Tax files suggest Canadians were feeling generous last year, reportedly donating almost $8.3 billion to charitable causes in 2010.

That total is a 6.5 per cent increase since 2009, Statistics Canada reported Monday.

By analyzing income tax returns, the agency also discovered that the number of Canadian donors also increased by 2.2 per cent.

At least 5.7 million tax filers reported donating money to a charitable cause last year, a hint that Canadians are either becoming more altruistic or becoming more vigilant in declaring donations.

Nationwide, Statistics Canada said 23.4 per cent of all tax filers claimed charitable causes on their returns. The agency noted that that figure is in line with stats from previous years.

Manitoba emerged as the nation's most generous province with 26.3 per cent of filers declaring a donation.

Prince Edward Island and Saskatchewan weren't far behind with 25.3 per cent of filers claiming donations.

The median donation in Canada last year was $260, meaning half of donors gave more than that and half gave less. That number is up a modest $10 from 2009.

Statistics Canada notes that the data is pulled from tax returns, which only records amounts donated to official charities and organizations.

As well, donations can be carried forward for up to five years after the time they were made.

That means Canadian tax filers could have been reporting donations made up to five years earlier.