As per a report published by Statistics Mauritius on the 28th February 2023, the government spent approximately Rs 51.4 billion on social security and welfare for the period July 2021 to June 2022. The said amount represents 29.0% of the total expenditure of the government and 9.8% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
The details of the Basic Pensions and Social Aid are as follow:
Basic Retirement Pension
The number of beneficiaries increased by almost 3.3% in June 2022 as compared to June 2021, to reach 250,411. Rs 30.6 billion was the cost to the government, which represent an increase of 3.5% for 2021/2022 as compared to 2020/2021.
Basic Widow’s Pensioners
A decrease of 1.0% was observed in June 2022 as compared to one year earlier where the number was 18,219 to now reach 18,034. Consequently, the amount disbursed decreased by 1.1% to reach Rs 2.3 billion in 2021/2022.
Basic Invalid’s Pensioners
As at June 2022, the beneficiaries were at a total of 32,252, a decrease of 0.2%. The total amount disbursed rose by 1.5% from July 2021 to June 2022 to reach Rs 4.4 billion.
Basic Orphan’s Pensioners
The number increased from 274 in June 2021 to reach 395 in June 2022. The expenditure amounted to Rs 57.4 million for the period July 2021 to June 2022.
Social Aid
14,642 families benefited from social aid in June 2022, which is an increase of 5.7% as compare to June 2021. The amount paid was Rs 513.1 million in 2021/2022 representing an increase of 1.7%.
As per the numbers provided, the government invested a consequent amount of its budget into social security and welfare.