A greater proportion of Britons donate to charity in an average month than nationals of any other developed country in the world, according to a global survey of generosity released by the Charities Aid Foundation.

More than three-quarters of Brits told the CAF World Giving Index survey that they give to charity in an average month, the highest proportion in the developed world.

In comparison, 62 per cent of Americans gave in an average month. Overall, however, the UK came sixth in the global rankings of generosity, which take into account donations, volunteering and helping others in the community. In 2011 the UK ranked fifth and last year it came in eighth place. The US topped the rankings this year.

Nearly a third of UK respondents said they volunteered and 65 per cent reported having helped a stranger within a typical month.

The Giving Index was based on a survey by Gallup of 135 countries; in most countries 1,000 people were surveyed – with larger or lesser numbers for countries with very large or small populations.

CAF’s report found that generosity across the world had increased over the last year, but this was chiefly on the back of what the report claims is an additional 200 million people helping a stranger.

CAF chief executive John Lewis said the improvement of the UK from eighth to sixth place is “excellent news”.

“We should be proud of the excellent culture of giving we have in the UK, but must not get complacent," Low said. "There is still so much the government, businesses and charities can do to encourage greater giving and volunteering,” he said.