Canadians are widely considered to be a kind and generous people. Does the stereotype extend across the country?
This week’s map investigates the geography of giving in Canada, through statistics about charitable donations. The shading and hatch pattern on the map represent provincial average annual donations (in dollars) and the percent of population that give to charity respectively. The two data layers indicate some interesting variance in how many Canadians give, and how deep they reach into their pockets.
In terms of regional tendencies, we see that Maritimers are the most likely to give a portion of their earnings to charity, with over 87% of adults in the four provinces making donations. Conversely, residents of western Canada do not contribute at the same rates as their eastern counterparts, but seem to compensate with the size of their donations (Alberta has the highest average annual donation at $562).
Donation rates are lowest in the north, but given the cost of basic amenities, it makes sense that people are spending their money on shelter and food and other such things first. With both measurements in mind, Quebecers seem like Scrooges (with an average annual donation of $208), but with a stronger social safety net than the rest of the nation these days, the charitable sector doesn’t play the same role that it does in the rest of Canada.
The numbers are pretty nuanced, though. No provinces or regions are head and tails more generous than their neighbours – some give more money, and in others a higher percentage of the population are pitching in to help those around them.
