Kiwis are still some of the most generous people in the world according to the Economist magazine's Pocket World in Figures 2013.

The book of world facts and figures ranks everything from the biggest boozers and smokers, to the countries with the highest divorce rates and Nobel Peace Prize winners.

New Zealand was ranked fourth for charitable behaviour with 57 per cent of the population giving money or time to charity or helping a stranger in the month before the survey.

The charitable rankings are based on the most recent World Giving Index, the largest study into charitable behaviour involving more than 150 countries.

New Zealanders had previously held the top spot but were outdone by the United States, who topped the list of charity champs with 60 per cent.

Among the least generous countries in the rankings were Greece on 13 per cent, Croatia on 15 per cent and Madagascar, bottom on 12 per cent.

Volunteering New Zealand chief executive Vanisa Dhiru said the organisation was not surprised with New Zealand's ranking as it was a generous country with 1.2 million volunteers.

"Kiwis generally have a 'get stuck in' mentality. If there is something that needs to be done or said, we are a nation that will try our best to help, particularly in times of disaster and response."

There were many people that gave their time as coaches, served on school boards and residents' associations without even considering it volunteering, she said.

Volunteer Wellington co-manager Pauline Harper said the organisation had been contacted by more than 3000 people this year across Wellington who wanted to volunteer their time.

Oxfam New Zealand executive director Barry Coates said New Zealand's continued generosity was encouraging.

"Despite tightening our belts, Kiwis are thankful for what they have and want to reach out to others."

The Live Below the Line campaign raising money to combat extreme poverty was a great example of this, he said.

More than 1000 people will be living on $2.25 worth of food per day for five days next week for the cause.

"Participation this year is massively up from last year, which is a testament to our giving nature," he said.

Auckland sales rep Julia Knight is one Kiwi looking to make a difference and has come up with a novel way of giving money to charity.

The 23-year-old recent graduate said she was tired of trying to decide which charity to support with the little money she could afford to donate.

Her project 'Do-Nation' will see her donate $20 a month to one charity picked at random from a list of worthy causes.

"I hope other people will get involved and think about doing something similar. A small donation can make a big difference," she said.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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