India ranks 2nd in providing social security coverage to citizens

India’s social security coverage has surged from 19% in 2015 to 64.3% in 2025, marking a 45 percentage point increase over a decade, according to the International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) ILOSTAT database.

Key Highlights:

• Beneficiaries: Over 94 crore Indians are now covered under at least one social protection benefit.
• Global Ranking: India now ranks second in the world in terms of absolute number of people covered.
• ILO Recognition: ILO has officially published India’s achievement on its dashboard, acknowledging the scale and legislative backing of its schemes.
• First Mover Advantage: India is the first country globally to update 2025 coverage data in the ILOSTAT database — a testament to its strength in digital governance and welfare transparency.

ILO Scheme Criteria:

To be included in ILOSTAT data, schemes must:

• Be legislatively backed
• Provide cash benefits
• Be currently active
• Have verified time-series data for the past three years

Global Impact:

• This progress will help India in finalising Social Security Agreements (SSAs) with developed countries, enhancing the welfare of Indian expatriates and international workers.