Croatia’s social protection expenditure is only € 3,000 per capita
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Photo: Patrik Macek / PIXSELL
ZAGREB, November 22, 2021 – Croatia’s social protection expenditure amounted to ⬠11.2 billion last year, just under ⬠3,000 per capita, a quarter of the country’s GDP and around the European average, the daily VeÄernji List said on Monday.
According to Eurostat methodology, expenditure on social protection benefits includes allowances for the elderly, health care, people with disabilities, family and children, ex-combatants, unemployment, social exclusion and housing.
Slovenia allocated a little more to social protection than Croatia – 11.6 billion euros. In the year of the coronavirus, social protection spending in Croatia increased by 5% on the year, which was the second smallest increase among EU member states, ahead of Sweden, which increased its spending social protection of 4%.
However, unlike Croatia, which provides around ⬠3,000 per capita, Sweden provides ⬠13,000. By comparison, Bulgaria sets aside about half of what we do, while Hungary’s spending on social protection amounts to around ⬠2,500 per capita. Slovenia spends ⬠5,500 per capita on social protection, the Czech Republic ⬠4,300 and Poland ⬠3,000.
The three European countries which spend the most on social protection per capita are Norway (18,000 â¬), Denmark (almost 17,000 â¬) and Austria (14,000 â¬). They are followed by Germany (around ⬠13,000), France (⬠12,000), Ireland (⬠11,000) and Italy (⬠9,000).
The highest amount of funds in any country goes to the elderly and health care. Measured as a percentage of GDP, social spending is highest in France, where it amounts to almost 36% of GDP, while in Croatia it is between 24% and 25% of GDP. Slovenia has a similar percentage, while social spending measured as a percentage of GDP is the lowest in Ireland, just 15%. In the year of the coronavirus, Ireland increased its social protection budget by 20%, Germany and France by 7%, while Austria and Hungary increased it by 12%, reported VeÄernji List .
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