How much did Australians Table 2: Volunteering by age group & gender 2016 volunteer? Age Percentage Average hours group volunteering volunteered An estimated 43.7% of adult Australians volunteered a total of 932 million hours in the 12 months prior to 18–24 38.3% 106 when surveyed in 2016. On average, volunteers gave Male 35.5% 80 134 hours of their time over 12 months in 2015-16* or Female 41.4% 130 about 2.5 hours a week. The median number of hours 25–34 37.1% 98 volunteered annually was 55 hours (half did more and Male 34.2% 94 half did less). Female 40.0% 101 *Participants were surveyed over February to September 35–44 50.7% 109 2016 about giving in the 12 months prior. Male 41.7% 114 What is the trend? Female 59.6% 105 Volunteering time and hours have both increased over 45–54 47.4% 131 the past decade. Male 46.3% 113 Female 48.4% 149 Table 1: Volunteering, 2005 & 2016 55–64 43.6% 157 Giving Australia 2005 2016 Male 41.2% 165 Percentage Female 45.9% 149 41% 43.7% volunteering 65+ 43.8% 193 Total number of Male 42.6% 191 836 million 932 million hours in past 12 Female 44.9% 195 hours hours months Average number of Total 43.7% 134 132 hours 134 hours hours Male 40.3% 130 Median number of Female 46.9% 138 44 hours 55 hours hours Do volunteers give more? Who volunteers? Some 38.2% of people responding both volunteered and donated to nonprofit organisations. Different types of volunteering are more common Table 3: Giving of money and time 2016 depending on age, life stage, income, education, gender, % donated Average donation ($) cultural background and religious group: women are more likely to volunteer than men Volunteer and 87.4% $1,017.11 people aged between 35 and 44 are more likely to donor volunteer than other age groups, with 45–54 year Non-volunteer 75.6% $536.69 olds the second most likely to volunteer, and and donor Total* 80.8% $764.08 volunteers 65 years and over volunteered the most *Totals may not equal the sum of components due to hours on average. rounding
How much did Australians volunteer? An estimated 43.7% of adult Australians volunteered a total of 932 million hours in the 12 months prior to when surveyed in 2016. On average, volunteers gave 134 hours of their time over 12 months in 2015-16* or about 2.5 hours a week. The median number of hours volunteered annually was 55 hours (half did more and half did less). *Participants were surveyed over February to September 2016 about giving in the 12 months prior. What is the trend? Volunteering time and hours have both increased over the past decade. Table 1: Volunteering, 2005 & 2016 Giving Australia 2005 2016 Percentage volunteering 41% 43.7% Total number of hours in past 12 months 836 million hours 932 million hours Average number of hours 132 hours 134 hours Median number of hours 44 hours 55 hours Who volunteers? Different types of volunteering are more common depending on age, life stage, income, education, gender, cultural background and religious group: women are more likely to volunteer than men people aged between 35 and 44 are more likely to volunteer than other age groups, with 45–54 year olds the second most likely to volunteer, and volunteers 65 years and over volunteered the most hours on average. Table 2: Volunteering by age group & gender 2016 Age group Percentage volunteering Average hours volunteered 18–24 38.3% 106 Male 35.5% 80 Female 41.4% 130 25–34 37.1% 98 Male 34.2% 94 Female 40.0% 101 35–44 50.7% 109 Male 41.7% 114 Female 59.6% 105 45–54 47.4% 131 Male 46.3% 113 Female 48.4% 149 55–64 43.6% 157 Male 41.2% 165 Female 45.9% 149 65+ 43.8% 193 Male 42.6% 191 Female 44.9% 195 Total 43.7% 134 Male 40.3% 130 Female 46.9% 138 Do volunteers give more? Some 38.2% of people responding both volunteered and donated to nonprofit organisations. Table 3: Giving of money and time 2016 % donated Average donation ($) Volunteer and donor 87.4% $1,017.11 Non-volunteer and donor 75.6% $536.69 Total* 80.8% $764.08 *Totals may not equal the sum of components due to rounding
giving_australia_2016_fact_sheet_-_individual_volunteering.docx