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While volunteering can take place in a variety of contexts, such as in a political, religious or municipal organization, with one or more individuals, or in a virtual setting, most French volunteers are active in associations. Between 2010 and 2016, the proportion of people volunteering in associations increased. In 2010, **** percent of French people were volunteers, compared to one quarter in 2016. Since then, this proportion has been declining, and reached **** percent in 2022.

Who are the volunteers?

Over the period from 2010 to 2022, with the exception of 2019, the . In 2022, ** percent of men were volunteers, compared with ** percent of their female counterparts.
Regarding the , it is necessary to wait until the age group to observe a significant increase (nearly ten points) in the share of French people involved in an association. This proportion peaks between the ages of ** and ** (** percent), and remains high until the age of **. Older people are also more likely to than younger French people. In contrast, only ** percent of people aged were volunteering in an association in 2022. In addition, . In 2022, ** percent of people with a higher education degree were involved in an association, compared to ** percent of those with only a baccalaureat, and ** percent of those with a vocational training certificate or a vocational diploma.

Volunteer motivations

is the main driving force behind volunteers who get involved in unpaid activities as diverse as sports, culture or leisure, humanitarian work, health, social action, defence of rights, defence of the environment and biodiversity, or education. Many are also involved for personal fulfillment or because of the cause they are defending. Moreover, when we look at the , the notions of citizenship and usefulness are the most often mentioned.
In 2022, more than seven out of ten volunteers cited contact and exchange with others as the . Many of them also found satisfaction in the pleasure of being useful and efficient, as well as in the conviviality of the environment.

Interruption of the commitment

The study conducted by the IFOP institute in January 2022 revealed that ** percent of the French have once volunteered for an association, but are no longer involved today. Among the , the most often cited are lack of time (** percent), change of personal or professional life (** percent), as well as the wish to think more about oneself and one's loved ones (** percent).