There is an urgent need to measure volunteerism in order to include it among the greatest assets of nations, according to the first United Nations State of the World’s Volunteerism Report published on International Volunteers Day this year.

It argues that economic performance does not tell the whole story of a country's success - social factors including volunteering would provide a more accurate picture of citizen wellbeing.

The report also:

• stresses the need for nations to collect rigorous, standardised and consistent data about volunteering, in order to account for and compare volunteerism impacts across the globle;
• predicts that new forms of volunteering - online, corporate, travel-related - will open more people's minds to volunteerism and make a significant contribution to societies;
• recommends that state policies designed to address social exclusion should recognise that volunteerism is effective at breaking down barriers for both individuals and groups;
• confirms that, worldwide, volunteers are an essential asset in the face of war or disaster.

The report was compiled by researchers from across the world, including Australia's Debbie Haski-Leventhal.

Access the report at the United Nations Volunteers website