Ireland has been named as the ninth most generous country in the world by a recent survey, holding onto its place in the top 10. However, we have also dropped seven percentage points since last year. The study, conducted by the London-based Charitable Aid Foundation found Ireland was the ninth most generous country, with a “world giving index score” of 56 per cent.
According to the foundation, 59 per cent of Irish people surveyed said they helped a stranger in 2014, 67 per cent said they donated money and 41 per cent said they spent time volunteering.
Only six of this year’s Top 10 for individuals performing voluntary work also featured last year: Burma, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, Canada, the US and Uzbekistan, with Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Bhutan, Ireland, Malaysia and Nigeria all leaving the Top Ten. Almost half of the world’s adult population said they helped a stranger in 2014 according to the poll.