The data on expenditure under the various social protection schemes are drawn up according to the ESSPROS (European System of integrated Social Protection Statistics) Manual issued by Eurostat. Generally, the objectives of ESSPROS are to provide a comprehensive, realistic and coherent description of social protection which: (i) covers social benefits and their financing; (ii) is geared towards international comparability; and (iii) is completely harmonised with other statistics, particularly the National Accounts, in its main concepts. The Old Age function contains the following benefits: Decreased National Minimum Pension, Increased National Minimum Pension, Increased Retirement Pension, National Minimum Pension, Retirement Pension, Two-Thirds Pension, Age Pension, Blind Pension and Carers Pension. Spatial ESSPROS data is represented per 1000 population.
