Turkey’s social protection expenditure rises by 20.9% in 2020

Expenditure on social protection consisted 98.5% of payments for social protection benefits with 646 billion 2 million TRY.

The largest expenditure on social protection benefits was the old age function with 300 billion 902 million TRY followed by those related to the sickness/health care function with 170 billion 993 million TRY.

The social protection expenditure accounted for 13.0% of GDP

Expenditure on social protection accounted for 13.0% of gross domestic products (GDP) in 2020. Expenditure on social protection benefits recorded as 12.8% of GDP. When the expenditures on risks or needs were considered, the expenditure on old age function was the largest with 6.0% of GDP followed by those related to the sickness/health care function with 3.4% of GDP and survivors function with 1.5% of GDP.

Means-tested benefits represented 9.7% of the total social protection benefits

The largest part of the means-tested benefits was provided under the family/children function with 45.1% followed by disability with 26.0% and sickness/health care with 11.2%.

Cash benefits represented 69.8% of the total social protection benefits

The majority of the cash benefits was related to old age function 66.5% followed by survivors function 16.2% and the unemployment function with 9.7%.

Government contributions constituted 40.3% of social protection receipts

Government contributions accounted for 40.3% of social protection receipts. Social contributions by employers' represented 29.1% and protected people social contributions constituted 24.4% of social protection receipts.

Number of pension beneficiaries accounted for 14 million 288 thousand people

While the number of old age, survivors and disability pension beneficiaries were 14 million 89 thousand in 2019, it became 14 million 288 thousand by increasing 1.4% in 2020. Number of pension benefits reached to 14 million 979 thousand in 2020 while it was 14 million 747 thousand in 2019. (ILKHA)