UK Charity sector statistics 2025
The UK charity sector is a vital part of the UK economic and social fabric.
According to Register of Charities, as of 9th January 2026, there are 171,227 main charities registered in the UK and a further 13,848 linked* charities, totalling 185,075. Behind these registered charities, there are an incredible 1,161,606 employees, 922,395 trustees and 6,499,965 volunteers working hard to keep the charity sector buoyant.
Continue reading our article to discover UK charity sector statistics as of January 2026.
*A 'linked charity' is a charity that is linked to another charity (the 'reporting charity'). For example, if two charities have the same board of trustees, they can apply to be linked.
The UK charity sector
Charities sustain a very large and valuable sector both to the UK economy and to those who benefit from the great work these charities do. Since only not-for-profit organisations with an annual turnover of £5,000 are required to register, it is unclear as to how large the sector actually is.
The Register of Charities reported 31% of charities had an income of less than £5,000 in 2025, while over 25% of all charities have an annual total gross income of more than £100,000.
Charities by income band
The following figures, published in 2026, show the income of charities distributed across England and Wales.
|
Income band |
Total |
% of total |
|
£0 to £10,000 |
69,598 |
40.6% |
|
£10,001 to £100,000 |
59,256 |
34.6% |
|
£100,001 to £500,000 |
27,212 |
15.9% |
|
£500,0001 to £5,000,000 |
12,008 |
7% |
|
£5,000,000 plus |
2,883 |
1.7% |
|
Total |
171,227 |
|
Figures correct on 9th January 2026.
The top charities in England and Wales by income
|
Charity Name |
Income |
|
Nuffield Health |
£1,453,100,000 |
|
The Charities Aid Foundation |
£1,390,589,000 |
| Save The Children International | £1,103,536,563 |
| The British Council | £989,335,930 |
| The Arts Council of England | £803,065,402 |
| United Learning LTD | £786,023,000 |
| The National Trust for places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty | £766,195,000 |
| Cancer Research UK | £684,207,447 |
| Cardiff University | £649,067,742 |
Figures correct on 9th January 2026.
Protecting your charity with Markel Direct’s charity insurance
Charity organisations can protect themselves with Markel Direct’s charity insurance, which has been specifically designed to cover small charities, community groups and not-for-profit organisations from their daily business risks.
Charity insurance offers cover against a range of risks facing your organisation, including:
- An accident involving a visitor at a fundraising event, resulting in a personal injury claim being made against your charity (charity public liability insurance).
- An allegation of wrongdoing against a charity trustee and a subsequent investigation by a regulatory body (trustee indemnity insurance).
- A volunteer injuring themselves while working for the charity and being unable to work (employers' liability insurance).
- A service user alleging the charity provided sub-standard services and making a claim for compensation (professional indemnity insurance).
Few charities have the financial strength to pay the costs, damages and any awards made against them in the event of a claim. However, charity insurance is here to provide cover against these scenarios, giving you the peace of mind that, if something unexpected happens, your organisation will be covered.
Find out more about what insurance your charity should consider.
Discover articles surrounding fundraising ideas and how to recruit volunteers, or explore how Generation Z are coming one of charities’ biggest advocates in our insights piece.
Please note: This article provides guidance for information purposes only. It should not be relied upon wholly when making or taking important business decisions – always seek the services of an appropriately qualified professional. The views expressed by websites referenced to are limited to those of the websites, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Markel Direct.