Social protection expenditure; functions, in kind or cash, means-test

This table provides an overview of social protection expenditure in the Netherlands. Social protection encompasses all interventions from public or private bodies intended to relieve households and individuals of the burden of a defined set of risks or needs, provided that there is neither a simultaneous reciprocal nor an individual arrangement involved. This includes benefits provided by social assistance schemes, social insurance funds, pension funds, benefits directly paid by employers, and direct service provision to households. Benefits can be provided in kind or in cash, and benefits can be means-tested or non means-tested.

The defined set of risks and needs within social protection can be classified in eight functions according to the European System of Integrated Social PROtection Statistics (ESSPROS). In addition, social protection expenditure is classified as provided in cash or in kind, or provided as means-tested or non means-tested benefits. Social protection expenditure is allocated to the period in which the rights for the transaction arose (transaction basis), and not to the period in which the transaction actually took place (cash basis).

Data available from:
Yearly figures from 1995

Status of the figures:
The figures in this table are provisional at the time of first publication. Upon the second publication one year later, the figures will become definitive.

Changes as of 28 November 2025:
Provisional figures for 2024 have been published.
The figures for 1995 until 2023 have been revised in accordance with the revision policy of the National Accounts.

When will new figures be published?
New figures will be published 11 months after the respective calendar year ends. Previous provisional figures will then become final.
More information on the revision policy of National Accounts can be found under 'relevant articles' under paragraph 3.