In 2006, gross expenditure on social protection accounted for 26.9% of GDP in the EU-27

This 'Statistics in Focus' describes and analyses the expenditure and the receipts of Social Protection in different European countries. In 2006, social protection expenditure accounted for 26.9% of GDP in the EU-27. This average masks high disparities between countries. Expenditure on old-age and survivors' benefits account for a large part of social benefits in most countries. Different countries have markedly different systems for financing social protection.