We’re the most generous country in Europe (At least, that’s what we claim!)

GIVE yourself a pat on the back – Ireland has been named as Europe’s most generous country, according to ourselves!

The Charities Aid Foundation World Giving Index also found Ireland is the world’s fifth most generous country.

However, the index is based on people’s own statements on how much they have given to other people, not a study on their actual behaviour.

Indonesia tops the poll for the first time, although its scores are largely unchanged on last year.

The study, seen as the world’s leading index of generosity, found that almost two-thirds (64%) of people in Ireland said they donated money each month, a figure that is up from 60% last year.

The same percentage of people said they had helped a stranger in the past month, while some 40% of Irish people said they had volunteered time to help others out.

Australia ranked second on the World Giving Index, while New Zealand and the US were in third and fourth place respectively – with the latter moving up one place.

Myanmar, which was the most generous country on earth last year, has fallen to ninth place in the rankings – a finding which is due to a fall in the number of people volunteering in the country.

More than half of people – 150,000 in the 146 countries surveyed – said they have helped a stranger.

The index is published ahead of #GivingTuesday, on November 27, the global day of giving when people are asking to offer their money and voice to a good cause.

John Low, chief executive of the Charities Aid Foundation, which encourages people and companies worldwide to give, said: ‘It is good news that this year’s CAF World Giving Index shows a continued increase in giving across Africa.

‘It is also encouraging that last year’s decline in Western countries seems to have been reversed.

‘But we should be concerned that for the second year running there has been a decline in the proportion of people donating money to good causes. It is a reminder to all of us in civil society that we should never take giving for granted.’ Comment – Page 12

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64% of us said we donate money every month