The urge to do good through philanthropy varies across the globe. Differing cultures breed differing motivations and some countries appear vastly more generous than others.

Charitable giving in the U.S. as a proportion of gross domestic product, for example, is around 1.7%. In Europe, it is around 0.7% and in Japan it is just 0.04%, according to U.S. wealth manager Northern Trust. So why the discrepancy between the giving habits of developed countries and what is it that motivates giving around the world? "In many countries,...