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The National Statistics Office has reported that in 2008 there were 21,920 persons aged 12 and over doing some form of voluntary work, while 12,650 persons were members of a voluntary organisation.

From the Survey on Income and Living Conditions, it emerged that there were 21,920 persons aged 12 and over doing voluntary work in 2008, of whom 49 per cent were active within a voluntary organisation, 42 per cent within another entity and 8 per cent were doing informal voluntary work.

The majority of male volunteers were volunteering within a voluntary organisation, while most of the female volunteers were volunteering within another entity. The majority of voluntary workers for all types fell in the age group 25-49, followed by 50-64.

More than 40 per cent of persons doing voluntary work within a voluntary organisation were doing so in membership organisations; this was followed by organisations performing social work activities (24 per cent) and religious organisations (16 per cent).

The main role of persons doing voluntary work within a voluntary organisation was administrative (46 per cent). 38 per cent played an active role in the organisation’s activities, while 17 per cent played a supporting role. The majority of males had been doing voluntary work for 5-10 years, while the largest share of females had been volunteering for less than 5 years. 27 per cent of persons had been doing voluntary work for more than 10 years.

The most popular reason for doing voluntary work – with 45 per cent – was that these persons felt that it was their moral duty to do so. This was followed by ‘to meet new people’ with 20 per cent, and ‘sympathy for the needy’ with 15 per cent. The largest share of persons (36 per cent) volunteered for less than 10 hours in a typical month. 24 per cent volunteered for between 10-19 hours, 20 per cent for 20-29 hours, and another 20 per cent for 30 hours or more.

Males tended to spend slightly more time volunteering than females, with the averages standing at 23 hours and 21 hours respectively. The average number of hours was also highest for persons aged 12-24, with these spending an average of 24 hours a month. Persons spending the most time volunteering, with an average of 43 hours a month, were doing informal voluntary work, while persons volunteering within a voluntary organisation were contributing an average of 24 hours a month.

Unemployed persons spent the most time doing voluntary work, with an average of 36 hours in a typical month. Retired persons spent an average of 24 hours, while persons at work spent an average of 20 hours. A total of 12,650 persons were members of a voluntary organisation, of whom 31 per cent were paid members. Males made up 53 per cent of total membership: 63 per cent of paid and 48 per cent of unpaid members.