Preliminary data from the European statistics body indicates that, in 2023, total spending on social protection benefits in the EU rose by 6.1% compared to 2022, to 4.583 billion euros.

The biggest increases between 2022 and 2023 were recorded in Slovakia, with an increase of 18.9%, Poland, with an increase of 18.4%, and Hungary, with an increase of 15.2%, while the smallest increases were recorded in Denmark ( +2.3%), Italy (+3.5%), Estonia (+3.8%).

Among EU countries for which 2023 estimates are published, expenditure on social protection benefits as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was highest in France (31.3% of GDP), Finland (31.2% ) and Austria (29.7%), while they were lowest in Ireland (12%), Malta (13.2%) and Estonia (15.3%).

Old-age and sickness/health care benefits accounted for the largest share of social protection benefits in all EU countries.