Pakistan Giving Report 2025: A Nation of Resilient Generosity

Despite economic challenges and humanitarian crises, Pakistan has once again proven itself to be one of the most generous nations in the world. The Pakistan Giving Report 2025, published in collaboration with the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) and Pakistan Centre for Philanthropy (PCP), sheds light on the country’s remarkable culture of giving. The findings highlight not only how Pakistanis give, but also why generosity remains deeply embedded in our society.

Pakistan’s Generosity in Global Context

Globally, about 64% of people donated money to social causes in 2024. Pakistan surpassed this figure with 73% of its population contributing, placing it well above the global average and even higher than the continental average of 69%. Even more striking is the proportion of income donated: Pakistanis gave 1.64% of their income, compared to the global average of just 1.04%.

While Pakistan excels in monetary donations, the report notes that formal volunteering remains relatively low. Only 16% of Pakistanis volunteered in 2024, averaging just 3.5 hours per person – far below the global average of 8.9 hours. This highlights an untapped potential for structured volunteering initiatives.

How Pakistanis Give

When it comes to giving, Pakistanis prefer direct impact. In 2024, 51% donated to individuals or families in need, compared to 47% who gave to charities and 34% who supported religious causes. In terms of the value of donations, nearly 45% went directly to people in need, while 34% went to charities and 21.5% to religious organizations.

Giving is also frequent and consistent. Nearly 40% of donors gave more than six times in 2024, with 18% giving more than a dozen times. This pattern is strongly tied to religious and cultural traditions, especially during Ramadan, Eid, and other faith-based occasions.

Motivations Behind Generosity

Why do Pakistanis give so much? The report highlights three primary motivators:

• Religious obligation (58%)
• Care for a cause (54%)
• A sense of duty to give (49%)

For many, generosity is not simply a choice, it feels like a religious and cultural duty. Interestingly, while giving is perceived as an obligation, nearly 89% of Pakistanis reported feeling happy about it, with 70% saying they felt “very happy.”

Causes Pakistanis Support

The most supported causes in 2024 were poverty relief (39%), religious organizations (38%), homelessness and housing (30%), and disability support (28%). Education and healthcare also attracted significant donations (25% each).

However, some areas received comparatively little attention, including environmental protection (12%), mental health (12%), arts and culture (6%), and animal welfare (7%). These findings suggest opportunities for awareness campaigns to diversify giving across underfunded causes.

Trust and the Role of Charities

Trust plays a major role in charitable giving, and Pakistan fares better than many countries in this regard. Local and national charities enjoy higher levels of public trust than international organizations. On a scale of 15, Pakistan scored 10.4 for trust in charities, compared to the global average of 9.22.

Charities are also seen as essential to society. Over 80% of Pakistanis believe charities play a crucial role, particularly at the local and national levels. Importantly, most people discover charities through their local presence (19%) or recommendations from someone they know (15%), rather than through social media contrary to global trends.

The Government’s Role

The report also highlights mixed views on the government’s involvement in philanthropy. On one hand, two-thirds of Pakistanis believe the government encourages giving and supports the charity sector. On the other, nearly half feel that the government is often critical of charities. Strengthening this relationship could create a more enabling environment for organized philanthropy.

Key Takeaways

The Pakistan Giving Report 2025 paints a picture of a nation where generosity thrives even in difficult times. With 73% of people giving money, 1.64% of income donated, and high levels of trust in local charities, Pakistan ranks among the most charitable nations worldwide.

The challenge now lies in channeling this spirit into structured systems of giving and volunteering, ensuring that generosity not only alleviates immediate needs but also drives long-term social development. By enhancing transparency, building trust, and diversifying causes, Pakistan can unlock the full potential of its philanthropic power.

In a world marked by uncertainty, one thing remains clear: the resilience and generosity of Pakistanis are unwavering and worth celebrating.

Download the full report