Volunteer Work Statistics in Canada

Volunteer work has an important role in fostering social cohesion and shaping communities. Canada has a strong volunteer work sector that helps to drive positive changes in the country and strengthens the connections between individuals and communities.

In this article, we have collated statistics on volunteer work in Canada. You will find information on how many Canadians actively contribute their time and skills voluntarily, the demographics of Canadian volunteers, and the significance of volunteering across Canada. We have also included a brief section on the benefits of volunteering for anyone interested in but not yet taking part in volunteer work.

Volunteer Work Statistics for Canadians

• In 2023, 63% of Canadians aged 15 years or older took part in some form of volunteer work.
• Canadians volunteered approximately 2.3 billion hours in total in 2023.
• Among formal volunteers, hospital work remained the area with the highest number of volunteer hours.
• In 2023, the economic value of voluntary work in Canada was approximately $63 billion.
• Women from Baby Boomer and Millennial generations continue to be more likely to volunteer than men from the same age groups.
• 93% of Canadian volunteers say they are motivated by contributing to their community.
• Organising events and activities remains the most popular formal volunteer activity in Canada.
• Almost half of informal volunteers help others with chores at home or in the garden.
• More than half of Canadian charities reported fewer volunteer workers in 2023 compared to pre-pandemic levels.

Volunteer Work in Canada

The last large‑scale survey on volunteering in Canada is from 2023. In 2023, around 73% of Canadians aged 15 years or older were taking part in some type of volunteer work, either formally through an organisation or informally by helping others. Close to 24 million Canadians gave their time and skills for free in 2023, with a total of about 4.1 billion hours of volunteer work performed. On average, people who volunteered dedicated 173 hours to volunteer activities.

How Many Hours Canadians Volunteer?

Volunteers in Canada make a significant contribution to society through the time they give. In 2023, the total number of hours Canadians volunteered reached approximately 4.1 billion hours. This is equivalent to roughly 4.1 million full-time jobs. On average, Canadian volunteers contribute around 173 hours each, which is just over 21.5 eight-hour working days.

This figure alone demonstrates the impact of volunteering in Canada. Without their input, charities, non-profits, and numerous other organisations would have to spend a lot more money on paying for services rather than using their funds to benefit those in need.

Sectors With The Highest Volunteer Hours

In 2023, hospitals no longer had the highest annual hours of formal support by volunteers compared with other sectors. Volunteer hours in the hospital sector fell by about 47% compared with 2018 levels and were lower than in many other sectors. Social services and religious organisations continued to be among the sectors receiving the most volunteer hours. Formal volunteering hours also decreased in sports and recreation, education and research, and religious sectors between 2018 and 2023. 

Canadians who volunteered on their own rather than on behalf of an organisation spent around 173 hours per year helping someone who was not part of their immediate household in 2023, for example, a friend, family member, or neighbour. In addition, informal volunteering activities such as community improvement also continued, though at a lower overall rate than in earlier years.

Economic Value of Volunteer Work in Canada

The economic value of the skills and time provided by volunteers in Canada is huge. The economic value is often referred to as “volunteer dollars” and in 2023, it was worth approximately $64 billion CAD.

Volunteer Age Demographics

There is no such thing as a typical volunteer in Canada. Instead, Canadians from all walks of life take part in volunteer work. However, there are differences between age groups, men and women, and socio‑economic backgrounds. In 2023, younger adults aged 25 to 34 and women were more likely to volunteer than other groups, and people with a higher level of education were also more likely to volunteer. The highest volunteer rates were seen among people aged 15 to 24, although rates have declined compared with earlier years. Overall, about 73% of Canadians aged 15 or older had volunteered in 2023.

Older Canadians (those aged 55 and over) generally dedicated more hours on average to volunteering than younger volunteers, reflecting patterns seen in past surveys. In 2023, volunteers aged 55 and older tended to contribute more hours than younger groups, although the average annual number of hours per volunteer was about 173 hours across all age groups.

The older generations were also more likely to be “top” volunteers — a term used to define the top 10% of volunteers who contribute the most hours — with older age groups constituting a larger share of these top contributors in 2023 compared with younger age groups.

These percentages reflect the fact that older Canadians have more free time to dedicate to volunteering since they are no longer part of the active workforce. It also shows that many older Canadians are looking to use their free time to benefit their communities. It can also offer them a way to remain more social, especially if they live on their own.

Other Volunteer Demographics

In Canada, women are more likely than men to work as volunteers. The differences were mainly driven by Baby Boomers and Millennials (people born between 1981 and 1995). The difference in the number of women/ men volunteering was not noticeable in other age groups.

Canadians who are employed and have higher levels of education take part in volunteer work more frequently. Regionally, the highest volunteer rates were in Saskatchewan and Prince Edward Island, while British Columbia and Nova Scotia had the highest average volunteer annual hours.

Why Canadians Volunteer

There are several reasons why Canadians contribute their time and skills to voluntary activities. But the main reason is the wish to contribute to their community at 93%. Using skills and experiences (78%) and having been personally affected by the organisation’s cause (59%) are the second and third biggest motivators.

Canadians are also encouraged to volunteer by their friends, with 48% of volunteers giving their time because their friends do. The same percentage is also using volunteer work as an opportunity to explore their own strengths. Volunteering is also seen as a way to network (46%) and improve job opportunities (22%). 21% of Canadians also volunteer because of their religious beliefs or obligations.

However, the key motivations to volunteer differ between age groups. Among younger Canadians, improving job opportunities was an important motivator for 38% of volunteers compared to 22% across all volunteers. Often, the volunteer work was linked to their graduation or job requirements. Around 10% of volunteer hours given by iGens were mandatory unpaid work.

While younger Canadians volunteered to improve their chances of finding paid jobs, people from older generations were more likely to cite using their skills, religious or spiritual beliefs, or supporting a social or political cause as reasons to volunteer.

The Most Common Types of Formal Volunteering in Canada

In 2023, the volunteer rate for formal volunteering in Canada was 32%, down from 41% in 2018. Data on the specific breakdown of formal volunteer activities for 2023 are not yet published in the same detail as 2018, but overall participation in formal volunteering decreased significantly.

In 2018, the most common types of formal volunteering were fundraising and organising events. In 2018, 18% of Canadians had helped to organise, coordinate, or supervise events or activities. In 2018, 16% of Canadians helped to raise funds for organisations, 13% sat on a board or committee, 12% volunteered as teachers or mentors, 11% collected, served, or delivered food, and 10% provided advice or counselling.

The Most Common Types of Direct Volunteering

In 2023, 68% of Canadians aged 15 or older engaged in informal volunteering, meaning helping others on their own rather than through an organisation or group. About 51% of informal volunteers only contributed informally, while the remaining 49% did both formal and informal volunteer work. 

Among informal volunteers, 46% of Canadians said they helped others with housework and home or outdoor maintenance, while 38% helped drive others to appointments or assisted with personal or health-related care.

Younger Canadians were still more likely to teach, coach, and tutor than the oldest Canadians when volunteering informally. Helping others with paperwork, taxes, and banking remained more common among Millennials, Gen X (born 1966–1980), and Baby Boomers than the other age groups.

Great Reasons to Volunteer

• Volunteering is a great way to bring new experiences into your life. It may help you discover new interests or start a new hobby.
• You can use volunteering to connect with others. Through volunteering, you can meet new people and expand your network.
• Doing volunteer work can help you gain professional experience. It can even be useful in ”getting your foot in the door” and provide you with a great reference.
• Volunteering can improve your level of happiness. It can work as a psychological enhancer, alleviating boredom and possibly even depression.
• It is possible that volunteering can even boost your health. Some studies also show that people who volunteer may have a longer life expectancy than those who don’t.

Conclusion

Volunteering remains popular with Canadians. In 2023, 63% of the population had taken part in at least one form of voluntary activity. While the volunteer rate for formal voluntary work was 32%, many more Canadians engaged in informal voluntary work such as helping neighbours, friends, or relatives.

The most common fields for formal voluntary work were still healthcare and the religious sector, while helping out with housework, in the garden, or with maintenance remained the most common type of informal voluntary work.