Social protection expenditure in Cyprus reached 24.1% in 2020, according to the results of the Social Protection Survey, published by the Statistical Service on Friday.

The survey shows that €5,283.4 million were spent in 2020, compared to €4,168 million in 2019, which equaled to the 18% of GDP.

The most significant functions were those of old age and sickness/healthcare, which, combined, constituted 63.5% of the social protection benefits for 2020, compared to 71.1% in 2019. The largest share of old age benefits concerns periodic pensions which amounted to €1,793.5 million and constituted 90.5% of the total old age benefits.

There was an increase in the social benefits of the function of unemployment in 2020, which amounted to €818.7 million, compared to €202.2 million in 2019, the function of old age, which amounted to €1,980.9 million, compared to €1,869.1 million in 2019, the function of sickness/healthcare with the social benefits amounting to €1,310.9 million in 2020, compared to €1,028.8 million in 2019, the function of survivors which amounted to €314.2 million in 2020, compared to €298 million in 2019, the function of family with €273.5 million in 2020, compared to €236.9 million in 2019, the function of social exclusion with €243.6 million in 2020, compared to €203.2 million in 2019 and the function of housing which also had a small increase in 2020 with social benefits amounting to €79.7 million, compared to €73.8 million in 2019. On the contrary, a small decrease in social benefits was recorded in the function of disability in 2020, which amounted to €162.8 million, compared to €165 million in 2019.

The Social Insurance Scheme is the largest provider of social benefits in Cyprus with benefits of €1,643.4 million in 2020, representing a share of 31.1% of the total expenditure. The contribution of the scheme of Other Governmental Social Protection is also significant, with €1,315.9 million which represents a share of 24.9% of the total expenditure. Then follows the General Healthcare System with €657 million and a share of 12.4%, the scheme of the Central Government Health Services with €526.6 million and a share of 10%, the Civil Service Social Protection with €496 million and a share of 9.4% and the semi-autonomous Social Insurance Institutions with €362.3 million and a share of 6.9%.