Government; social benefits

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Benefits Periods Social benefits (million euros)
Total social benefits 1995 67,444
2000 76,485
2005 97,740
2010 136,453
2015 150,662
2020 173,012
2021 183,491
2022 190,701
2023* 212,598
Total statutory social security benefits 1995 51,825
2000 60,025
2005 78,575
2010 104,083
2015 113,146
2020 127,847
2021 135,520
2022 140,451
2023* 155,766
Act on Work and Income based on Work ... 1995 0
2000 0
2005 0
2010 1,561
2015 4,060
2020 7,330
2021 7,869
2022 8,659
2023* 10,475
Compulsory Health Insurance Act (ZFW-vp) 1995 7,071
2000 12,318
2005 16,743
2010 0
2015 0
2020 0
2021 0
2022 0
2023* 0
Disability Benefits Act (WAO) 1995 3,544
2000 9,932
2005 10,023
2010 8,213
2015 5,724
2020 4,233
2021 3,861
2022 3,685
2023* 3,833
General Disability Benefits Act (AAW) 1995 5,987
2000 0
2005 0
2010 0
2015 0
2020 0
2021 0
2022 0
2023* 0
General Exceptional Medical Expenses Act 1995 11,221
2000 12,924
2005 19,680
2010 22,337
2015 272
2020 -118
2021 0
2022 0
2023* -4
General Old Age Pensions Act (AOW) 1995 15,180
2000 19,098
2005 23,369
2010 28,618
2015 35,814
2020 41,235
2021 42,956
2022 44,031
2023* 47,935
General Surviving Relatives Act (Anw) 1995 2,139
2000 1,578
2005 1,448
2010 1,137
2015 471
2020 359
2021 337
2022 327
2023* 356
Health Care Insurance Act (Zvw) 1995 0
2000 0
2005 0
2010 33,804
2015 38,588
2020 43,048
2021 46,476
2022 48,525
2023* 52,685
Long-term care Act (Wlz) 1995 0
2000 0
2005 0
2010 0
2015 17,367
2020 22,739
2021 25,409
2022 27,619
2023* 30,939
Self-Employed Persons Disability Bene... 1995 0
2000 493
2005 502
2010 338
2015 197
2020 117
2021 102
2022 94
2023* 65
Sickness Benefits Act (ZW) 1995 2,007
2000 0
2005 0
2010 0
2015 0
2020 0
2021 0
2022 0
2023* 0
Sickness Benefits Act safety net (ZW-... 1995 0
2000 0
2005 1,052
2010 1,735
2015 1,763
2020 2,308
2021 2,304
2022 2,313
2023* 2,597
Unemployment Benefits Act (WW) 1995 4,676
2000 3,682
2005 4,875
2010 5,040
2015 7,619
2020 5,010
2021 4,257
2022 3,125
2023* 3,517
Work and Care Act (WAZO) 1995 0
2000 0
2005 883
2010 1,300
2015 1,271
2020 1,586
2021 1,949
2022 2,073
2023* 3,368
Total social assistance benefits 1995 15,619
2000 16,460
2005 19,165
2010 32,370
2015 37,516
2020 45,165
2021 47,971
2022 50,250
2023* 56,832
Assistance for transport of schoolchi... 1995 91
2000 98
2005 169
2010 236
2015 193
2020 239
2021 309
2022 336
2023* 349
Assistance to older and partially dis... 1995 232
2000 270
2005 151
2010 152
2015 298
2020 359
2021 325
2022 289
2023* 272
Child benefit (kgb) 1995 0
2000 0
2005 0
2010 896
2015 1,822
2020 2,709
2021 2,648
2022 2,662
2023* 3,656
Childcare 1995 30
2000 47
2005 610
2010 2,997
2015 1,741
2020 2,928
2021 3,496
2022 3,939
2023* 4,253
Disability Assistance Act for Handica... 1995 0
2000 1,024
2005 1,419
2010 2,230
2015 3,010
2020 3,413
2021 3,500
2022 3,607
2023* 4,091
Early childhood education and care 1995 42
2000 65
2005 124
2010 139
2015 155
2020 198
2021 203
2022 208
2023* 213
General Family Allowance Act (AKW) 1995 2,955
2000 2,911
2005 3,191
2010 3,371
2015 3,216
2020 3,657
2021 3,680
2022 3,930
2023* 4,365
Health care allowance 1995 0
2000 0
2005 0
2010 3,835
2015 3,899
2020 5,230
2021 5,473
2022 5,616
2023* 7,950
Reintegration benefits 1995 39
2000 394
2005 635
2010 333
2015 163
2020 194
2021 186
2022 180
2023* 144
Rent benefit 1995 924
2000 1,462
2005 1,686
2010 2,213
2015 3,094
2020 3,811
2021 4,001
2022 3,948
2023* 4,198
Social Support Act (Wmo) 1995 0
2000 0
2005 0
2010 2,340
2015 5,265
2020 6,552
2021 6,226
2022 6,550
2023* 7,190
Student finance 1995 1,691
2000 1,624
2005 2,083
2010 2,342
2015 2,709
2020 2,212
2021 2,621
2022 2,562
2023* 2,981
Supplementary Fund (Tf) 1995 300
2000 289
2005 331
2010 799
2015 763
2020 799
2021 770
2022 730
2023* 793
Supplementary income for the elderly ... 1995 0
2000 0
2005 0
2010 202
2015 234
2020 330
2021 350
2022 361
2023* 406
Welfare 1995 4,713
2000 4,097
2005 4,485
2010 4,352
2015 5,789
2020 6,099
2021 6,171
2022 5,977
2023* 6,627
Youth Act 1995 568
2000 944
2005 871
2010 1,490
2015 2,663
2020 3,803
2021 3,995
2022 4,152
2023* 4,613
Other social assistance benefits 1995 4,034
2000 3,235
2005 3,410
2010 4,443
2015 2,502
2020 2,632
2021 4,017
2022 5,203
2023* 4,731
Source: CBS.
Explanation of symbols

Table explanation


This table contains information on social benefits provided by general government. The terms and definitions used for the totals are in accordance with the framework of National Accounts. National Accounts are based on the international definitions of the European System of Accounts (ESA 2010). Small temporary differences with publications of the National Accounts may occur due to the fact that government finance statistics are sometimes more up to date. The terms used for the individual social benefits are based on national legislation. Social benefits by employers in the context of other employment related social insurance schemes are not included in this table.

Data available from:
Yearly figures from 1995.

Status of the figures:
The figures for the period 1995-2022 are final. The figures for 2023 are provisional.

Changes as of 24 June 2024:
Annual figures for year 2023 are available.
The annual figures for 2022 are now final.
In the context of the revision policy of National accounts, the annual figures from 1995 have been revised.

When will new figures be published?
Yearly figures are published six months after the end of the year concerned.
These yearly figures are revised eighteen months after the end of the year concerned. Please note that there is a possibility that adjustments might take place at the end of March or September, in order to provide the European Commission with the most actual figures.
More information on the revision policy of National Accounts can be found under 'relevant articles' under paragraph 3.

Description topics

Social benefits
Social benefits supplied to households in order to offer financial security against several risks (such as sickness, disability, old age, the death of a relative, and unemployment) or to accommodate for certain needs (such as housing and education). This category constitutes statutory social security benefits and social assistance benefits.