Population and welfare in the European Union

The fifteen countries of the European Union still differ considerably in the size and structure of their welfare systems. The percentages of GDP allocated for welfare expenditure range from a maximum of 33% in Sweden to a minimum of 15% in Ireland, with the northern countries, Germany and France recording percentages of over a fourth of their GDP and the southern countries and Ireland with percentages more or less under that rate. Italy and Greece are on this threshold. As shown in the 3-dimensional figure 1, the differences in the structure of welfare expenditure are even more evident when, for sake of a compatible comparison, such expenditure is distributed among the five groups represented therein. Excluding Ireland and - just barely - Finland and Portugal, old-age and survivor’s benefits account for the greatest percentage of welfare expenditure. In many countries of Northern Europe, the percentages for sickness, health care and disability are just slightly lower.