Still low GDP spent for social protection in parts of CEE
At the bottom of the rank in EU Romania, Latvia and Lithuania
12 December, 20:25In 2016, social protection expenditure represented 34% of GDP in France (34%), and was above 30% in Finland and Denmark (both 32%). Austria, Belgium, Italy, Sweden and the Netherlands recorded a 30%-share, but only 15% of GDP was spent in Romania, Latvia and Lithuania on social protection, Eurostat said.
Low share of GDP for social protection were spent also in Estonia and Malta (both 17%), Bulgaria and Slovakia (both 18%) and in Czechia and Hungary (all 19%), data revealed.
Social protection expenditure in the EU stood at 28.2% of GDP in 2016, slightly down compared with 28.4% in 2015, Eurostat said, noting that nearly 46% of the total were old age and survivors benefits, followed by sickness, health care and disability benefits (37%) and family and children benefits (9% in average in the EU).
(ANSA).