International Volunteer Day observed on 5 December with theme 'Every Contribution Matters'

Key facts

• International Volunteer Day (IVD) is celebrated on 5 December every year.
• It started as an international observance mandated by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in 1985.
• The theme for International Volunteer Day (IVD) 2025 is “Every Contribution Matters.”
• International Volunteer Day (IVD) 2025 marks the official global launch of the International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development (IVY 2026).
• The International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development (IVY 2026) will be globally launched on 5 December at the United Nations (UN) General Assembly Hall in New York.
• United Nations (UN) General Assembly Resolution A/RES/78/127 calls for a worldwide movement to recognize the vital role of volunteers in accelerating progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.
• The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme recognizes shared universal values underpinning volunteerism, including free will, commitment, equity, engagement, solidarity, compassion, empathy, and respect for others.
• The State of the World’s Volunteerism Report (SWVR) is a flagship United Nations (UN) publication produced every three years.
• The latest edition of the State of the World’s Volunteerism Report (SWVR) is titled 'Building Equal and Inclusive Societies'.
• There are an estimated 1 billion volunteers worldwide, with around 70% volunteering informally and 30% engaging through formal organizations.
• International Year of Volunteers was observed in 2001.