New figures from the Central Statistics Office show that Ireland spent a total of €11,143 per person on social protection in 2022 - higher than the EU average of €9,636.
Today's CSO figures reveal that €58.4 billion was spent on social protection in Ireland last year, down slightly on the 2021 spend of €59.1 billion and the first decrease since 2013.
The €58.4 billion figure represents 12% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) or 21% of Modified Gross National Income (GNI*).
The largest areas of expenditure were in sickness/healthcare (€25.3 billion) and old age (€15.9 billion). These two areas accounted for 73% of the total spend.
The CSO noted that Irish expenditure per person on the sickness and healthcare function is the second highest in the European Union at €4,582.
But expenditure on unemployment dropped significantly in 2022 by €3.6 billion to €2.5 billion, reflecting a return to pre-Covid-19 pandemic levels and the cessation of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment.
The CSO said that of those countries that had reported 2022 data at the time of publication, Bulgaria had the lowest per inhabitant expenditure at €2,581 while the highest was in Luxembourg at €25,667.
Average expenditure in the European Union on social protection was €9,636 per person in 2022, down 2% on 2021, it added.
