Pakistanis remain among the most generous people globally, driven largely by religious obligation and compassion, but financial constraints continue to limit giving for a significant share of the population, according to a new report by Pakistan Centre for Philanthropy.
Based on findings from the World Giving Report 2025 and PCP’s own analysis of more than 5,000 not-for-profit organisations, the study found that 73% of Pakistanis donated money in 2024. This exceeds the global average of 64% and the Asian regional average of 69%. Pakistan ranked 17th out of 101 countries both in overall generosity and in the share of income donated.
Despite this strong culture of giving, 42% of respondents reported they were unable to donate due to lack of affordability. Of the 27% who did not give at all, financial constraints were cited as the primary reason, reflecting a challenge also seen globally. An additional 18% of non-monetary givers preferred to contribute in-kind, such as food or other forms of support.
The report shows that Pakistanis donate a higher share of income than the global average. On average, individuals donated 1.64% of their income in 2024, compared with a global average of 1.04%, despite income levels being concentrated in low- and middle-income groups.
Volunteering, however, remains limited. Only 16% of people reported volunteering time in 2024, with an average of 3.5 hours per person, well below both the Asian and global averages.
Religious obligation emerged as the strongest motivation for giving, cited by 58% of donors, followed by care for a cause at 54% and a sense of duty at 49%. Most donations were made directly to individuals or families in need, accounting for 51% of giving, while 47% went to charities and 34% to religious causes.
Of total donations in 2024, nearly 45% went directly to people in need, compared with about 34% to charities and 22% to religious causes. Poverty and religious organisations were the most supported causes, followed by homelessness and disability-related needs.
The study also found that giving in Pakistan is frequent, with nearly 18% of donors giving more than 12 times a year and 21% donating between six and 11 times, levels higher than global and regional averages. This pattern is closely linked to religious and cultural occasions such as Ramazan and Eid.
Public trust in charities in Pakistan was rated higher than regional and global norms, with respondents giving charities a trust score of 10.4 out of 15. The PCP noted that better regulation, transparency and information on the use of funds could further increase charitable giving, alongside improvements in household incomes.
