![\"UK](\"https:\/\/www.policybee.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/charity-report-istock.png\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nThe number of registered charities in the UK is massive. 170,056 charities appeared on the Charity Commission\u2019s register<\/a>, as of March 2024. And between March 2024 and January 2025, another 668<\/a> charities were registered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the total number of charities in the UK is unknown, since only not-for-profits with a gross annual income of \u00a35,000 or more<\/a> have to register.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s difficult to know exactly how many extra, unregistered charities there are. But it\u2019s estimated there are between 80,000 and 100,000<\/a> across England and Wales.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Plus, as many as 20,000 organisations<\/a> that aren’t generally regarded as charities also have charitable status \u2013 like private schools, churches, and museums.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The last few years have been a bumpy road for many charities. Especially small and micro charities. Rising costs, more demand for their services, and dwindling donor numbers have led to many of these important not-for-profits closing their doors in 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This article looks in-depth at UK charity statistics and the state of the sector in 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n All figures are the most up-to-date available at the time of publishing.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n In 2023\/24, the total income of charities registered in the UK was \u00a396bn<\/a> (up from \u00a388bn in 2022\/23). From January 2025, this figure stands at over \u00a3100bn<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The voluntary sector contributes around \u00a318bn<\/a> to the UK economy each year. Account for its social impact and the value of charitable donations in the statistics, however, and it\u2019s worth much more \u2013 \u00a323bn<\/a>, according to one report.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The amount of money charities make has increased overall when compared with recent years (though never quite reaching pre-pandemic levels). Charity donations statistics in the UK show that people are giving more generously<\/a>, with regular donations up by 3%<\/a> in 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite the gap between charity income and spending narrowing slightly, total charity spending remained high in 2024, at \u00a394 billion (\u00a385 billion in 2022\/23).<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n The UK’s largest charities (AKA organisations with incomes over \u00a310m) make up less than 1%<\/a> of the charity sector. Yet despite being low in number, they account for over 66% of all charity spending.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The largest charities in the UK<\/a> (by income) in 2025:<\/p>\n\n\n\n A dive into the statistics on the income and spending of the UK\u2019s biggest charities<\/a> show that most of their money comes from a mixture of donations, legacies and\/or charitable activities<\/a>, and is largely spent on fundraising and charitable activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Interestingly, a charity\u2019s income doesn\u2019t necessarily reflect its popularity (AKA how many people have a good opinion of it) in the statistics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A YouGov poll revealed the UK\u2019s most popular charities<\/a> in 2025:<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to these results, adults in the UK think positively of a range of different charities, but particularly ones carrying out research into serious and life-changing conditions like cancer and Alzheimer\u2019s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Analysing the popularity rankings across different generations reveals some interesting trends, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Millennials<\/a> are more likely to support animal charities (eg Dogs Trust) and environment-focused initiatives (eg Keep Britain Tidy). Meanwhile, mental health (eg Samaritans) and children\u2019s charities (eg Children in Need and Great Ormond Street Hospital) rank highly among both Gen X<\/a> and Baby Boomers<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n There are lots of different ways to interpret the UK\u2019s \u2018most common\u2019 charity causes. Here, we mean the charitable causes represented by the largest number of small voluntary organisations (income less than \u00a3100k).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Small charities make up over 80% of the UK’s charity sector. And so their impact on local communities is huge. <\/p>\n\n\n\n According to UK small charity statistics gathered by the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO), the most common small charity causes<\/a> in 2020\/21 were:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Village halls, youth clubs, and scout groups also featured further down the list. They made up a combined 9% of voluntary organisations in the UK.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n The geographical breakdown of the voluntary sector workforce<\/a> across the UK in 2024 is:<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Of the 170,056 charities registered in the UK<\/a> in 2024, the geographical breakdown<\/a> was as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Scotland had the highest number of registered smaller charities<\/a> per 1,000 people in the population at 3.6. Wales had the lowest at 2.3 per 1,000 people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to the latest UK charity sector statistics, larger charity organisations are more likely to be active nationally and internationally. Whereas smaller ones operate locally, often within the county or area they are based.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Most of the UK\u2019s biggest voluntary organisations are based in London and the south.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Having seen a period of huge digital acceleration, shifts in working models, and the streamlining of operations post-pandemic, UK charities have had to invest heavily in their services to keep up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Digital growth is a huge benefit for charities, allowing them to effectively analyse data and communicate with their audiences in new ways. In 2025, blockchain technology<\/a> could be one of the strategies charities increasingly develop to consolidate support among their donors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Yet despite small charities making up over 80%<\/a> of the UK\u2019s charity sector, investment is significantly higher among larger organisations. 72%<\/a> of small charities cited squeezed finances as the reason they\u2019re struggling digitally in 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Recent statistics on charity spending show that large charities (income of \u00a31m or more) have more money to spend on pioneering tech solutions and fundraising strategies. And that 36%<\/a> of small charities have an advanced digital strategy compared to 74% of large charities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Charities of all shapes and sizes need specialist insurance to protect them from risk. Just because you\u2019re doing something good doesn\u2019t mean others won\u2019t point the finger of blame if something goes wrong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What kind of cover suits any organisation best will depend on whether they’re a charity, club, or community group. Also, what their purpose is, including if they offer a service or advice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Public liability insurance<\/a> covers events, fundraisers, and meetings in case of injury to anyone attending or damage to property. Employers\u2019 liability insurance for charities<\/a> is the only cover required legally and protects an organisation\u2019s staff and volunteers. Trustees\u2019 insurance<\/a> protects trustees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Contents and portable equipment insurance<\/a> covers loss of or damage to kit, big or small. And professional indemnity insurance<\/a> deals with claims an organisation\u2019s service was sub-standard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Charity cyber insurance<\/a> provides technical expertise, plus legal, PR, and financial help if an organisation is targeted by cybercriminals. It also deals with data breaches \u2013 which is important when over a third<\/a> of charities confessed to being targeted by one in 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Need help narrowing down your insurance needs? Take a look at our charity and not-for-profit insurance hub<\/a> for help and advice. Or give our friendly team a call on 0345 222 5391<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Image used under license from iStock. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The number of registered charities in the UK is massive. 170,056 charities appeared on the Charity Commission\u2019s register, as of March 2024. And between March 2024 and January 2025, another 668 charities were registered. However, the total number of charities … Continue reading UK charity sector statistics & key facts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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How much do charities make in a year?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The UK’s biggest charities<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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The most popular UK charities<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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The most common small charity causes in the UK<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Statistics & key facts about the UK charity workforce<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Where are UK charities based?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Mind the digital gap<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Generously protected<\/h2>\n\n\n\n