Difference between revisions of "Numbers of NGOs"
From NGO Handbook
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In terms of NGOs internationally active, the Yearbook of International Organizations has documented an almost 30-fold increase between 1956 and 2000. In 1956, the Yearbook listed 985 active, “international NGOs,” with this category, including organizations operating in at least three countries. By 1996, that number had swelled to more than 20,000. In 2000, the Yearbook documented 29,495 active, international NGOs. Anheier (2001) places the number of internationally operating NGOs at 32 in 1874, at 1,083 in 1914, and at 13,000 in 2000, with one-quarter of these created after 1990. <membersonly> | In terms of NGOs internationally active, the Yearbook of International Organizations has documented an almost 30-fold increase between 1956 and 2000. In 1956, the Yearbook listed 985 active, “international NGOs,” with this category, including organizations operating in at least three countries. By 1996, that number had swelled to more than 20,000. In 2000, the Yearbook documented 29,495 active, international NGOs. Anheier (2001) places the number of internationally operating NGOs at 32 in 1874, at 1,083 in 1914, and at 13,000 in 2000, with one-quarter of these created after 1990. <membersonly> | ||
| − | The increase in national and local NGOs has been even more explosive. Half of all European NGOs were founded in the past decade. In the former Eastern bloc countries, more than 100,000 nonprofit groups alone were set up between 1988 and 1995. The exponential increase in NGOs in the United States and India has led to an estimated two million NGOs currently active in the United States and more than one million groups in India. <ref>http://www.indianngos.com/ngosection/newcomers/whatisanngo.htm "What is an NGO?" [[5 January]] [[2007]] </ref> Not only have we witnessed increases in the ranks of human rights and humanitarian organizations based in industrialized countries (the “Northern NGOs”), but also new groups emerging in developing countries (the “Southern NGOs”). | + | The increase in national and local NGOs has been even more explosive. Half of all European NGOs were founded in the past decade. In the former Eastern bloc countries, more than 100,000 nonprofit groups alone were set up between 1988 and 1995. The exponential increase in NGOs in the United States and India has led to an estimated two million NGOs currently active in the United States and more than one million groups in India. <ref>http://www.indianngos.com/ngosection/newcomers/whatisanngo.htm "What is an NGO?" [[5 January]] [[2007]] </ref> Not only have we witnessed increases in the ranks of human rights and humanitarian organizations based in industrialized countries (the “Northern NGOs”), but also new groups emerging in developing countries (the “Southern NGOs”). Russia has 400,000 NGOs.<ref>http://www.voanews.com/uspolicy/archive/2006-01/2006-01-27-voa2.cfm U.S. On Russian N-G-O Law ''Voice of America'' [[27 January]] [[2006]]</ref> |
Of course, compiling accurate statistics on NGOs is complicated by regional variation in what is classified as an NGO. In keeping with U.N. ECOSOC Resolution 1996/31 and 2001 United Nations DPI guidelines, WANGO defines an NGO as a not-for-profit organization that has not been established by a governmental entity or intergovernmental agreement and which is organized on a local, national, sub-regional, regional, or international level. However, legal definitions vary according to country, and the term NGO is often used to designate a broad assortment of entities. Furthermore, there is great variety in the activities that NGOs perform. | Of course, compiling accurate statistics on NGOs is complicated by regional variation in what is classified as an NGO. In keeping with U.N. ECOSOC Resolution 1996/31 and 2001 United Nations DPI guidelines, WANGO defines an NGO as a not-for-profit organization that has not been established by a governmental entity or intergovernmental agreement and which is organized on a local, national, sub-regional, regional, or international level. However, legal definitions vary according to country, and the term NGO is often used to designate a broad assortment of entities. Furthermore, there is great variety in the activities that NGOs perform. | ||
Revision as of 10:44, 5 August 2008
Since the mid-1950s, the number of NGOs worldwide has increased dramatically, along with a broadening of the focus of their activities and a strengthening of their influence. NGOs are now impacting policies and guiding agendas that once were nearly exclusively the arena of governments and corporations.
In terms of NGOs internationally active, the Yearbook of International Organizations has documented an almost 30-fold increase between 1956 and 2000. In 1956, the Yearbook listed 985 active, “international NGOs,” with this category, including organizations operating in at least three countries. By 1996, that number had swelled to more than 20,000. In 2000, the Yearbook documented 29,495 active, international NGOs. Anheier (2001) places the number of internationally operating NGOs at 32 in 1874, at 1,083 in 1914, and at 13,000 in 2000, with one-quarter of these created after 1990.
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