Volunteering is still widespread, but it does not look the same across ages, jobs, and countries. In the US, 60.7 million people volunteered formally in 2021, yet participation varies sharply from 24% among those 65 and older to 30.1% for ages 35 to 44. We also see the same tension in the UK and beyond, where women are more likely to volunteer than men, while motivation and barriers like time, childcare, and virtual opportunities shape who shows up and how.
Key Takeaways
- 55% of US volunteers are women
- Volunteers aged 35-44 have highest rate at 30.1% in US
- 65+ age group: 24% volunteer rate in US
- Employed volunteers contribute 8 billion hours annually in US
- US volunteers worth $122.9 billion in 2016
- 2021 volunteer value per hour $29.95 in US
- 60.7 million Americans, or 23.2% of the adult population, volunteered formally in 2021
- In 2018, 30.3% of Americans aged 16 and older volunteered
- Globally, 1 in 4 people volunteered formally in 2022
- Volunteering linked to 22% lower mortality risk
- Volunteers report 25% higher life satisfaction
- 76% of volunteers feel more connected to community
- 42% volunteer rate declined to 23% in US 2015-2021
- Post-COVID volunteer rates rebounded 15% by 2022
- 44% cite "wanted to help" as top motivation
Volunteerism is driven by women, families, and education, with millions contributing billions in value worldwide.
Related reading
01 · Category
Demographics23 stats
01
55% of US volunteers are women
02
Volunteers aged 35-44 have highest rate at 30.1% in US
03
65+ age group: 24% volunteer rate in US
04
College graduates volunteer at 40% rate vs 19% high school or less
05
Employed full-time: 28% volunteer vs 19% unemployed
06
Married adults volunteer more: 27% vs 19% single
07
Suburban residents: 25% volunteer rate in US
08
White non-Hispanics: 24% rate, Black: 21%, Hispanic: 16%
09
Parents with children under 18: 30% volunteer
10
In UK, women 34% vs men 26% volunteer
11
UK 16-24: 16% volunteer, 65+: 28%
12
Higher education in UK: 37% vs no quals 20%
13
Australia: Females 34%, males 28%
14
Australia 65+: 32% highest rate
15
Canada: Immigrants 18% vs Canadian-born 25%
16
Canada women 26% vs men 20%
17
EU: Women slightly higher at 21% vs 19% men
18
Germany: East vs West difference minimal, both ~40%
19
France: Urban 32%, rural 40%
20
US Baby Boomers: 25% rate
21
US Gen Z women: 25% vs men 19%
22
Netherlands: Highly educated 55%, low 35%
23
Sweden: Immigrants lower participation
Interpretation
Demographics Interpretation
It appears volunteerism thrives most consistently among the educated, the middle-aged, and those with stable roots—suggesting that having a little extra bandwidth, in terms of both time and resources, is the unspoken prerequisite for the luxury of altruism.
02 · Category
Economic Impact24 stats
01
Employed volunteers contribute 8 billion hours annually in US
02
US volunteers worth $122.9 billion in 2016
03
2021 volunteer value per hour $29.95in US
04
Global volunteer contribution $400 billion yearly
05
UK volunteers contribute £17.8 billion in 2022
06
Australia volunteering economic value $14.9 billion AUD
07
Canada volunteers $55.5 billion value in 2018
08
Germany volunteers save €150 billion annually
09
4.1 billion volunteer hours in US 2021
10
Nonprofits rely on volunteers for 80% of workforce
11
Volunteering boosts GDP by 1-2% in developed nations
12
US volunteer hours up 21% during COVID recovery
13
Corporate volunteering: 65% companies have programs
14
Employee volunteers average 50 hours/year
15
France volunteering value €68 billion
16
Netherlands: €20 billion economic contribution
17
Sweden volunteers €10 billion value
18
Italy: €50 billion from volunteers
19
Spain volunteers €15 billion
20
Japan volunteering economic impact ¥10 trillion
21
Brazil informal volunteering aids 20 million, economic equiv $5bn
22
Volunteers reduce healthcare costs by 20%
23
90% of nonprofits say volunteers essential for survival
24
Microvolunteering saves orgs $1-2k per project
Interpretation
Economic Impact Interpretation
If we ever needed proof that the world runs on the unpaid kindness of strangers, these staggering figures show that our collective conscience is not just a moral asset but the multi-trillion-dollar engine the global economy quietly pretends it can live without.
03 · Category
Participation Rates27 stats
01
60.7 million Americans, or 23.2% of the adult population, volunteered formally in 2021
02
In 2018, 30.3% of Americans aged 16 and older volunteered
03
Globally, 1 in 4 people volunteered formally in 2022
04
51% of US millennials volunteered in 2020
05
24.6% of UK adults volunteered formally in 2021/22
06
In Australia, 31% of people volunteered in 2022
07
20% of Europeans volunteered in 2021
08
In Canada, 23% of population volunteered in 2020
09
India saw 6% formal volunteering rate in 2022
10
Japan has 20% volunteering rate among adults
11
28% of US adults volunteered through organizations in 2022
12
South Africa: 15% volunteered formally in 2022
13
Brazil: 8% formal volunteering rate
14
Germany: 40% of population volunteers regularly
15
France: 35% volunteered in 2021
16
77 million US volunteers in 2021
17
22% of US Gen Z volunteered in 2021
18
Netherlands: 50% volunteer rate
19
Sweden: 45% participation
20
China: 11 million registered volunteers
21
Mexico: 14% volunteering rate
22
New Zealand: 25% volunteered
23
Spain: 22% formal volunteers
24
Italy: 25% volunteer rate
25
Turkey: 7% volunteered
26
Nigeria: 4% formal rate
27
Russia: 5% volunteering
Interpretation
Participation Rates Interpretation
While the global volunteer force is a patchwork quilt of participation—ranging from Germany's bustling 40% to Nigeria's sparse 4%—it's clear that the instinct to help is a widespread, if inconsistently tapped, human resource.
More related reading
05 · Category
Trends and Motivations20 stats
01
42% volunteer rate declined to 23% in US 2015-2021
02
Post-COVID volunteer rates rebounded 15% by 2022
03
44% cite "wanted to help" as top motivation
04
25% motivated by skill-building
05
Lack of time biggest barrier at 42%
06
Gen Z prefers virtual volunteering, 40% interest
07
Corporate volunteering up 20% since 2015
08
Microvolunteering grew 300% during pandemic
09
60% plan to volunteer more post-2021
10
Women volunteering stable, men down 5% decade
11
Youth volunteering down 10% since 2005 US
12
Online platforms boosted signups 50%
13
32% motivated by social connections
14
Australia volunteering steady at 31% over decade
15
Global giving index up 5% in volunteering 2022
16
70% say personal connection motivates
17
Barriers: childcare 15%, transportation 12%
18
Skills-based volunteering rising 25%
19
Faith-based volunteering down 8%, secular up 12%
20
Hybrid volunteering model 60% preference post-COVID
Interpretation
Trends and Motivations Interpretation
The volunteer spirit is proving both resilient and adaptable, evolving from traditional hands-on commitments to a more flexible, digitally-integrated blend of micro-actions and skill-based contributions, all while stubbornly reminding us that the greatest motivator and barrier remain the same: the human heart and the clock that tries to constrain it.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Elena Vasquez. (2026, February 13). Volunteerism Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/volunteerism-statistics
MLA
Elena Vasquez. "Volunteerism Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/volunteerism-statistics.
Chicago
Elena Vasquez. 2026. "Volunteerism Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/volunteerism-statistics.
Sources & references
45 datasets cited across this report