We are committed to being as transparent and accountable as possible.

For more than six decades, Amnesty International has shone a light on the world’s darkest corners. 

We are a global movement of more than 10 million people who campaign for a world where human rights are enjoyed by all. Through research, legal analysis, advocacy campaigning, we bring torturers to justice, oppose oppression, and help free people jailed simply for their peaceful beliefs.

We take action and inspire others to expose and stand against injustice and repression.

Bernardo Caal Xol standing by a vibrant river in a forest. He is smiling and wearing a blue, purple and green patterned shirt
Bernardo Caal Xol, a prisoner of conscience from Guatemala, was released from prison in 2022 after years of Amnesty campaigning.

Where our money comes from

Our deeply held core principles of impartiality, independence and accuracy underpin all we do. This is built on an understanding that all human rights must be respected together if we are to achieve a world free from fear and want.

We are independent of any institution, ideology, economic interest, and religion. Our only interest is in achieving human rights for all.

The vast majority of our income comes from small donations from private individuals. More than 1.5m individuals donated to Amnesty International in 2022. The average donation per month was €15.28.

We are fully independent in setting our strategic and operational goals.

In 2022, we raised €384m for our human rights work, an increase of 8% from 2021 (€357m), despite the cost-of-living crisis and high inflationary rates. 

We saw an increase of 6% in individual giving since 2021 as donors responded positively to our appeals on Ukraine and Afghanistan. Income from legacies had the strongest performance compared to 2021 (two years in a row) with an increase of 17.5% since 2021 and continues to be a promising area.

How we spend our money

Our global income is crucial to achieving human rights impact and positive change.

93% of our income is ‘unrestricted’. This means we are not asked to use it in a particular way – so we can spend most of our money wherever the need is greatest.

In 2022, our global expenditure was €356m (16% up from 2021, €308m). The pie chart shows the breakdown of what was spent. 

Spending in line with our Global Strategic Framework

Our action for human rights is based on high-quality research, evidence, and legal analysis.

This is accompanied by effective campaigning action, international solidarity and relentless global pressure to insist that governments live up to the promises made in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

We are committed to spending our money on our Global Strategic Framework. Our total human rights expenditure is split across our 6 strategic outcomes and flexible areas of work.

You can find more information about the goals in our Global Strategic Framework here.