The World’s Largest Workforce That No One Counts
Volunteerism is one of the largest yet least recognised systems supporting global stability, according to the State of the World’s Volunteerism Report published by United Nations Volunteers (UNV). Roughly 2.1 billion people, about one third of the world’s working-age population, engage in some form of volunteering each year, making it a mass civic activity rather than a marginal hobby.
Toily Kurbanov, UNV Executive Coordinator, emphasised that volunteer efforts extend far beyond traditional UN or NGO programmes. “From neighbours organising food distribution, youth coordinating mutual aid, to women maintaining informal community safety nets, citizens are co-producing essential public goods in ways often invisible to governments,” he said.
Despite its scale, reliable data on volunteerism remain scarce. Definitions vary widely, informal volunteering is undercounted, and national surveys are often sporadic. “Without high-quality data, governments celebrate the spirit of volunteerism but fail to fully manage or harness this crucial workforce,” Kurbanov noted.
The report highlights that informal volunteering, including mutual aid, peer support and community self-help, outpaces formal volunteering by roughly two to one globally. Communities self-organising during crises, diaspora networks mobilising resources, and neighbours providing care exemplify this often unseen effort that strengthens national resilience.
For developing countries, informal networks already deliver health outreach, education support and disaster response at scale. In developed economies, the pandemic revealed untapped potential in community solidarity. UNV recommends integrating informal volunteering into national development strategies and statistical systems. Governments should provide micro-grants, digital tools, training and recognition without imposing bureaucracy that could stifle community initiatives.
The report also introduces the Global Index of Volunteer Engagement, known as GIVE. This framework is designed to measure volunteering more comprehensively and comparably across countries. GIVE evaluates the value of volunteering for individuals, societies and economies, while assessing the enabling environment for volunteer engagement. It provides governments with a pathway to inform policy and investment in volunteering.
As 2026 has been designated the International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development by the United Nations General Assembly, governments, civil society organisations and the private sector are investing in systems to measure and support volunteer action. UNV continues to share knowledge globally to ensure lessons from communities and countries inform international standards.
Kurbanov concluded, “Leaving 2.1 billion contributors undervalued and invisible means overlooking one of the most powerful accelerators for peace and development available today.”
