Volunteering in Italy - Year 2023

Fewer organized volunteers, more active on multiple fronts

In 2023, 9.1% of the population aged 15 and over—around 4.7 million people—engaged in voluntary activities, either through organizations or by providing direct help. This is 3.6 percentage points lower than in 2013, with significant territorial and generational differences. The number of volunteers active on both forms doubled since 2013: about one million people combine organized and direct volunteering (+13.6 p.p.).

Organized volunteering increased in recreational and cultural sectors (+6.4 p.p.), social assistance and civil protection (+7.7 p.p.), and environmental protection (+1.7 p.p.), while it declined in religious (-5.8 p.p.), sports (-1.9 p.p.), and health (-1.3 p.p.) sectors. There has also been a drop in those offering direct help to people they know (-10.1 p.p.), while more people are now helping communities, the environment, and local territories through direct volunteering (+14.7 p.p.).

The main motivations for organized volunteering include shared ideals (31.1%) and contributing to the common good (21.5%). For direct help, the most cited reasons are emergency situations (27.5%) and supporting those in need (24.6%). Despite the downward trend—also reflected in the average time spent on volunteering, which decreased from 19 to 18 hours over four weeks—voluntary work remains a pillar of social cohesion.

Fewer volunteers, but more active on multiple fronts

In 2023, approximately 4.7 million people (9.1% of the population aged 15 and over) engaged in voluntary activities during the four weeks prior to the interview, either through organized activities or by providing direct help. This represents a decrease of 3.6 percentage points compared to 2013. Organized volunteering—i.e., carried out through groups, associations, or organizations—involves 6.2% of the population (3.2 million people). Non-organized volunteering, consisting of direct help provided to people outside the family, to the community, or to the environment, involves 4.9% (2.5 million people). Among volunteers, 46.1% participate exclusively in organized settings, 32.2% only provide direct help, while a significant share (21.7%, about one million people) combines both forms.

Participation shows clear territorial divide: in the North, 8.2% engage in organization-based activities and 6.0% provide direct help; the North-East is the most active area (9.1% and 6.2%). The Centre follows (5.8% and 4.9%), and the South and Islands lag behind (3.6% and 3.4%).

Compared to 2013, there has been a general decline in participation: organized volunteering fell from 7.9% to 6.2%, while non-organized volunteering decreased from 5.8% to 4.9%. The decline was more contained in the North (−1.5 p.p. for organized, direct volunteering remained stable), but more pronounced in the Centre (−2.1 and −1.9 p.p.) and in the South and Islands (−1.9 and −1.3 p.p.).

In 2023, men and women volunteered at similar rates: 6.6% of men and 5.8% of women were involved in organized activities. In direct help, the percentages were reversed: 4.8% of men and 5.1% of women. In terms of composition, this means that 51.9% of organized volunteers are men and 48.1% women; for direct help, men make up 46.9% and women 53.1%. Compared to 2013, the decline was more pronounced among men than among women: in organized volunteering, men dropped from 8.9% to 6.6%, and women from 7.0% to 5.8%. In direct help, the drop was also greater among men (from 5.7% to 4.8%) than among women (from 5.9% to 5.1%). Thus, women remain slightly more active in direct help and men in organized volunteering, but the participation gap has narrowed due to the sharper decline among men.

Over the past 10 years, participation patterns have changed significantly. Among volunteers, those active only in organized settings decreased from 54.3% to 46.1%, and those active only in direct help from 37.6% to 32.2%. Conversely, hybrid participation has grown sharply: from 8.1% to 21.7% (+13.6 percentage points).

Volunteering still higher among graduates, but falling overall

The link between volunteering and educational level remains strong in 2023: people with higher education are more frequently involved in both organized volunteering and direct help. Among graduates, 10.3% participate in organized volunteering and 7.9% in direct help. For those with a high school diploma, the rates are 6.6% and 5.1%, respectively. Participation is lower among people with lower levels of education (Figure 1).

Compared to 2013, the decline in volunteering is more pronounced among those with higher education. Among university graduates, organized volunteering fell from 13.6% to 10.3%, and direct help from 10.9% to 7.9%. High school graduates experienced the sharpest drop in organized volunteering, from 10.0% to 6.6%, and also declined in direct help (from 6.4% to 5.1%). Changes were smaller among people with lower qualifications—a heterogeneous group including both young people still in education and older individuals with a low level of education.

Volunteering participation: older age groups maintain strong engagement

In 2023, volunteering is especially common among adults: the highest participation rates are observed among people aged 45–64 (7.2% for organized volunteering and 5.9% for direct help) and among those aged 65 and over (6.2% and 5.5%, respectively). Young people (aged 15–24) show a preference for organized forms (5.3%) over direct help (2.9%), while for those aged 25–44 the two forms are nearly equal (4.8% and 4.9%).

Between 2013 and 2023, the decline in participation mainly affected younger generations. The 25–44 age group recorded the sharpest drop in both forms: −2.7 percentage points in organized volunteering and −1.4 points in direct help. Participation among 15–24-year-olds also declined: −2.2 p.p. in organized volunteering and −0.7 p.p. in direct hep.

By contrast, volunteering among those aged 65 and over remained stable or slightly increased: organized volunteering rose from 5.8% to 6.2%, and direct help from 4.5% to 5.5%, highlighting the sustained civic commitment of older generations.

These trends are reflected by employment status. In 2023, retirees were the most active in organized volunteering (7.8%) and direct help (5.2%), followed by employed individuals (6.3% and 5.3%) and the unemployed (5.9% and 6.0%). Students (5.5% and 3.4%) and housewives (4.6% and 4.4%) showed more limited involvement.

Compared to 2013, the largest decline occurred among students: −4.0 percentage points in organized volunteering (from 9.5% to 5.5%) and −0.9 p.p. in direct help (from 4.3% to 3.4%). Employed people also saw a significant drop (−2.8 p.p. in organized and −1.6 p.p. in direct volunteering). Conversely, retirees and housewives showed relative stability over time, confirming the central role of older generations in sustaining volunteer engagement.