The number of full-year persons receiving social assistance and benefits rose by almost 60 percent between 1990 and 1994. Since then, the number has dropped steadily, and in 2019 it was almost at the same level as in 1990. Between 2019 and 2020, the number of full-year persons supported by unemployment benefits and labour market programmes increased sharply due to the pandemic. The higher level remained in 2021, whereafter it decreased in 2022 and 2023 to the lowest levels since the start of the survey. In 2024, the number increased again, primarily due to a significant rise in the number of people supported by unemployment benefits.

In 2024, the number supported by labour market programmes and introduction benefit decreased, while there was an increase in sickness benefits, sickness and activity compensation, unemployment benefits and economic aid.

Sickness and activity compensation, which is the largest form of compensation and accounted for about 29.1 percent of the total number of full-year persons, has decreased since 2006. In 2024, this form continued to decrease in the age group 20–64, down by 0.3 percent, while it increased by 2.4 percent in the age group 20–65.

Introduction benefit was introduced in 2011 and the number of full-year persons for this form of compensation increased sharply until 2017. However, in the last years this number has decreased sharply; down by 12.9 percent in 2024, resulting in a total decrease by 86 percent since 2017.