# Volunteerism trends in North Rhine-Westphalia

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/volunteerism-trends-in-north-rhine-westphalia
> Updated: 2026-09-09T14:05:00.000Z. Sources: 12. Developments: 2.

The Ehrenamtatlas 2026 report indicates that while the proportion of volunteers in North Rhine-Westphalia remains stable at 53 percent, the total number of volunteers has decreased from 8.5 million in 2024 to 7.9 million in 2026. 

Despite the lower headcount, the average time invested per volunteer has risen from 208 to 224 hours annually. Sports continues to be the primary sector for engagement, representing 23 percent of activities. 

A notable trend is the decline in youth participation, with volunteers aged 18 to 29 dropping from 58 percent in 2024 to 46 percent in 2026. Researchers attributed this to future uncertainty and time constraints. Other reported obstacles to volunteering include bureaucracy, insufficient funding, and inadequate digital tools.

## Claims

- The number of suspects under the age of 21 in North Rhine-Westphalia has decreased by approximately six percent. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- Compared to 2023, the number of young suspects has dropped by nearly 40 percent. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- The number of offenses committed by children, youths, or young adults fell from 138,000 to approximately 128,500. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- Violence at schools decreased by 14.2 percent. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- Offenses committed by youths on the internet increased by 2.5 percent to approximately 10,400 suspects. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- Crimes committed by young people under the influence of alcohol reached their lowest level in ten years. (corroborated by 3 sources)

## Timeline

### 2026-09-09: North Rhine-Westphalia reports decline in youth crime

Youth crime in North Rhine-Westphalia has dropped significantly, with a 6% decrease in suspects under 21, though internet-related offenses among youths rose by 2.5%.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/north-rhine-westphalia-reports-decline-in-youth-crime

### 2026-08-26: North Rhine-Westphalia volunteer numbers show decline in youth participation

The Ehrenamtatlas 2026 shows 7.9 million people volunteer in NRW. While annual hours per person have risen, participation among those aged 18–29 has dropped significantly to 46 percent.

10 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/nordrhein-westfalen-volunteer-numbers-remain-stable-despite-youth-decline

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Cite as: Volunteerism trends in North Rhine-Westphalia. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/volunteerism-trends-in-north-rhine-westphalia