According to World Bank’s State of Social Protection Report 2025, as of 2022, how many people in low- and middle-income countries lacked adequate social protection coverage?​

Correct option is B

The correct answer is (b) 2 billion.

• As per the World Bank's State of Social Protection Report 2025, published in February 2025, 2 billion people in low- and middle-income countries lacked adequate social protection coverage as of 2022.

• Despite progress, social protection systems are still underdeveloped in many countries, particularly in low-income regions. This leaves large segments of the population vulnerable to risks such as illness, unemployment, and poverty.

• The report stresses that there is a need for further investment and expansion of social protection programs to provide universal coverage and improve the adequacy of benefits, especially for the most disadvantaged groups.

Information Booster:

• The World Bank has been at the forefront of advocating for and funding social protection systems globally, aiming to reduce poverty and inequality through comprehensive social safety nets.

• Three out of four people in low-income countries do not have access to social protection systems.

• In lower-middle-income countries, more than half of the population remains uncovered by any form of social protection.

• The World Bank aims to reach 500 million additional people with social protection by 2030, with a strong focus on including women and marginalized groups.

Additional Information:

• World Bank History and Facts:

  • The World Bank was created in 1944 during the Bretton Woods Conference, with the aim of providing financial and technical assistance for the reconstruction of post-World War II Europe. Over time, its mission expanded to include the reduction of poverty and the promotion of sustainable development in developing countries.

  • The World Bank Group consists of five institutions:

    1. International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD)

    2. International Development Association (IDA)

    3. International Finance Corporation (IFC)

    4. Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA)

    5. International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID).

  • IDA focuses on the poorest countries, while the IBRD lends to middle-income countries and creditworthy low-income countries.

  • The World Bank provides loans, grants, and policy advice to governments to fund infrastructure projects, improve education, healthcare, and social protection systems, and reduce inequality.