ngo sector: facts and numbers

The Facts and Numbers section comprises some of the most important statistical data on more than 27,000 Slovenian non-governmental organisations, including the data on their revenues, their organisational forms, their number of employees, their success in acquiring public funds, and others. Special attention is paid to internationally comparable development indicators for non-governmental organisations, using which the development of the sector is monitored over long periods of time.

the number of NGOs

On November 3 2024 there were 27,465 non-governmental organisations registered in Slovenia, of which 23,185 were associations, 4,015 (private) institutes and 265 foundations. That is 23 more than on September 30 2024, when there were 23,177 associations, 4,001 (private) institutes and 264 foundations.

 
 

the number of people employed in NGOs

In the non-governmental sector, we employ slightly more than 12.000 people. More than half of all workers are employed in institutions although they represent only 13.00 % of all non-governmental organisations.

 
 

NGOs’ revenue

In 2022, non-governmental organizations generated more than € 1 billion in revenue, with associations contributing 65.57% of this. 87,36% of non-governmental organizations had less than € 50,000 in revenue, of which 17.85% operated without revenue.

 
 

NGOs’ expenditure

In 2022, non-governmental organizations had expenses over € 1,17 billion, which is 34.42 million less than the revenues we generated. The excess of revenue equalling 2.86% of expenditure was used to pay corporate tax (€ 3.4 million), and the remaining amount was used in compliance with the law: to achieve its primary (non-profit-making) purpose or to foster its activity. 

 
 

the share of persons employed in NGOs relative to active population

In Slovenia in 2022, the share of employees in non-governmental organizations amounted to 1.26% (12,671 employees out of a total of 1,003,533 active population) and has been growing despite the economic crisis until 2017, when it was the same as the previous year. From 2018, however, it grew again.

 
 

the share of NGOs’ revenue relative to gdp

The share of NGOs’ revenue relative to gross domestic product is a development indicator for the non-governmental sector in the country. In 2022, the total NGOs’ revenue represented 2.11 % of Slovenian GDP.

 
 

the share of revenue from public funds

The share of public funds had been decreasing until 2017, when it finally increased slightly in comparison to the previous year for the first time in five years. The share of public funds in 2017 was 35.57%. The growth continued and in 2021 the share of public funds was 46.35%. In 2022, the share of public funds was 44,76%, which is lower than the previous year.

 
 

public funding – aggregated data

In 2003, non-governmental organisations were allocated € 166,76 million of public funds. In 2022 they were allocated € 539,3 million. Of this, they received € 513,22 million from direct and indirect budget users and € 26,09 million from FIHO and FŠO.

 
 

public funding by ministries

In 2022, non-governmental organisations altogether received € 285,04 million from ministries. In comparison to 2003, the amount is higher by 622,24 % or € 245,04 million, and in comparison to 2009, the amount is higher by 263,73 % or about € 206,67 million.

 
 

public funding by municipalities

In 2022, non-governmental organisations received € 127,41 million from municipalities, which is 2.97 % or € 3.68 million more than previous year. This means 103,56 % or about € 64.82 million more than in 2003 and 38.94 % or about € 35.71 million more than in 2009.

 
 

funding by public corporations

In 2022, public corporations and other public law entities, the data of which is processed by the Treasury and which are not budget users (including, for example, chambers and student organisations), allocated € 19,39 million to non-governmental organisations.

 
 

personal income tax donations

Since 2007, each personal income taxpayer may allocate a part of their personal income tax to publicly beneficial purposes. Until 2019 it amounted to 0.5 % of personal income tax, from 2020 onwards taxpayers may donate 1 %. Potential recipients of “personal income tax donations” are mostly non-governmental organisations: in 2023, there were 5.998 eligible NGOs, as well as political parties, trade unions, religious communities and others, totalling 6.960.

 
 

donations of legal entities

Data on corporate donations are obtained from data on the application of tax relief for donations, as those who donate, as a rule, also claim tax relief for their donations. A total sum of donations of legal entities is not accessible because donations are not recorded separately in the accounting books. However, a taxpayer usually claims tax relief for amounts paid as donations. From those claims we can collect information about how many legal entities and self-employed persons decide to donate and how much the total sum of tax relief is.