​Australia named world's third most generous country in 2016 World Giving Index

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This was published 7 years ago

​Australia named world's third most generous country in 2016 World Giving Index

By Oliver Smith
Updated
Laid-back, beach loving and generous: Australians can now add generosity to their list of attributes.

Laid-back, beach loving and generous: Australians can now add generosity to their list of attributes.Credit: Teagan Glenane

Myanmar (Burma) has been named the world's most generous country, pipping the US and Australia to the honour, in Charities Aid Foundation's 2016 World Giving Index.

Australia was named third most giving country in the index which rates 140 countries in three categories: helping a stranger, donating money, and volunteering time. The index is billed as "the world's leading study of generosity".

According to its research, Myanmar was named the most generous nation as 91 per cent its residents gave money to charity in the past year, 62 per cent said they had helped a stranger, and 55 per cent claimed they had volunteered.

Myanmar's top score is likely to be a result of the practice Theravada Buddhism by a large proportion of the population. Pictured, a class of young buddhist nuns at Kalaywa Monastery, Yangon.

Myanmar's top score is likely to be a result of the practice Theravada Buddhism by a large proportion of the population. Pictured, a class of young buddhist nuns at Kalaywa Monastery, Yangon.Credit: iStock

"The high scores are likely to be a result of Theravada Buddhism practiced by a large proportion of the population in Myanmar, whereby followers donate to support those living a monastic lifestyle – a practice known as Sangha Dana," the report states.

The UK and Ireland both made the top 10, with 69 per cent of Britons giving money, 33 per cent giving time, and 61 per cent helping a stranger. An average of 1,000 people were questioned in each country to produce the report.

The 20 most generous countries

War-torn Irag was named the top country for helping a stranger. Pictured, Tigris River in Baghdad.

War-torn Irag was named the top country for helping a stranger. Pictured, Tigris River in Baghdad.Credit: AP

  1. Myanmar
  2. United States
  3. Australia
  4. New Zealand
  5. Sri Lanka
  6. Canada
  7. Indonesia
  8. United Kingdom
  9. Ireland
  10. UAE
  11. Uzbekistan
  12. Kenya
  13. Netherlands
  14. Norway
  15. Turkmenistan
  16. Malta
  17. Iceland
  18. Bhutan
  19. Kuwait
  20. Denmark
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Despite its torrid recent history, Iraq also scored highly. It was ranked 31st overall, but topped the "helping a stranger" table, ahead of several other war-torn countries.

The report added: "We continue to be humbled by signs of generosity across the globe in times of adversity, with people rallying when there is a greater need within the population. Iraq, for the second year, occupies the number one position on helping a stranger despite the ongoing civil war whilst Libya, interviewed for the first time since 2012 has increased on this measure despite their bloody civil war.

"It appears that their increasingly fragile civil societies, coupled with greater need amongst the population, is encouraging more people to be responsive out of sheer necessity."

Top 10 countries for helping a stranger

  1. Iraq
  2. Libya
  3. Kuwait
  4. Somalia
  5. UAE
  6. Malawi
  7. Botswana
  8. Sierra Leone
  9. United States
  10. Saudi Arabia

At the other end of the scale, China was rated the least generous country, with just six per cent giving money to charity, four per cent offering time, and 24 per cent helping a stranger. Eastern European countries also fared poorly.

See also: TripAdivsor names best city in the world for travellers in 2016

The 20 least generous countries

  1. China
  2. Palestinian Territories
  3. Yemen
  4. Greece
  5. Democratic Republic of Congo
  6. Serbia
  7. Hungary
  8. Montenegro
  9. Madagascar
  10. Azerbaijan
  11. Armenia
  12. Bulgaria
  13. Bosnia and Herzegovina
  14. Croatia
  15. Russia
  16. Slovakia
  17. Lithuania
  18. Morocco
  19. Tunisia
  20. Czech Republic

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