Some people are naturally more willing to give their time, help, or money to strangers. But how can we measure generosity across countries? Washington, D.C.–based analytics firm Gallup conducts annual polls in 146 countries to rank civic engagement worldwide.
Gallup interviews about 1,000 adults aged 15 and older in each country and builds a civic engagement index from three questions: whether respondents volunteered time, donated money to charity, or helped a stranger in need during the past month. In 2017, roughly 1 billion people volunteered with an organization, 1.4 billion donated to charity, and over 2 billion reported helping a stranger.
Gallup’s results reveal a link between per capita GDP and civic engagement, but the wealthiest countries are not always the most generous. Countries such as Myanmar and Indonesia have frequently topped the list, while wealthier nations like Australia and the United States rank high but do not always lead.
Below are the top 50 countries on Gallup’s civic engagement index, presented with index scores and concise country profiles.
No. 50
About Uganda
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Index score (0-100): 39
Population: 40.8 million
GDP per capita: $2,400
Average annual household income: $780
Agriculture and natural resources such as copper and gold play an important role in Uganda’s economy. Public debt and government spending have slowed growth, but expected oil revenues and tax reforms may support expansion in coming years.
No. 49
About Dominican Republic
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Index score (0-100): 39
Population: 10.2 million
GDP per capita: $17,000
Median household income: $4,799
The Dominican Republic historically exported sugar, coffee, and tobacco but has diversified into other agricultural products, tourism, and trade. It has become one of the faster-growing economies in Latin America.
No. 48
About South Sudan
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Index score (0-100): 39
Population: 10.2 million
GDP per capita: $1,600
Median household income: $960
Landlocked and affected by prolonged conflict, South Sudan remains underdeveloped and impoverished, with weak markets and limited infrastructure.
No. 47
About Slovenia
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Index score (0-100): 39
Population: 2.1 million
GDP per capita: $34,500
Median household income: $25,969
Slovenia benefits from solid infrastructure and an educated workforce, supporting one of the highest per capita GDPs in Central Europe.
No. 46
About Honduras
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Index score (0-100): 39
Population: 9.1 million
GDP per capita: $5,600
Honduras is one of the poorer Central American countries, challenged by unequal income distribution and high unemployment. It has diversified exports beyond traditional agricultural goods.
No. 45
About Mongolia
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Index score (0-100): 39
Population: 3.1 million
GDP per capita: $13,000
Median household income: $1,414
Mongolia moved from a herding and agricultural economy toward mining and extractive industries such as copper, gold, and coal, which now account for a substantial share of its exports and GDP.
No. 44
About Finland
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Index score (0-100): 40
Population: 5.5 million
GDP per capita: $44,500
Median household income: $34,615
Finland’s industrialized economy yields strong outcomes across income, employment, and housing, and it attracts significant foreign investment.
No. 43
About Turkmenistan
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Index score (0-100): 40
Population: 5.4 million
GDP per capita: $18,200
Median household income: $24,135
With large natural gas reserves, Turkmenistan enjoys resource wealth, but the economy still faces poverty challenges and is sensitive to energy price fluctuations.
No. 42
About Sweden
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Index score (0-100): 41
Population: 10 million
GDP per capita: $51,200
Median household income: $50,514
Sweden combines a competitive economy with strong welfare benefits and foreign trade, maintaining one of Europe’s healthier current account positions.
No. 41
About Luxembourg
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Index score (0-100): 41
Population: 605,764
GDP per capita: $105,100
Median household income: $52,493
High income, a strong financial sector, and low unemployment contribute to Luxembourg’s high standard of living and civic engagement.
No. 40
About South Africa
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Index score (0-100): 41
Population: 55.3 million
GDP per capita: $13,600
Median household income: $11,592
South Africa has made strides in housing and education, but high unemployment and significant poverty remain. Still, many South Africans report helping strangers, reflecting strong civic spirit.
No. 39
About Belgium
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Index score (0-100): 41
Population: 11.5 million
GDP per capita: $46,600
Median household income: $26,922
Belgium’s central location and transport network support a diversified economy spanning manufacturing and high-tech industries in the north and legacy industries in the south.
No. 38
About Israel
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Index score (0-100): 42
Population: 8.4 million
GDP per capita: $36,400
Median household income: $30,364
Israel’s economy is powered by pharmaceuticals and high-tech exports. Tourism and foreign investment help offset trade deficits and support economic resilience.
No. 37
About Ghana
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Index score (0-100): 42
Population: 28 million
GDP per capita: $4,700
Median household income: $730
Ghana is rich in resources like cocoa but continues to face infrastructure and debt challenges that affect its long-term growth prospects.
No. 36
About Tajikistan
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Index score (0-100): 42
Population: 8.6 million
GDP per capita: $3,200
Median household income: $525
Tajikistan depends heavily on minerals and metals. Although unemployment is not extreme, a large share of the population still lives below the poverty line.
No. 35
About Cyprus
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Index score (0-100): 43
Population: 1.2 million
GDP per capita: $37,200
Cyprus depends on agriculture and tourism and has benefited from EU membership, though it has faced economic cycles and is exploring offshore energy resources to spur growth.
No. 34
About Iraq
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Index score (0-100): 43
Population: 40 million
GDP per capita: $16,700
Median household income: $10,200
Iraq’s oil-dependent, state-heavy economy faces overregulation and corruption, which hinder private-sector growth. Despite these obstacles, Iraqis report high rates of helping strangers.
No. 33
About Kuwait
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Index score (0-100): 43
Population: 2.9 million
GDP per capita: $65,800
Median household income: $40,854
With significant oil reserves, Kuwait is wealthy and records high civic generosity; many citizens reported helping strangers in the Gallup survey.
No. 32
About Austria
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Index score (0-100): 44
Population: 8.7 million
GDP per capita: $50,000
Median household income: $34,911
Austria enjoys a high quality of life and a diversified economy closely linked to Germany and international trade; recent policy shifts emphasize pro-business reforms.
No. 31
About The Gambia
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Index score (0-100): 44
Population: 2.1 million
GDP per capita: $2,600
The Gambia relies largely on agriculture. Despite high poverty rates, many Gambians reported helping strangers in Gallup’s survey.
No. 30
About Hong Kong
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Index score (0-100): 44
Population: 7.2 million
GDP per capita: $61,500
Median household income: $35,443
Hong Kong’s free-market economy centers on trade and finance. It has high GDP per capita and invests in education and technology to diversify growth.
No. 29
About Iran
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Index score (0-100): 45
Population: 83 million
GDP per capita: $20,100
Median household income: $13,178
Iran’s economy relies on oil and gas alongside agricultural and industrial sectors. State ownership, price controls, and corruption constrain private-sector expansion.
No. 28
About Libya
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Index score (0-100): 45
Population: 6.7 million
GDP per capita: $9,600
Libya depends heavily on oil and gas and has faced security and political instability. Living conditions have declined in recent years, yet Libyans report very high rates of helping strangers—the highest percentage worldwide in Gallup’s findings.
No. 27
About Sri Lanka
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Index score (0-100): 45
Population: 21.4 million
GDP per capita: $12,900
Median household income: $1,385
Sri Lanka has worked under IMF programs to stabilize its finances while managing high public debt. Despite lower average incomes, many Sri Lankans volunteer their time and participate in charitable activities.
No. 26
About Switzerland
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Index score (0-100): 45
Population: 8.42 million
GDP per capita: $80,189.70
Median household income: $34,608
Switzerland’s modern market economy, strong financial services, and skilled workforce support high incomes and allow residents to be active donors and volunteers.
No. 25
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About Mauritius
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Index score (0-100): 46
Population: 1.2 million
GDP per capita: $10,490.50
Median household income: $9,922
In Mauritius, a sizable share of residents volunteer their time to organizations, reflecting the island’s civic involvement alongside its diversified economy.
No. 24
About Denmark
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Index score: 46
Population: 5.8 million
GDP per capita: $56,307.51
Median household income: $44,360
Denmark’s social policies, job training programs, and focus on low poverty rates contribute to strong civic engagement and a population positioned to give.
No. 23
About Trinidad and Tobago
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Index score: 46
Population: 1.2 million
GDP per capita: $16,126.37
Petroleum and natural gas drive Trinidad and Tobago’s prosperity, supporting relatively high per capita income in the Caribbean and active civic participation.
No. 22
About Germany
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Index score: 46
Population: 82.8 million
GDP per capita: $44,469.91
Median household income: $33,333
As Europe’s largest economy, Germany benefits from strong investment and export activity that supports employment and civic engagement.
No. 21
About Zambia
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Index score: 46
Population: 16 million
GDP per capita: $1,513.28
Median household income: $1,501
Zambia’s economy grew rapidly until commodity price declines in 2014. Challenges in health and education remain, but rising incomes in some regions have raised civic engagement.
No. 20
About Sierra Leone
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Index score: 47
Population: 6.3 million
GDP per capita: $499.53
Despite widespread poverty and a large share of the workforce in agriculture, Sierra Leone reports high rates of people helping strangers, reflecting strong social bonds in recovery from conflict.
No. 19
About Liberia
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Index score: 47
Population: 4.8 million
GDP per capita: $694.32
Liberia relies heavily on foreign aid but has abundant natural resources. Many Liberians volunteer and help strangers, with Gallup reporting high rates of assistance.
No. 18
About Malta
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Index score: 47
Population: 449,043
GDP per capita: $26,903.82
Malta’s small economy remains trade-oriented but its citizens show strong charitable giving and high rates of donating to charity.
No. 17
About Iceland
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Index score: 48
Population: 343,518
GDP per capita: $70,056.87
Median household income: $47,000
Iceland records among the highest charity donation rates, supported by a broad welfare system and an even income distribution.
No. 16
About Nigeria
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Index score: 48
Population: 203 million
GDP per capita: $1,968.56
Median household income: $2,667
Nigeria’s economy is oil-dependent and cyclical, but recovery from past recessions and growing incomes in parts of the country have influenced civic engagement trends.
No. 15
About Canada
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Index score: 49
Population: 35 million
GDP per capita: $45,032.12
Median household income: $41,280
Canada’s diversified economy and skilled workforce support steady growth and a high level of philanthropic activity.
No. 14
About Haiti
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Index score: 49
Population: 10 million
GDP per capita: $765.68
Despite economic hardship, Haiti ranks highly on civic engagement—evidence that generosity is not solely determined by wealth.
No. 13
About Norway
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Index score: 50
Population: 5 million
GDP per capita: $75,504.57
Median household income: $51,489
Norway’s prosperous, educated population supports a strong private sector and high charitable giving, with many residents reporting donations in recent surveys.
No. 12
About the United Arab Emirates
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Index score: 51
Population: 9.7 million
GDP per capita: $40,698.85
The UAE’s high per capita income, diversified economy, and strong infrastructure support civic engagement and charitable activity among residents.
No. 11
About The Netherlands
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Index score: 51
Population: 17 million
GDP per capita: $48,223.16
The Netherlands enjoys low unemployment, strong trade, and high rates of charitable donations among its population.
No. 10
About Bahrain
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Index score: 53
Population: 1.4 million
GDP per capita: $23,655.04
Bahrain’s oil and gas sector underpins prosperity, and many Bahraini report helping strangers in need.
No. 9
About Myanmar
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Index score: 54
Population: 53.4 million
GDP per capita: $1,256.66
Myanmar has consistently ranked at the top of Gallup’s generosity index. High percentages of the population report donating to charity and helping strangers, even amid humanitarian challenges in recent years.
No. 8
About Kenya
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Index score: 54
Population: 48 million
GDP per capita: $1,594.83
Kenya ranks high in civic engagement despite being a lower-middle-income country. Many Kenyans volunteer and report helping strangers in their communities.
No. 7
About Singapore
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Index score: 54
Population: 5.9 million
GDP per capita: $57,714.30
Median household income: $32,360
Singapore combines high income with a strong civic culture; a notable share of residents reported volunteering and donating to charity.
No. 6
About the United Kingdom
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Index score: 55
Population: 61 million
GDP per capita: $39,720.44
Median household income: $31,617
The UK reports high charitable giving and volunteering rates; many residents are in a financial position to contribute time and money to causes they support.
No. 5
About Ireland
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Index score: 56
Population: 5 million
GDP per capita: $69,330.69
Median household income: $52,000
Ireland’s rebound from past fiscal challenges and rising incomes have supported strong charitable giving and volunteerism among its residents.
No. 4
About the United States
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Index score: 58
Population: 329 million
GDP per capita: $59,531.66
Median household income: $43,585
Americans give substantial amounts to charity—Gallup reported $410 billion in donations in 2017—and many also volunteer or help strangers in their communities.
No. 3
About New Zealand
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Index score: 58
Population: 4.5 million
GDP per capita: $42,940.58
Median household income: $35,562
New Zealand ranks among the top countries for giving and volunteering, with many residents contributing time and money to charities and community causes.
No. 2
About Australia
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Index score: 59
Population: 23 million
GDP per capita: $53,799.94
Median household income: $46,555
Australia consistently places near the top for civic engagement. Many Australians donate to charity and volunteer, supported by a stable economy and low unemployment.
No. 1
About Indonesia
Kampung Pelangi, Semarang, Central Java, Indonesia Getty Images
Index score: 59
Population: 262 million
GDP per capita: $3,846.86
Median household income: $2,199
Indonesia, the largest economy in Southeast Asia, ranks first on Gallup’s civic engagement index. Although not a wealthy country by per capita measures, Indonesians report high levels of volunteering and charitable giving—among the highest in the world.