U.S. More Charitable Than Any Other Country
According to an AP story via USA Today, Americans gave nearly $300 billion to charity in 2006, setting a record that even topped giving in 2005, which saw a surge in aid to victims of hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma and the Asian tsunami.
Total American donations last year amount to an estimated $295.02 billion, which is a 1% increase over the 2005 amount ($283.05 billion) when adjusted for inflation. Of the 2006 amount, individuals accounted for 75.6%, or $223.03 billion.
Not impressed? Consider it from an alternative perspective, the percentage of GDP given to charity. In this case, the U.S. more than doubles the second place country, Britain. The U.S. ranked first at 1.7%, Britain was second with 0.73%, while France, with a dismal 0.14% rate, trailed countries such as South Africa, Singapore, Turkey and Germany. Who says stereotypes aren’t true?
This is a pleasing article to see, especially given the times we are living. While nearly the entire world hates the U.S. for our current government and its actions, it’s nice to know that we as the general public remain a good, kind-hearted people who maintain an interest in doing the right thing. Now, if only we could do something about that government situation…
7 Comments, Comment or Ping
Phil
You’re comparing apple with oranges. Factor in the tax levels and you’ll realise that in coutries like France - and a lot of other european countries -a significant part of people’s salaries already go towards the Welfare system, so people don’t have that much left to give and don’t feel that they should since the state already uses their money to fund healthcare, dole, housing, etc…
My 2 (euro) cents!
Jun 26th, 2007
Ronan
You are also forgetting the tax implications for charitable donations which are sizeable in the US but are not so in Europe. Also the french economy has fallen on its sword so there is not much money there to donate.
Jun 26th, 2007
cl3ft
The American government gives a smaller % of GDP in foreign aid than nearly all developed nations. Other developed nations give more as a percentage, they just do it through tax and allow their government to give on their behalf.
Pat yourselves on the back for having such huge holes in your welfare system and massive class divide that the only way the poor survive is on personal donations.
Jun 26th, 2007
Carin
if only more millionares and billionares and rich celebrities donated some $, things wouldn’t be that bad
Jun 26th, 2007
Joe Cheray
Spoken from one who has had to ask for help from agencies here I can say that most in the United States are very charitable. Not so much in money either there are alot of good people behind the scenes at the food banks that really try to help people get the food they need in order to get by. Here in my town of Topeka Kansas we have a huge city wide effort about once or twice a year called Project Topeka it is a massive city wide food bank donation drive. People give so very generously to this every time. It is great to see how many people really do care and give of themselves in such a selfless way.
Jun 27th, 2007
Christine
It would be nice if everyone can find a way to donate something, food, money, clothes, blood etc. Surely, we all have blood…no?
Jun 28th, 2007
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