Social Protection Monitor - 2025 Digest
Throughout 2025, the Social Protection Monitor (SPM) recorded a total of 421 social protection measures announced by 95 countries, at both national and sub-national level, marking a substantial increase compared to 2024 (299 measures) and 2023 (253 measures). Regular measures continued to dominate, accounting for 91.5% of all measures, confirming the trend observed in previous years of a shift away from crisis-driven responses. Measures linked to specific shocks are now limited compared to previous years, and are primarily related to climate change (2.9%) and cost-of-living pressures (2.4%).
While 19.2% introduced new programmes or benefits, most measures consisted of adjustments to existing programmes. The most common types of measures were increasing benefit levels (23.3%), introducing new programmes or benefits (11.6%), and extending coverage (6.7%). In terms of financing, non-contributory measures remained predominant (59.2%), broadly in line with previous years.
Across all measures, old-age protection remained the dominant policy area, accounting for 40.1% of all measures, confirming the strong policy focus on pension systems observed in recent years. Other frequently addressed functions included poverty and vulnerability (10.2%), as well as measures covering several functions (9.3%), which were often linked to broader reforms or budget announcements affecting multiple areas of the social protection system.
Only 12.1% of all measures were identified as gender-sensitive, marking a slight decline compared to 2023 and 2024 (around 15%). A recurrent group of measures are parental benefits, particularly through the introduction of newborn grants and improvements in maternity and parental leave provisions.
In 2025, expansionary measures continued to dominate, accounting for 83.1% of all measures. However, contraction measures increased for the third consecutive year, rising from 6.1% in 2023, to 8.4% in 2024, to 9.3% in 2025. This trend was particularly prevalent in Europe and Central Asia, where 14.5% of all measures were contraction measures.
Highlights of 2025
January
Chile: Chile's Congress approved a landmark pension reform (Law No. 21.735), mandating a new 7% employer contribution to individual accounts and a social security fund.
Seychelles: A new voluntary Fishers Pension Scheme was announced for artisanal fishers, providing retirement income security to a previously underserved group. Fishermen contribute 5% of the minimum wage, matched by a 5% contribution from the Seychelles Fisheries Authority (SFA).
February
India: In the 2025 Budget speech, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced a comprehensive social security scheme for over 10 million gig workers, including Ayushman Bharat-PMJAY health coverage, life, disability and accident insurance, maternity benefits, old-age protection via the new Social Security Fund, and e-Shram portal registration.
April
Egypt: Social Security Law No. 12/2025 was ratified and replaced fragmented 2010 provisions to create a consolidated non-contributory framework for uninsured Egyptians unable to self-support, managed by the Takaful & Karama Fund. The law introduces stricter eligibility criteria based on poverty and income thresholds, uses digital verification to reduce fraud, and defines multiple beneficiary categories with tiered support.
July
Colombia: Colombia's major pension reform took effect, mandating all salaried workers to contribute to the public Colpensiones fund, reducing the role of private pension managers and strengthening redistribution within the system.
United States: President Donald Trump signed the 2025 budget reconciliation bill (H.R. 1, 4 July 2025), introducing nearly USD 1 trillion in Medicaid cuts over 10 years to offset tax reductions. The measure is projected to result in the disenrolment of 5.3 million people, including 2.1 million women of reproductive age. Additional provisions include stricter reporting requirements, more frequent eligibility checks, restrictions on provider taxes, and limits on managed care.
September
Kenya: President William Ruto unveiled the Taifa Care programme under the Social Health Authority (SHA), providing free healthcare to 2.2 million vulnerable Kenyans, with plans to expand to 3.9 million, aimed at advancing universal health coverage for all Kenyans.
October
France: Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu suspended the 2023 pension reform in response to political pressure. The measure halts the planned increase in the retirement age, with no further increases expected until after the 2027 election.
Malaysia: The Malaysian government extended the Self-Employment Social Security Scheme (Lindung Kendiri) to include Malaysians employed in Singapore who are registered as self-employed in Malaysia, including e-hailing and food delivery workers.
Mozambique: Mozambique announced that social security pensions for nationals working in South Africa will be paid domestically from 2026, improving access to retirement, disability, and work injury benefits through cross-border coordination, with around 7,000 nationals expected to benefit.
November
Philippines: A new Social Security System (SSS) office opened at the embassy in Seoul to improve access to social protection services for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs). This is part of President Marcos Jr.'s initiative to establish SSS foreign offices worldwide, including subsequent openings such as Tokyo and planned further expansions.
December
Germany: The government approved a private pension reform, including the introduction of the so-called Frühstart-Rente, an early-start pension scheme for children and adolescents with a monthly state contribution, as part of a broader pension reform.
Uzbekistan: The country adopts the new Law “On State Social Insurance”, paving the way for a comprehensive system covering maternity, sickness and unemployment benefits. Supported by the ILO through the Global Accelerator, the reform will be progressively implemented from 1 January 2026.
Further information: Interactive graphs and the full list of measures are available in the online SPM dashboard, in English, Spanish, French, Russian, and Portuguese.