The major development of voluntary work in Spain took place during the 1990s, when the number of volunteering organizations increased exponentially alongside their institutionalisation and professionalisation. This period saw the creation of platforms and federations at both the national and regional levels. 

In 1996, the first State Law on Volunteering (6/1996) was adopted, with the aim of promoting and facilitating the participation of society in voluntary activities through public or private non-profit organisations. Since then, almost all Autonomous Regions have developed their own legislation governing volunteering.

The Ministry of Social Rights, Consumers and 2030 Agenda is currently responsible for the governance and promotion of volunteering at national level. Several national and regional platforms have been developed to provide information and support for volunteer organisations and individual volunteers. 

In 2015, the new State Law on Volunteering (Ley 45/2015 de Voluntariado) was adopted. It broadened the legal framework to make volunteering more accessible to a wider sector of the population and introduced new types of volunteering and stakeholder roles.

According to the Volunteering Barometer: Voluntary Action in 2024 report of the Spanish Volunteering Platform (Plataforma de Voluntariado de España), 10.1% of the Spanish population over the age of 14 - more than 4.2 million people – engage in volunteering. This confirms an upward trend, considering that the rate was 8.2% in 2022).

In relation to youth volunteering:

• 13.1% of volunteers in Spain are aged 14 to 24, a notable increase from 6.6% in 2023. The majority of new volunteers in 2024 are between 14 and 34 years old.
• Young volunteers aged 14 to 24 show a strong preference for animal protection causes, while those aged 25 to 34 are more likely to support people with disabilities.
• 9.5% of volunteers are students, and 49.9% are employed.