ONS Survey Spending on Social Welfare Across Europe

ONS has today published new analysis contrasting spending on social welfare across Europe. The new analysis which contrasts spending in European Union states together with Switzerland, Iceland, Norway, Turkey and Serbia shows that in 2015 social protection spending in the UK was ninth highest in Europe at 28.4% of GDP.

Across the European Union as a whole, 29.0% of GDP was spent on social protection. However, there were wide variations among member states, ranging from 14.0% of GDP in Romania to 32.0% of GDP in France. Social protection comprises the various benefits provided to households, usually by public bodies, to help with their needs.

Social protection can be in the form of cash payments. For example, unemployment benefit, old age pension or children’s allowance; or in the form of benefits in kind, such as hospital stays or free school meals.

Spending on the Unemployed in 2015

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