For the first time, data reveals that over half of the global population, specifically 52.4%, is covered by some form of social protection, a significant increase from 42.8% in 2015.

Despite this progress, 3.8 billion people, including 1.8 billion children, still lack any form of social safety net, highlighting persistent gaps in coverage.

The disparities in social protection coverage are stark, with high-income countries achieving 85.9% coverage compared to just 9.7% in low-income countries.

Low-income countries face critically low coverage rates, with only 9.7% of their populations protected, a figure that has seen little improvement since 2015.

To ensure a basic level of social security, low- and middle-income countries require an additional $1.4 trillion annually, which represents about 3.3% of their GDP.

Specifically, low-income countries need an additional $308.5 billion per year to achieve basic social protection, necessitating substantial international support.

The report identifies a significant financing gap, noting that the annual financing gap in the 20 most vulnerable countries is $200.1 billion, which is 69.1% of their GDP.

The ILO warns that at the current pace, universal social protection coverage will not be achieved for another 49 years, projecting a target year of 2073.

The ILO calls for urgent policy actions to close social protection gaps, emphasizing the need for increased investment and external support.

Mia Seppo, ILO Assistant Director-General, stated that the disparity in access to social protection reflects a deeply divided world and calls for urgent action to protect those on the frontlines of climate change.

The ITUC advocates for the expansion of social protection systems with adequate financing as a critical priority in global discussions, including with the UN and international financial institutions.

Major inequalities in social protection access exist, particularly between genders, employment types, and across income levels, necessitating targeted reforms.