The 2018 CAF World Giving Index confirms the trend towards growing levels of giving across Africa.

Twenty-one countries this year met the criteria for most improved Index score, which included nine African countries, narrowing the giving gap between continents.

The index, now in its ninth year, is based upon data from Gallup’s World View World Poll, which is an ongoing research project carried out in more than 146 countries. The survey asks questions on many different aspects of life today including giving behaviour.

In addition to donating money, the survey ranked countries for helping a stranger, by participation and population. The Gambia, the smallest in mainland Africa with nearly half the population estimated to be living in poverty, was included in the index for the first time this year, ranking in seventh place.

John Low, Chief Executive of the Charities Aid Foundation, said:

‘It is forever humbling to see how people across the world continue to be moved to help others, giving their time, donating money and helping strangers. It is a basic human instinct to lend a helping hand, and it is always amazing to see how people in countries which have suffered conflict and natural disasters are stirred to help those in need.’

‘It is good news that this year’s CAF World Giving Index shows a continued increase in giving across Africa. It is also encouraging that last year’s decline in western countries seems to have been reversed’

‘But we should be concerned that for the second year running there has been a decline in the proportion of people donating money to good causes. It is a reminder to all of us in civil society that we should never take giving for granted.’

Download and read the full report here.