Tables

The OECD’s Social Benefit Recipients Database (SOCR) provides a unique source of comparable information on the number of people receiving cash benefits across countries. SOCR includes data for the main income replacement programmes in the unemployment, social assistance, disability and old-age branches, as well as relevant income top-ups such as rent allowances and in-work benefits. It currently covers twelve years (2007-2018) for most OECD and EU countries.

A good complement to the number of recipients of social benefits is the number of individuals belonging to population groups that are close to the target of social benefits. The database SOCR includes a number of series providing these reference populations. For example: old-age pensions are mainly targeted on individuals of retirement age, the over 65 population is provided; unemployment benefits go to jobseekers, the number of unemployed (ILO definition) is provided.