Malaysia became the only Muslim country making it to the top 10 in the Global Giving Index 2014 released by Charities Aid Foundation (CAF); a 90-year-old charity in the United Kingdom which provides services and assistance to UK and international charities and their donors, as well as promoting donation to charity generally.
The aim of the World Giving Index is to provide insight into the scope and nature of giving around the world.Respondents were asked if they donated money, volunteered with an organization or helped a stranger in the past month and the answers were averaged to determine a final score. The report was based on Gallup data collected across 135 countries.
The U.S. and Myanmar tied for first place for the country that gave the most last year. Only five countries that made it to the top 20 are members of the G20 — the world’s largest economies.
U.S was the only country to be ranked in the top 10 for all three giving categories.
Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia,United Kingdom, Sri Lanka, Trinidad and Tobago were ranked in top 10.
Malaysia was tied at number 7 with UK.
Iran made it among the top 20, ranked at 19th position.
Among the top 50, Uzbekistan was ranked at 28, Syria at 30, Tajikistan at 34, Iraq at 43 and Saudi Arabia at 47.
Conflict-hit countries like Syria and Iraq scored high in the index reflecting that while a large economy and political stability certainly helps, it not required in order to become one of the most generous nations in the world.
“The index shows high levels of generosity in countries facing turmoil — reflecting a pattern of giving in post-conflict nations as people help others through the most difficult of times,” John Low, chief executive of CAF, said in a statement. “And it shows people’s innate desire to help others, even in nations which do not have anything like the standard of living enjoyed in the West.”
Meanwhile, Pakistan has been ranked at 61, eight points above India.
Pakistan ranking 61 out of 135 countries overall with a 32 percent score for actively taking part in charitable acts, ranked 67th with 48% score for helping a stranger, 45th with 32 percent score donating money and 78th with a score of 16 percent for people volunteering their time.
India; member of the G-20, ranked lower than Pakistan in all categories but one; volunteering time. Ranking at 60, India has a 21% score for volunteering time for charitable activities.
