9. Canada - $3.731 billion
# 10. Italy - $3.672 billion
Private Philanthropy as a percentage of GDP (2005)
According to the Charities Aid Foundation
* 1. United States - 1.67%
* 2. United Kingdom - .73%
* 3. Canada - .72%
* 4. Australia - .69%
* 5. South Africa - .64%
* 6. Ireland - .47%
* 7. Netherlands - .45%
* 8. Singapore - .29%
* 9. New Zealand - .29%
* 10. Turkey - .23%
* 11. Germany - .22%
* 12. France - .14%
A country's social and political cultures influence how much money citizens give to charity, according to a November 2006 study by England's Charities Aid Foundation that ranks philanthropic donation as a percentage of gross domestic product. Among nations surveyed, these 10 are the most generous.
• 1. United States, 1.67 percent of GDP
• 2. United Kingdom, 0.73
• 3. Canada, 0.72
• 4. Australia, 0.69
• 5. South Africa, 0.64
• 6. Ireland, 0.47
• 7. Netherlands, 0.45
• 8. Singapore, 0.29
• 9. New Zealand, 0.29
• 10. Turkey, 0.23
Federal tax laws -- notably low income tax, plus breaks for donations -- are often cited for American's generosity. As is religion, which drives one-third of U.S. charitable giving.
Actual aid given by monetary value:
According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development:
# 1. United States - $22.739 billion
# 2. United Kingdom - $12.607 billion
# 3. Japan - $11.608 billion
# 4. France - $10.448 billion
# 5. Germany - $10.351 billion
# 6. Netherlands - $5.452 billion
# 7. Sweden - $3.962 billion
# 8. Spain - $3.801 billion
# 9. Canada - $3.731 billion
# 10. Italy - $3.672 billion
Private Philanthropy as a percentage of GDP (2005)
According to the Charities Aid Foundation
* 1. United States - 1.67%
* 2. United Kingdom - .73%
* 3. Canada - .72%
* 4. Australia - .69%
* 5. South Africa - .64%
* 6. Ireland - .47%
* 7. Netherlands - .45%
* 8. Singapore - .29%
* 9. New Zealand - .29%
* 10. Turkey - .23%
* 11. Germany - .22%
* 12. France - .14%
