Nigerians have been ranked the most generous people in the world, according to the World Giving Report 2025 released by the African Philanthropy Forum (APF) in partnership with the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF).

The report, based on a global survey spanning 101 countries, highlights Nigeria’s standout performance in charitable giving across several key measures.

According to the findings, 89 per cent of Nigerians donated money in 2024 — the highest proportion worldwide. On average, Nigerians gave 2.83 per cent of their income to charity, ranking first globally.

The country also recorded strong volunteer commitment, with citizens contributing about 13.5 hours per person, compared to the global average of nine hours.

“These figures underscore Nigeria’s important role in a broader trend of African generosity. In fact, Africa as a continent exceeds global averages on all these fronts – from the percentage of people giving, to the share of income donated, to volunteer time.

“Nigeria’s contribution is a major part of this continent-wide story of generosity, “ APF said on its website.

The report further sheds light on why Nigerians give, attributing the culture of generosity to religious beliefs, social norms, and strong community and family ties.

It said that giving is often seen as a moral or social obligation, expressed through church donations, zakat, tithing, or community support. It claimed that many Nigerians contribute not from surplus wealth, but out of solidarity and necessity to support loved ones.

Interestingly, despite leading globally in charitable giving, Nigerians rank themselves only 22nd out of 101 countries in terms of how generous they believe they are.

“The data suggests that charitable giving is so woven into everyday life in Nigeria that people may take their generosity for granted. This humility highlights how giving is “just part of life” for many, driven by social norms rather than a desire for recognition,” APF said.

The Nigeria chapter of the World Giving Report 2025 was developed by APF in partnership with CAF to provide an in-depth look at the state of philanthropy in the country.

The report’s insights, the organisations say, could help nonprofits, donors, and community leaders build on Nigeria’s strong culture of generosity.