Volunteering by Canadians in 2018

Release date: April 23, 2021
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Infographic: Volunteering by Canadians in 2018
Description: Volunteering by Canadians in 2018

Volunteering by Canadians in 2018

In 2018, over 24 million people volunteered formally (i.e., for an organization), informally (on their own), or both formally and informally, accounting for 79% of Canadians aged 15 and older. They dedicated approximately 5 billion hours to volunteer activities, equivalent to over 2.5 million full-time year-round jobs.

Among all generations, iGens were the most likely to engage in formal volunteering, at 52%, but Matures contributed the most average hours to formal volunteering activities.


Formal volunteering rates and average hours per year, population aged 15 and older, by generation, 2018
Table summary
This table displays the results of Formal volunteering rates and average hours per year. The information is grouped by Generation (appearing as row headers), Formal volunteering rate and Average hours (appearing as column headers).
Generation Formal volunteering rate Average hours
iGen (born in 1996 and later) 52% 82
Millennials (born 1981 to 1995) 40% 115
Generation X (born 1966 to 1980) 44% 120
Baby boomers (born 1946 to 1965) 39% 153
Matures (born 1918 to 1945) 32% 222
Source: Statistics Canada, General Social Survey – Giving, Volunteering and Participating, 2018.

Among Canadians, more hours were dedicated to hospitals and religious organizations.


Average hours of formal volunteering per year, population aged 15 and older, by organization type, 2018
Table summary
This table displays the results of Average hours of formal volunteering per year. The information is grouped by Organization type (appearing as row headers), Average hours (appearing as column headers).
Organization type Average hours
Hospitals 111
Religious organizations 110
Sports and recreation 105
Arts and culture 104
Source: Statistics Canada, General Social Survey – Giving, Volunteering and Participating, 2018.

In 2018, more Canadians engaged in informal volunteering activities. Close to 23 million people volunteered on their own, while about half (12.7 million) devoted time to volunteering activities mediated by organizations such as hospitals.

Note: Formal volunteering is when people volunteer for and on behalf of organizations, while informal volunteering is engagement in activities on one’s own (e.g., picking up groceries for a neighbour).

Source: Hahmann, Tara. 2021. “Volunteering counts: Formal and informal contributions of Canadians in 2018.” Insights on Canadian Society. April. Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 75-006-X.

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Published by authority of the Minister responsible for Statistics Canada.

© Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada as represented by the Minister of Industry, 2021

All rights reserved. Use of this publication is governed by the Statistics Canada Open Licence Agreement.

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