Ukraine’s civil society sector generates gross value added equivalent to an estimated 4–4.5% of the country’s GDP. These are the findings of the first research of its kind in Ukraine to assess the economic contribution of civil society organisations, charitable foundations and individual volunteers. The research was conducted by CASE Ukraine at the initiative of ISAR Ednannia.
The research findings were presented in Kyiv on 11 November. Authored by Volodymyr Dubrovskiy, an economist at CASE Ukraine, the research provides the first comprehensive assessment of an economic contribution that has remained largely invisible in official statistics: the value of volunteer work, the contribution of NGOs and charitable foundations, and employment in the sector.
“Only around 0.4% of the civil society sector’s contribution to GDP is reflected in official economic statistics. Yet we know that civil society plays a much greater role in the economy. NGOs and charitable organisations create jobs, bring resources into Ukraine, mobilise volunteers and help address the country’s most pressing challenges. At ISAR Ednannia, we have long wanted to measure this contribution and make it visible not only to the public but also to those shaping public policy and making economic decisions. That is why we initiated this first-of-its-kind research, which estimates the civil society sector’s contribution at 4–4.5% of GDP,” said Volodymyr Sheyhus, Executive Director of ISAR Ednannia.
According to the research, the civil society sector’s total contribution is estimated at 3.2–5.2% of GDP, with the most likely estimate standing at 4–4.5%. Individual volunteers working independently or in informal groups account for the largest share of gross value added, contributing an estimated 2.5–3.7% of GDP. NGOs and charitable foundations contribute a further 0.7–1.5%.
The scale of volunteering is reflected in population survey findings: in 2025, 43.6% of Ukrainians engaged in volunteering in some form. Around 5 million people raised funds, while 10.3 million provided hands-on assistance. Some people engaged in both activities.
“According to our estimates, the civil society sector’s contribution to societal well-being is comparable, in scale, to that of industries such as construction, mining and quarrying, education, and healthcare. Yet most of this contribution is not captured in official statistics,” said Volodymyr Dubrovskiy, author of the research and economist at CASE Ukraine.
To assess the civil society sector’s economic contribution, the researchers used a satellite account approach. This makes it possible to estimate a sector’s contribution to the economy, including activities that are not fully reflected in the standard national accounts.
The calculations were based on the cost-of-labour method. Gross value added was estimated by including employee compensation and associated taxes, payments for services provided by sole proprietors, and volunteer hours valued using Ukraine’s average hourly wage. The research draws on three surveys conducted by Info Sapiens between 2024 and 2026.
Presentation Materials
The presentation is available for download in Ukrainian and English below:
📎 Presentation of the study (Ukrainian), PDF
📎 Presentation of the study (English), PDF
The research was conducted by CASE Ukraine, commissioned by ISAR Ednannia, with support from the Askold and Dir Fund, funded by Norway and Sweden.
