North Rhine-Westphalia volunteer numbers show decline in youth participation

The Ehrenamtatlas 2026, presented by WestLotto in Düsseldorf, reveals that 7.9 million people in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) are engaged in volunteer work. While the overall proportion of volunteers remains relatively stable at 53 percent, there has been a decline in the total number of volunteers from 8.5 million in 2024.

Despite the decrease in total numbers, the average time invested per volunteer has increased from 208 hours to 224 hours per year. Sports remains the largest sector for engagement, accounting for 23 percent of volunteer activities.

A significant trend noted in the study is the decline in participation among younger people. The proportion of volunteers aged 18 to 29 dropped from 58 percent in 2024 to 46 percent in 2026. Researcher Andrea Walter attributed this to a lack of time and a sense of uncertainty regarding the future. Key obstacles cited by volunteers include insufficient funding, lack of time, excessive bureaucracy, and inadequate digital tools.