MasterCard Survey Highlights the Most Charitable in Asia, Middle East + Africa

The current financial downturn is not stopping consumers from doing their bit to help the less fortunate.

A survey by MasterCard Worldwide found that 50% of consumers in Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Africa have plans to contribute towards a charitable cause in the second half of the year.

Consumers in Kuwait (79%), Qatar (75%), Indonesia (71%) and Australia (71%) are opening their hearts and wallets, with the highest proportion of consumers planning to make donations.

Women (51%) are slightly more inclined towards making a charitable contribution than their male counterparts (49%).

These were the findings from a consumer survey conducted between 23 March and 18 April 2009. A total of 9,211 consumers from 21 markets were surveyed on their plans to make a charitable donation in the following 6 months.

The majority of consumers across 18 out of the 21 markets in Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Africa  are looking to donate less than 2% of their annual income.

In Indonesia (66%) and Kuwait (30%), the majority of consumers are willing to put 2%-5% and 5% respectively, of their annual income towards charitable causes.

In South Korea, consumers who are planning to donate form two ends of the spectrum, with 33% looking to give less than 1% of their annual income and another 33% planning to give more than 5% of their annual income.

Interestingly, elder consumers have a higher propensity to donate with 54% of consumers aged 46-55 years and 55% of consumers aged 56 and above planning charitable contributions.

This compares with 46% of consumers below the age of 30 and 50% of consumers aged 31-45 who plan to donate.

Those who are married (53%) or divorced (53%) are also more likely to donate compared to those who are single (45%).

continued: Market Highlights - The Most Charitable in Asia, Middle East + Africa - Page 2 of 3, Page 3 of 3.

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