Germany vs United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Expenditure on social benefits by function, type of benefit and

Germany
1.21 million
in 2023
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
617,697
in 2018
Germany rank
1st
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank
3rd

Expenditure on social benefits by function, type of benefit and over time

  • Germany
  • United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
250.0k500.0k750.0k1.0M1.2M199020062023

How they compare

Germany currently reports 1.21 million against 617,697 in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, a difference of 592,963.

That makes Germany's figure about 2.0 times United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland's.

Across all 28 years both countries report, Germany has been ahead every year.

Germany ranks 1st and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 3rd of 35 countries.

Germany has averaged higher in every one of the 3 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade Germany United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Difference Ahead
1990s 493,427 259,509 233,918 Germany
2000s 639,342 476,145 163,197 Germany
2010s 829,845 603,868 225,977 Germany

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher expenditure on social benefits by function, type of benefit and, Germany or United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
Germany, at 1.21 million against 617,697 in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland as of 2023.
What is the difference in expenditure on social benefits by function, type of benefit and between Germany and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
592,963, with Germany ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Germany and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
28 years are reported by both, from 1991 to 2018.
How do Germany and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank globally for expenditure on social benefits by function, type of benefit and?
Germany ranks 1st and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 3rd of 35 countries.
Where does this data come from?
Eurostat, published as Expenditure on social benefits by function, type of benefit and means-testing. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Germany vs United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Expenditure on social benefits by function, type of benefit and. Statizoid, drawing on Eurostat. Retrieved 24 August 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/compare/expenditure-on-social-benefits-by-function-type-of-benefit-and-means-testing/germany/united-kingdom/

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About this data

Indicator
Expenditure on social benefits by function, type of benefit and means-testing
Source
Eurostat
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Eurostat)
Coverage
45 places, 1,186 data points, 1990–2024
Last refreshed