Last year, Finland saw a marked increase in both the number of basic social welfare recipients and the total expenses related to it. Vantaa emerged as the municipality with the highest share of recipients, where 11.9% of the population benefited from this support. In contrast, Luoto had the lowest proportion, with only 1% of its residents receiving basic social welfare. A significant portion of the welfare payments was allocated to housing costs, totaling €460 million, which accounted for 45.9% of all basic social welfare payments.

In total, Kela, the Finnish social insurance institution, disbursed basic social welfare to 6.4% of the population, benefiting 256,900 households. This represents an increase of 2.9% from the previous year. The total number of individual recipients reached 365,000, reflecting a 2.4% increase year-on-year. Among these recipients, the largest group was men aged 20-24, indicating a specific demographic that may require further attention in social welfare policy formulations.

The statistics underscore significant challenges in social welfare and housing affordability in Finland, particularly among younger populations. The findings emphasize the ongoing need for enhanced support and policy interventions to assist those disproportionately affected and to manage the growing demand for basic social welfare. With the continued rise in housing costs and economic pressures, the discussion around these issues remains crucial to ensure sustainable living conditions and economic stability for vulnerable groups in society.