How Pakistan emerged as one of the world's most generous countries

Pakistan has claimed the 17th spot among the world's most generous countries, with citizens donating 1.64% of their income to charitable causes despite living in a developing nation where the majority falls into lower-income brackets, according to a comprehensive global study released Wednesday.

The World Giving Report 2025, published by the UK-based Charities Aid Foundation in partnership with the Pakistan Centre for Philanthropy, surveyed over 55,000 people across 101 countries and found that 73% of Pakistanis donated money in 2024, surpassing both global and regional averages.

The findings reveal a nation where social duty transforms into community joy, creating a unique model of grassroots philanthropy that prioritizes direct human connection over formal charitable structures.

Pakistan's giving culture defies global trends

The driving force behind Pakistan's generosity lies in cultural principles that make charitable giving both a social expectation and a personal commitment. Social obligation topped motivations for donors, alongside caring about specific causes and viewing charitable giving as a community duty.

"Pakistan's giving impulse is largely driven by compassion and religious motivation," said Shazia Maqsood Amjad, Executive Director of the Pakistan Centre for Philanthropy. The cultural framework includes religious practices like Zakat and Sadqah, which encourage regular financial support to those in need.

This cultural foundation creates distinctly Pakistani patterns of giving that differ sharply from Western models. More than half of donors (51%) prefer giving directly to people and families in need rather than through registered charitable organizations, reflecting a strong emphasis on personal connection with those requiring help.

Why Pakistanis are happy to give

Perhaps most unusually, Pakistan challenges global assumptions about charitable motivation. While donors view giving as a duty rather than a choice, scoring 3.6 on a duty-versus-choice scale compared to the global average of 5.03, where a lower score means respondents considered giving more of a duty rather than a choice.

An overwhelming 89% report feeling happy about this obligation, with 70% describing themselves as "very happy."

This paradox reveals how Pakistani culture transforms social requirements into personal fulfillment, creating a sustainable model of community support that doesn't depend on excess wealth or institutional encouragement.

The joy embedded in this duty-based giving extends to high levels of community trust. Pakistanis scored 10.4 out of 15 for trust in charitable organizations, well above the global average of 9.22, with local charities earning the highest confidence levels.

Untapped potential in a generous nation

Despite their remarkable monetary generosity, Pakistanis show significant untapped potential in formal civic engagement. Only 16% volunteered time in 2024 — well below the global average of 26% — suggesting that while the culture strongly supports financial giving, structured volunteer programs remain underdeveloped.

The limited volunteering, averaging just 3.5 hours per person compared to 8.9 hours globally, points to opportunities for expanding Pakistan's charitable infrastructure beyond its current direct-giving model.

Two-thirds of respondents indicated they would donate more money if the charity sector were better regulated, while equal numbers cited having more personal income as a motivating factor.

"These findings present a significant opportunity to channel and organize donations in more structured, impactful ways to address the country's social development challenges," Amjad said.

"By building trust in non-profit organizations, encouraging volunteerism among young people, and creating enabling policy environments, we can harness this spirit of giving to achieve more sustainable outcomes."

The research places Pakistan among the most generous nations globally, outperforming most high-income countries where people typically donate smaller percentages of their income. Nigeria topped the global rankings at 2.83% of income donated, while Japan ranked lowest at just 0.16%.