By Aaron Earls
Once again, Utah has been named the most charitable state.
Wallet Hub, a financial information site, analyzed data from the World Giving Index to identify the most (and least) giving states in the country.
While the U.S. slipped in the global rankings—down to fifth in 2017 from second in 2016—Utah maintained the top spot among U.S. states.
The Mormon-heavy Western state has the highest volunteer rate and highest percentage of population who donated time. It is also tied for the highest percentage of donated income, and the highest percentage of the population who donate money.
Wallet Hub combined 14 indicators of charitable behavior into two main categories—charitable giving and volunteering and service. Utah ranked first in giving and seventh in service.
South Dakota was tops for volunteering and service, but 37th in charitable giving.
On the other end of the spectrum from Utah is Hawaii, rated as the least charitable state. It was 48th in volunteering and service and 44th in charitable giving.
Rhode Island (49th overall) finished last in volunteering and service, while Arizona (46th overall) was at the bottom for charitable giving.
The full ranking of the most charitable states in America:
- Utah
- Maryland
- Minnesota
- Wyoming
- Wisconsin
- Washington
- Virginia
- South Dakota
- Georgia
- Oklahoma
- Connecticut
- Kansas
- New Hampshire
- Oregon
- New York
- Ohio
- North Dakota
- Missouri
- South Carolina
- Nebraska
- Tennessee
- Delaware
- Idaho
- Pennsylvania
- Arkansas
- Colorado
- Maine
- North Carolina
- Illinois
- Alabama
- New Jersey
- Iowa
- Vermont
- Alaska
- Massachusetts
- West Virginia
- Mississippi
- Indiana
- Michigan
- New Mexico
- Kentucky
- Montana
- California
- Florida
- Texas
- Arizona
- Louisiana
- Nevada
- Rhode Island
- Hawaii
Factors like region of the country, statewide wealth, and religious devotion do not seem to be good predictors of a state’s placement on the list.
While Utah tops the list as a Western state, Nevada (48th) is close to the bottom. Virginia (7th) and Georgia (9th) rank as top 10 Southern states, but Texas (45th) and Louisiana (47th) fall in the bottom 10.
Oklahoma is 40th in terms of state wealth, but the 10th most charitable. As the most charitable state, Utah ranks as the 21st wealthiest. New Jersey is the richest state, but the 31st most charitable. The least charitable state, Hawaii, is the 11th wealthiest.
Gallup found Mississippi to be the most religious state, but Mississippi is only the 37th most charitable. The least religious state, Vermont, finds itself a few spots higher on the charitable list—33rd.
Utah, South Dakota, Oklahoma, and Georgia are the only states in the top 10 of the most charitable and most religious states.
AARON EARLS (@WardrobeDoor) is online editor of Facts & Trends.
