The World’s Largest Workforce No One Counts

Toily Kurbanov, UNV Executive Coordinator
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By any reasonable standard, volunteerism is one of the largest yet least understood systems underpinning global stability. The State of the World’s Volunteerism Report, recently published by United Nations Volunteers (UNV), suggests that roughly 2.1 billion people—about one third of the world’s working-age population—engage in some form of volunteering over the course of a year. Volunteerism is, therefore, not a marginal hobby of the middle class but a mass civic activity. This includes not only the familiar UN or NGO volunteer, but also the neighbour organizing food distribution, the youth coordinating mutual aid, the women maintaining informal safety nets in communities the state rarely reaches, and the corporate volunteer working online to share knowledge with a remote community.

In effect, countries and their governments already preside over a de facto national “volunteer corps” without a line in their budgets. Citizens are actively co-producing public goods—health outreach, education support, disaster response and social care—without appearing in administrative data. Increasingly, national institutions are prepared to recognize and work with this effort rather than treating it as invisible and incidental.

Why measuring volunteerism is no longer optional—but essential

Flavia Pansieri, former Executive Coordinator of UNV
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There was a time—not very long ago—when suggesting that volunteerism could be measured felt inappropriate and utopian. Yet, measuring volunteerism is critical to making sure its contributions are visible, valued, and integrated into policy and development discussions. When we launched the first State of the World’s Volunteerism Report in 2011, I remember asking a very simple question: if volunteerism matters so much, why are we not measuring it? 

The response was cautious, as some felt volunteerism was too intangible or rooted in solidarity to be captured by indicators, almost as if measuring it would devalue its contribution to a mere metric. I understood the hesitation, but I also knew that if something is not measured, it is too easily overlooked—and if it is overlooked, it is rarely recognized. After all, as the saying goes: “if you don’t count it, it doesn’t count”.

Why Volunteerism is Africa’s Secret Development Strength

Dr. Meshesha Shewarega, Coordinator of the African Union Continental Volunteer Linkage Platform
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The 2026 State of the World’s Volunteerism Report (SWVR): Volunteerism and Its Measurements arrives at a crucial time for Africa. This is not just another report to set aside; it marks a real shift in how we recognize the people who drive our progress. The 2026 SWVR puts things into perspective: every month 2.1 billion people, or one out of every three working-age adults, are out there volunteering. Africa plays a major role in this movement. For the first time, we can clearly see the scale of volunteering here: Africa has about 539 million volunteers, which is more than half of our working-age population. With a participation rate of 58.5 percent, Africa records the highest rate globally, reminding us that mutual aid is simply how communities look out for each other and get things done.

By focusing on accurate measurement of volunteer work instead of general statements, the report encourages us to reexamine how we view power, participation, and development. For those who support local action, it builds on the African Union (AU) Commission’s first  State of Volunteerism in Africa Report. It signals a real shift: volunteerism is moving from being overlooked to becoming a key part of evidence-based planning.

The private sector steps in for IVY 2026

Bonn, Germany
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From automotive and technology to pharmaceuticals, and from finance to energy, companies see IVY 2026 as an opportunity to champion volunteer action at scale. They are exploring ways to leverage their platforms, communications channels and employee engagement programmes to make the Year visible and inspire action worldwide, further highlighting the importance of corporate social responsibility.

When companies empower their employees to serve, societies grow stronger – everywhere.” Toily Kurbanov, UNV Executive Coordinator.

Casting a statistical frame around volunteerism

Tapiwa Kamuruko, Chief of Volunteer Advisory Services at UNV
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The United Nations Volunteers’ flagship publication, the State of the World’s Volunteerism Report, released its latest edition in December, unveiling the Global Index of Volunteer Engagement (GIVE)—a new compass for understanding how people give their time and spirit to the world. Its arrival has sparked conversations far beyond traditional volunteerism circles, prompting both cautious reflection and heartfelt celebration. 

Of the conversations that have unfolded, I have heard voices of wonder and hesitation alike: How can volunteerism be measured when its very essence is fluid and human? Why quantify something so deeply intrinsic, so rooted in the quiet generosity of the heart? And who, after all, seeks such data?

Yet even amidst the questions, praise has echoed from every corner, carried by relief that at last, it is here. 

The pyramid of growth: A volunteer's voice from Albania

United Nations Volunteers
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“My place is where policies meet people.” For Besmira Doma, that line was never abstract. It shaped her studies, her choices, and her decision to work at the point where decisions on paper turn into change in real lives. With graduate degrees in Public Service Administration and Governance and Public Policy, she did not stop at theory. Today, as a UN Volunteer with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in Albania, Besmira serves as a Youth Empowerment Officer—bringing policy down to street level, and young people into the conversation. This is her story.

“Life took an unexpected turn during my master’s studies. Just when everything seemed to be falling into place, I began feeling unwell. Doctors confirmed a neurological diagnosis, and my world shifted. I faced both physical and mental barriers, compounded by social stigma. I found myself asking, “Why me?” 

I never wanted to be defined by pity or by my condition. What I knew, even in that uncertainty, was that I wanted to be recognized for my intellect and contribution, not for my health challenges. 

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