Expenditure on social benefits by function by country
Countries reporting
46
Highest
1.37 million
Germany
Lowest
1,586
Montenegro
Median
45,573
Years covered
36
1990–2025
Data points
1,509
What the numbers show
Expenditure on social benefits by function is currently reported for 46 countries. The highest value is 1.37 million in Germany; the lowest is 1,586 in Montenegro.
The median across all reporting countries is 45,573, and the mean is 164,473.
The gap between the highest and lowest reporting country is a factor of about 866.
Expenditure on social benefits by function: full country ranking
| # | Country | Latest | Year | 10-year change | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Germany | 1.37 million | 2025 | up 60.8% | rising |
| 2 | France | 960,618 | 2025 | up 35.9% | rising |
| 3 | Italy | 645,053 | 2025 | up 36.3% | rising |
| 4 | United Kingdom | 617,697 | 2018 | up 25.6% | rising |
| 4 | United Kingdom | 617,697 | 2018 | up 25.6% | rising |
| 6 | Spain | 427,072 | 2025 | up 63.4% | rising |
| 7 | Netherlands | 313,696 | 2025 | up 65.9% | rising |
| 8 | Netherlands | 294,787 | 2024 | up 57.2% | rising |
| 9 | Switzerland | 251,709 | 2025 | up 59.7% | volatile |
| 10 | Poland | 225,758 | 2025 | up 176.5% | volatile |
| 11 | Poland | 202,758 | 2024 | up 161.3% | rising |
| 12 | Belgium | 185,749 | 2025 | up 56.0% | rising |
| 13 | Austria | 167,667 | 2025 | up 67.9% | rising |
| 14 | Sweden | 160,474 | 2025 | up 24.3% | rising |
| 15 | Türkiye | 137,062 | 2024 | up 64.6% | rising |
| 16 | Norway | 120,632 | 2025 | up 30.2% | rising |
| 17 | Denmark | 116,437 | 2025 | up 32.0% | rising |
| 18 | Finland | 90,729 | 2025 | up 37.4% | rising |
| 19 | Portugal | 71,575 | 2025 | up 61.1% | rising |
| 20 | Ireland | 70,640 | 2025 | up 74.5% | volatile |
| 21 | Czechia | 66,655 | 2025 | up 115.0% | volatile |
| 22 | Romania | 64,823 | 2025 | up 183.7% | volatile |
| 23 | Greece | 54,609 | 2025 | up 19.4% | rising |
| 24 | Hungary | 36,537 | 2025 | up 73.4% | rising |
| 25 | Slovakia | 28,190 | 2025 | up 101.4% | volatile |
| 26 | Slovakia | 27,726 | 2024 | up 102.8% | volatile |
| 27 | Bulgaria | 23,245 | 2025 | up 196.1% | volatile |
| 28 | Croatia | 21,452 | 2025 | up 124.4% | rising |
| 29 | Luxembourg | 21,030 | 2025 | up 90.9% | volatile |
| 30 | Croatia | 18,593 | 2024 | up 99.9% | rising |
| 31 | Slovenia | 17,166 | 2025 | up 89.2% | rising |
| 32 | Slovenia | 15,797 | 2024 | up 78.9% | rising |
| 33 | Lithuania | 15,459 | 2025 | up 179.8% | volatile |
| 34 | Serbia | 15,165 | 2024 | up 98.0% | rising |
| 34 | Serbia | 15,165 | 2024 | up 98.0% | rising |
| 36 | Lithuania | 13,335 | 2024 | up 152.2% | volatile |
| 37 | Iceland | 9,150 | 2025 | up 164.5% | volatile |
| 38 | Latvia | 8,109 | 2025 | up 126.4% | volatile |
| 39 | Latvia | 7,553 | 2024 | up 124.5% | volatile |
| 40 | Estonia | 7,436 | 2025 | up 126.2% | volatile |
| 41 | Estonia | 7,098 | 2024 | up 140.6% | volatile |
| 42 | Cyprus | 6,593 | 2025 | up 89.2% | rising |
| 43 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 6,110 | 2025 | up 112.2% | rising |
| 44 | Malta | 3,411 | 2025 | up 107.2% | volatile |
| 45 | Albania | 2,861 | 2024 | up 65.7% | rising |
| 46 | Montenegro | 1,586 | 2025 | up 120.7% | rising |
Regions and income groups
Aggregates are excluded from the country ranking above so that a region can never outrank a country.
- European Union - 27 countries (from 2020) 5.18 million
- European Economic Area except Liechtenstein 5.06 million
- Euro area – 21 countries (from 2026) 4.51 million
- Euro area – 20 countries (2023-2025) 4.49 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