Expenditure on social benefits by function, type of benefit and means-testing by country
Countries reporting
46
Highest
1.30 million
Germany
Lowest
1,462
Montenegro
Median
44,277
Years covered
35
1990–2024
Data points
1,471
What the numbers show
Expenditure on social benefits by function, type of benefit and means-testing is currently reported for 46 countries. The highest value is 1.30 million in Germany; the lowest is 1,462 in Montenegro.
The median across all reporting countries is 44,277, and the mean is 158,137.
The gap between the highest and lowest reporting country is a factor of about 889.
Expenditure on social benefits by function, type of benefit: full country ranking
| # | Country | Latest | Year | 10-year change | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Germany | 1.30 million | 2024 | up 59.1% | rising |
| 2 | France | 933,160 | 2024 | up 34.5% | rising |
| 3 | Italy | 625,100 | 2024 | up 34.8% | rising |
| 4 | United Kingdom | 617,697 | 2018 | up 25.6% | rising |
| 4 | United Kingdom | 617,697 | 2018 | up 25.6% | rising |
| 6 | Spain | 401,818 | 2024 | up 55.3% | rising |
| 7 | Netherlands | 295,743 | 2024 | up 57.7% | rising |
| 8 | Netherlands | 271,229 | 2023 | up 47.1% | rising |
| 9 | Switzerland | 237,278 | 2024 | up 76.8% | volatile |
| 10 | Poland | 202,758 | 2024 | up 161.3% | rising |
| 10 | Poland | 202,758 | 2024 | up 161.3% | rising |
| 12 | Belgium | 177,829 | 2024 | up 53.4% | rising |
| 13 | Austria | 157,650 | 2024 | up 63.5% | rising |
| 14 | Sweden | 152,715 | 2024 | up 20.9% | rising |
| 15 | Türkiye | 137,062 | 2024 | up 64.6% | rising |
| 16 | Norway | 115,046 | 2024 | up 23.2% | rising |
| 17 | Denmark | 109,295 | 2024 | up 24.7% | rising |
| 18 | Finland | 89,582 | 2024 | up 40.2% | rising |
| 19 | Ireland | 68,417 | 2024 | up 72.3% | volatile |
| 20 | Portugal | 67,117 | 2024 | up 52.2% | rising |
| 21 | Czechia | 65,368 | 2024 | up 118.6% | volatile |
| 22 | Romania | 64,402 | 2024 | up 196.6% | volatile |
| 23 | Greece | 54,307 | 2024 | up 19.7% | rising |
| 24 | Hungary | 34,247 | 2024 | up 65.8% | rising |
| 25 | Slovakia | 27,726 | 2024 | up 102.8% | volatile |
| 25 | Slovakia | 27,726 | 2024 | up 102.8% | volatile |
| 27 | Bulgaria | 20,735 | 2024 | up 170.4% | volatile |
| 28 | Luxembourg | 19,492 | 2024 | up 81.1% | volatile |
| 29 | Croatia | 18,593 | 2024 | up 99.9% | rising |
| 29 | Croatia | 18,593 | 2024 | up 99.9% | rising |
| 31 | Slovenia | 15,890 | 2024 | up 80.0% | rising |
| 32 | Serbia | 15,165 | 2024 | up 98.0% | rising |
| 32 | Serbia | 15,165 | 2024 | up 98.0% | rising |
| 34 | Slovenia | 14,619 | 2023 | up 66.0% | rising |
| 35 | Lithuania | 13,857 | 2024 | up 162.1% | volatile |
| 36 | Lithuania | 12,350 | 2023 | up 143.8% | volatile |
| 37 | Iceland | 8,268 | 2024 | up 169.4% | volatile |
| 38 | Latvia | 7,553 | 2024 | up 124.5% | volatile |
| 38 | Latvia | 7,553 | 2024 | up 124.5% | volatile |
| 40 | Estonia | 7,098 | 2024 | up 140.6% | volatile |
| 40 | Estonia | 7,098 | 2024 | up 140.6% | volatile |
| 42 | Cyprus | 6,275 | 2024 | up 82.5% | rising |
| 43 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 5,578 | 2024 | up 98.5% | rising |
| 44 | Malta | 3,069 | 2024 | up 96.2% | volatile |
| 45 | Albania | 2,861 | 2024 | up 65.7% | rising |
| 46 | Montenegro | 1,462 | 2024 | up 103.3% | rising |
Regions and income groups
Aggregates are excluded from the country ranking above so that a region can never outrank a country.
- European Economic Area except Liechtenstein 5.06 million
- European Union - 27 countries (from 2020) 4.94 million
- Euro area – 21 countries (from 2026) 4.31 million
- Euro area – 20 countries (2023-2025) 4.29 million
- Euro area - 19 countries (2015-2022) 4.27 million
- European Union - 28 countries (2013-2020) 4.23 million
- European Union - 27 countries (2007-2013) 4.22 million
- European Union - 15 countries (1995-2004) 3.98 million
- European Free Trade Association except Liechtenstein 360,592