Total social protection expenditures in the EU reached 4.925 billion euros in 2024, with an increase of 6.9%. Romania recorded an increase of 17.5%.

In 2024, total social protection expenditures in the European Union reached 4.925 trillion euros, marking a 6.9% increase compared to the previous year. These expenditures represented 27.3% of the EU's GDP, an increase of 0.6 percentage points compared to 2023. Romania is among the countries with a significant increase in social spending, recording a rise of 17.5%.

The highest expenditures as a percentage of GDP were observed in Finland (32.5%), France (31.9%), and Austria (31.8%), while Romania had a share of 17.25%, being among the lowest in the EU. Pensions for the elderly accounted for almost half of total social expenditures, followed by health expenditures. Significant increases in spending were also reported in Estonia (19.5%) and Croatia (17.8%).