Nigeria has been ranked the world’s most generous country in the latest World Giving Report released by the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF), a development that has sparked widespread reactions online amid the country’s ongoing economic challenges.
According to the global study, Nigerians donated an average of 2.8% of their income in 2025 to charities, religious causes, and individuals in need, placing the country ahead of 104 other nations surveyed.
The report, which drew responses from more than 60,000 people across 105 countries, found that Africa recorded the highest average level of charitable giving as a percentage of income.
The ranking has attracted significant attention as it comes at a time when many Nigerians continue to grapple with rising living costs, higher transportation fares, and inflation.
Report highlights generosity despite economic hardship
CAF noted that 61% of respondents worldwide made charitable donations in 2025, a slight decline from the previous year. The organization also revealed that the world’s 10 most generous countries are all located in Africa and Asia.
Speaking on the findings, CAF Managing Director Mark Greer said:
“Giving is deeply personal based on different factors including values, circumstances and experiences.
By understanding these influences and how they appear around the world, we can learn what drives vibrant cultures of giving to support the resilience of civil society.
We all have a role to play in growing giving. Encouraging conversations, and more importantly, action by individuals, charities, businesses, and governments can help build stronger and more thriving civil societies.”
The report comes months after the World Bank estimated that about 140 million Nigerians were living below the poverty line in 2025, highlighting the contrast between widespread economic hardship and the country’s strong culture of giving.
Mixed reactions trail ranking
The announcement has generated mixed reactions on social media, with many users describing generosity as a defining trait of Nigerians despite the country’s economic difficulties.
While some praised Nigerians for consistently supporting family members, friends, religious institutions, and strangers in need, others questioned whether the country’s high level of religious giving significantly influenced its top position in the global ranking.