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World's 20 most generous nations

Last updated on: October 28, 2011 13:28 IST

Generosity of any country is measured on the basis of the willingness of its citizens to donate time and money to charity.

A report, released recently by the UK-based Charities Aid Foundation, showed striking variations in charitable behaviour across the world.

The results gave an indication of a 'global Big society' with a fifth of the world's population had volunteered, almost a third of the world's population had given money to charity, and 45 per cent of the world's population had been 'good samaritans' and helped a stranger.

The overall rankings were a composite of three categories -- the percentage of people who donated money, donated time and helped a stranger in the month prior to being surveyed.

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World's 20 most generous nations

Last updated on: October 28, 2011 13:28 IST
A man shows balloons in the colours of the Indian flag to his child.

India: Rank 134
World giving index score: 19%

About 14 per cent of the population gave money to charities.

About 12 per cent of the population volunteered time for an organisation.

About 30 per cent helped a stranger.

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World's 20 most generous nations

Last updated on: October 28, 2011 13:28 IST
A southern right whale shows its tail in front of the Sydney Opera House.

1. Australia
World giving index score: 57%

About 70 per cent of the population gave money to charities.

About 38 per cent of the population volunteered time for an organisation.

About 64 per cent helped a stranger.

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World's 20 most generous nations

Last updated on: October 28, 2011 13:28 IST
Cityscape of Auckland.

2. New Zealand
World giving index score: 57%

About 68 per cent of the population gave money to charities.

About 41 per cent of the population volunteered time for an organisation.

About 63 per cent helped a stranger.

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World's 20 most generous nations

Last updated on: October 28, 2011 13:28 IST
A 60-metre high Ferris stands close to Belfast's City Hall in Northern Ireland.

3. Ireland
World giving index score: 56%

About 72 per cent of the population gave money to charities.

About 35 per cent of the population volunteered time for an organisation.

About 60 per cent helped a stranger.

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World's 20 most generous nations

Last updated on: October 28, 2011 13:28 IST
The Olympic Torch in Vancouver.

4. Canada
World giving index score: 56%

About 64 per cent of the population gave money to charities.

About 35 per cent of the population volunteered time for an organisation.

About 68 per cent helped a stranger.

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World's 20 most generous nations

Last updated on: October 28, 2011 13:28 IST
CIty of Geneva, Switzerland.

5. Switzerland
World giving index score: 55%

About 71 per cent of the population gave money to charities.

About 34 per cent of the population volunteered time for an organisation.

About 60 per cent helped a stranger.

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World's 20 most generous nations

Last updated on: October 28, 2011 13:28 IST
Fireworks explode over the United States Capitol dome and Washington Monument on Independence Day.

6. USA
World giving index score: 55%

About 60 per cent of the population gave money to charities.

About 39 per cent of the population volunteered time for an organisation.

About 65 per cent helped a stranger.

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World's 20 most generous nations

Last updated on: October 28, 2011 13:28 IST
The Netherlands.

7. Netherlands
World giving index score: 54%

About 77 per cent of the population gave money to charities.

About 39 per cent of the population volunteered time for an organisation.

About 46 per cent helped a stranger.

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World's 20 most generous nations

Last updated on: October 28, 2011 13:28 IST
The London Bridge.

8. United Kingdom
World giving index score: 53%

About 73 per cent of the population gave money to charities.

About 29 per cent of the population volunteered time for an organisation.

About 58 per cent helped a stranger.

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World's 20 most generous nations

Last updated on: October 28, 2011 13:28 IST
Colombo.

9. Sri Lanka
World giving index score: 53%

About 58 per cent of the population gave money to charities.

About 52 per cent of the population volunteered time for an organisation.

About 50 per cent helped a stranger.

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World's 20 most generous nations

Last updated on: October 28, 2011 13:28 IST
Austria.

10. Austria
World giving index score: 52%

About 69 per cent of the population gave money to charities.

About 30 per cent of the population volunteered time for an organisation.

About 58 per cent helped a stranger.

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World's 20 most generous nations

Last updated on: October 28, 2011 13:28 IST
Lao People's Democratic Republic.

11. Lao People's Democratic Republic
World giving index score: 50%

About 64 per cent of the population gave money to charities.

About 32 per cent of the population volunteered time for an organisation.

About 53 per cent helped a stranger.

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World's 20 most generous nations

Last updated on: October 28, 2011 13:28 IST
Labourers work at a construction site above Sierra Leone's capital Freetown.

12. Sierra Leone
World giving index score: 50%

About 29 per cent of the population gave money to charities.

About 45 per cent of the population volunteered time for an organisation.

About 75 per cent helped a stranger.

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World's 20 most generous nations

Last updated on: October 28, 2011 13:28 IST
Malta International Airport.

13. Malta
World giving index score: 48%

About 83 per cent of the population gave money to charities.

About 21 per cent of the population volunteered time for an organisation.

About 40 per cent helped a stranger.

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World's 20 most generous nations

Last updated on: October 28, 2011 13:28 IST
An aerial picture shows part of Europe's biggest glacier Vatnajokull, in south-eastern Iceland.

14. Iceland
World giving index score: 47%

About 67 per cent of the population gave money to charities.

About 26 per cent of the population volunteered time for an organisation.

About 47 per cent helped a stranger.

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World's 20 most generous nations

Last updated on: October 28, 2011 13:28 IST
Turkmenistan.

15. Turkmenistan
World giving index score: 47%

About 17 per cent of the population gave money to charities.

About 61 per cent of the population volunteered time for an organisation.

About 62 per cent helped a stranger.

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World's 20 most generous nations

Last updated on: October 28, 2011 13:28 IST
Guyana.

16. Guyana
World giving index score: 45%

About 36 per cent of the population gave money to charities.

About 33 per cent of the population volunteered time for an organisation.

About 67 per cent helped a stranger.

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World's 20 most generous nations

Last updated on: October 28, 2011 13:28 IST
A view of the Navigation Tower in Doha.

17. Qatar
World giving index score: 45%

About 64 per cent of the population gave money to charities.

About 18 per cent of the population volunteered time for an organisation.

About 53 per cent helped a stranger.

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World's 20 most generous nations

Last updated on: October 28, 2011 13:28 IST
Disney's cartoon characters perform with lion dancers at Hong Kong Disneyland.

18. Hong Kong
World giving index score: 44%

About 70 per cent of the population gave money to charities.

About 13 per cent of the population volunteered time for an organisation.

About 50 per cent helped a stranger.

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World's 20 most generous nations

Last updated on: October 28, 2011 13:28 IST
Berlin Hauptbahnhof (Berlin Central Station).

19. Germany
World giving index score: 44%

About 49 per cent of the population gave money to charities.

About 28 per cent of the population volunteered time for an organisation.

About 56 per cent helped a stranger.

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World's 20 most generous nations

Last updated on: October 28, 2011 13:28 IST
Denmark.

20. Denmark
World giving index score: 44%

About 67 per cent of the population gave money to charities.

About 20 per cent of the population volunteered time for an organisation.

About 45 per cent helped a stranger.