Development of the Social Protection Expenditure in Austria in 2008

In 2008 the social protection expenditure in Austria amounted to € 79.77 billion according to the calculation method standardised in the EU (ESSPROS), and was thus by 5.2 percent higher than in the previous year. This was the most considerable increase since 2001. In 2008, social protection expenditure was higher than in 2007 by € 4 billion. The gross expenditure on social protection accounted for 28.3 percent of the gross domestic product. The social quota had been declining since 2004 and rose again for the first time in 2008.