ILO: Social Security coverage up from 19% in 2015 to 64.3% in 2025

According to the International Labour Organisation (ILO) database ILOSTAT, 64.3 % of the Indian population, or 94 crore people, were covered under at least one government social protection scheme in 2025. 

In 2015, only 19% of the population was covered by at least one government social security scheme. 

In terms of the number of beneficiaries covered under the social security scheme, India ranked second behind China.

Ninety-four crore people are covered under the social protection scheme in India. 

What is a Social Security Scheme?

According to the ILO, social security schemes refer to schemes backed by a country's law to provide benefits to poor and vulnerable individuals or families facing the risk of poverty, unemployment, disability, etc.

According to the ILO, social security has nine components:

• Access to quality healthcare, 
• income security in case of illness, 
• Unemployment protection, 
• Old age pensions, 
• Protection against injury during employment, 
• Family and child benefits, 
• Maternity benefits, 
• Disability benefits, and 
• Survivor benefits to the widows and dependent children in case the family earner dies.

ILO’s Criteria for Scheme Consideration

ILO STAT includes the data of those social security schemes that fulfil the following criteria of the ILO:

• The Social Security scheme shall be backed by the country’s law,
• The benefit to the beneficiary shall be provided in cash,
• The scheme shall be active and 
• The data of the scheme shall be at least three years old and verified.

Figure to cross the 100 crore mark 

The current figure of 94 crore Indians under the social security coverage is likely to cross the 100 crore mark.

The current data is based on Phase 1 of the Social Protection Data Pooling Exercise.

The exercise was carried out jointly by the ILO and the government.

In Phase I, the beneficiary data of the central sector scheme and women-centric schemes in 8 States were verified.

When additional scheme beneficiaries are verified in Phase II, the beneficiary figure will likely cross the 100 crore mark.

About the International Labour Organisation 

Established - 1919 by the Treaty of Versailles that ended the First World War.

It became the first specialised agency of the United Nations after it was established in 1945.

Members - 187 countries 

Headquarters - Geneva, Switzerland 

Director-General - Gilbert F. Houngbo