본 연구는 2012년부터 2016년까지 5년간의 (구)국민안전처 내부 소방행정자료와 통계연보, (구)소방방재청 통계와통계청 자료 등을 활용, 우리나라 의용소방대의 소방 활동과 각종 대민봉사 지원활동 전반에 대한 통계분석을 통해현실적 문제점을 도출하여 개선방안을 모색하였다. 연구결과는 첫째, 농촌지역 특성을 고려한 의용소방대 정원관리제도 보완 둘째, 의용소방대 내부적 갈등요인 해소를 위한 교양교육제도 강화 셋째, 의용소방대장 등 관리계층 대원들의 조직운영 리더십 역량강화 넷째, 지역여건에 맞는 의용소방대 교육·훈련제도 확립 다섯째, 의용소방대 대형재난현장 활동 보상제도 개선이다. 본 연구결과는 향후, 우리나라 의용소방대 발전의 기초자료로 활용되기를 기대한다.This study sought for an improvement plan of overall fire-fighting activities and all kinds of support activities of servicefor public welfare of Korean Volunteer Fire Departments by utilizing the internal fire administration data and statisticalyearbooks of the (Old)Ministry of Public Safety and Security (MPSS), the statistics of the (Old) National EmergencyManagement(NEMA), and the data of the National Statistical Office (NSO) of 5 years from 2012 to 2016 and drawing thepractical problems through the statistical analysis. The results of the study are as follows: First, the quota management systemof Volunteer Fire Departments that considers the characteristics of rural areas should be supplemented. Second, the culture andtraining system to solve internal conflict factors of Volunteer Fire Departments should be strengthened. Third, managementmembers readership competency of operating organizations including volunteer fire marshals should be strengthened. Fourth,the education and training system of Volunteer Fire Departments to satisfy regional conditions should be established. Fifth,the reward system for Volunteer Fire Departments activities of large disaster sites should be improved. The result of the studywill be expected to be utilized as the basic data to develop Korean Volunteer Fire Departments in the future.