Social Security Programs Throughout the World: Asia and the Pacific, 2016
The 2019 regional volume for The Americas was the last edition of Social Security Programs Throughout the World published by SSA. Our publication partner the International Social Security Association will continue to provide country profiles on its website.
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The original web version of this report contained three errors in the Australia country profile—(1) under "Sickness and Maternity Benefits," the October 2016 date in the "Sickness benefit" section should have been September 2016; (2) under "Unemployment," the additional assistance under the "Partner allowance" section omitted the energy supplement; and (3) under "Family Allowances," the dollar amount in the "Qualifying Conditions" section for families to receive a partial benefit under "Family tax benefit (part A)" was incorrect. The correct information now appears in the web version of this report.
The original web version of this report contained an error in the South Korea country profile—all the programs after "Old Age, Disability, and Survivors" were missing from the profile, including "Sickness and Maternity," "Work Injury," and "Unemployment." The correct information now appears in the web version of this report.
The original web version of this report contained an error in the Georgia country profile—Under "Old-Age Benefits," the amount for the old-age state pension (universal) was incorrectly listed as 1,180 tlari. The correct information now appears in the web version of this report.
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This second issue in the current four-volume series of Social Security Programs Throughout the World reports on the countries of Asia and the Pacific. The combined findings of this series, which also includes volumes on Europe, Africa, and the Americas, are published at six-month intervals over a two-year period. Each volume highlights features of social security programs in the particular region.
The information contained in these volumes is crucial to our efforts, and those of researchers in other countries, to review different ways of approaching social security challenges that will enable us to adapt our social security systems to the evolving needs of individuals, households, and families. These efforts are particularly important as each nation faces major demographic changes, especially the increasing number of aged persons, as well as economic and fiscal issues.
Social Security Programs Throughout the World is the product of a cooperative effort between the Social Security Administration (SSA) and the International Social Security Association (ISSA). The ISSA is the principal international institution bringing together social security agencies and organizations around the world. Founded in 1927, the ISSA is located at the International Labour Office in Geneva.
Previous editions of this report, which date back to 1937, were issued as one volume and were prepared by SSA staff. ISSA has researched and written the publication since the introduction of the four-volume format in 2002, and beginning with the volume on the Americas 2015, the publication is co-financed by both institutions. The ISSA has conducted the research largely through its numerous country-based correspondents, as well as its social security databases and other types of data that are drawn together to update this report. Social Security Programs Throughout the World is based on legislation in effect in July 2016, or the last date for which information has been received by SSA or ISSA. We added a new country, Bhutan, to this volume.
Shea McClanahan, Megan Gerecke, and Harald Braumann managed the data collection and analysis for the ISSA, and John Jankowski and Ben Danforth performed a technical review of the report for SSA. Staff of the Office of Information Resources at SSA edited the report and prepared it for publication.
John W. R. Phillips
Associate Commissioner for Research, Evaluation, and Statistics
March 2017
- Table 1. Social security programs, by country and type
- Table 2. Mandatory, old-age income security programs, by country and type
- Table 3. Demographic and other social security-related statistics, by country
- Table 4. Insured and employer contribution rates, by country and program type, 2016
Country Summaries
