Philippine pension coverage is a peer strength — but ASPIRE social-protection reach is the weakest of the five, and those figures are from 2018.
ILO and ASPIRE are different systems — keep them on separate panels. At least one benefit covers about 35% (2022). Brunei and Singapore have empty ASPIRE cells by design. Dual narrative: pension strength vs weak/stale ASPIRE reach.
What the comparison shows
Philippine pension coverage is a relative strength among the five peers, while the older ASPIRE reach observation is weaker. These findings concern different populations and systems. Pension coverage of older people can be high even when broader household participation in social-protection programmes is lower.
Key findings from this pack
- PH pension coverage is second among the peer five, while its older ASPIRE reach is the lowest.
- ILO effective coverage and ASPIRE household-survey participation are different constructs.
- Adequacy describes transfers among beneficiaries, not the proportion of people covered.
- PH ASPIRE observations are from 2018; Brunei and Singapore’s ASPIRE cells remain intentional gaps.
The evidence: Philippines and peers
Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia. Values retain their individual years; missing observations are shown as —.
| Indicator / unit | Philippines | Malaysia | Thailand | Vietnam | Indonesia |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ILO: at least one benefit% of population | 34.92022 | 29.22023 | 70.12020 | 38.32022 | 54.32021 |
| ILO: pension coverage% above statutory pensionable age | 65.62021 | 18.52023 | 82.62020 | 40.92019 | 31.22021 |
| ASPIRE: social protection and labour coverage% of population · direct and indirect beneficiaries | 432018 | 76.72016 | 87.22021 | 89.42020 | 65.12022 |
| ASPIRE: benefit adequacy% of beneficiary household welfare | 16.92018 | 7.72016 | 78.52021 | 13.62020 | 9.42022 |
| ASPIRE: safety-net reach in the poorest quintile% of poorest quintile · pre-transfer welfare | 57.22018 | 97.62016 | 97.12021 | 88.62020 | 69.42022 |
| ASPIRE: safety-net coverage% of population | 34.92018 | 75.62016 | 87.12021 | 88.22020 | 54.62022 |
| ASPIRE: social insurance coverage% of population | 13.72018 | 8.72016 | 4.52021 | 12.72020 | 9.32022 |
How to interpret the findings
ILO effective coverage and ASPIRE household-survey participation are not interchangeable. The Philippine ASPIRE figures are from 2018 and cannot establish today’s reach. Adequacy measures transfers among beneficiaries, not the proportion of people covered, while the Brunei and Singapore ASPIRE gaps remain unknown rather than zero.
Coverage and context
Read row years and coverage notes; missing observations are not zero.
The table is a comparison of observations, not a combined ranking. The topic guide includes the wider SEA-11 coverage, interactive charts and full methodology.
Open social protection →All sources and observation years
S1 · ILO Social Security Inquiry via UN SDG SI_COV_BENFTS (SDG 1.3.1 effective coverage) · year 2021 / 2022 / 2023 / 2019 / 2020 / 2024 · as_of 2026-09-06
S2 · ILO Social Security Inquiry via UN SDG SI_COV_PENSN (SDG 1.3.1 old-age) · year 2021 / 2020 / 2023 / 2016 / 2019 / 2024 · as_of 2026-09-06
S3 · World Bank WDI ASPIRE per_allsp.cov_pop_tot · year unavailable · as_of 2026-09-06
S4 · World Bank WDI ASPIRE per_allsp.adq_pop_tot · year unavailable · as_of 2026-09-06
S5 · World Bank WDI ASPIRE per_sa_allsa.cov_q1_tot · year unavailable · as_of 2026-09-06
S6 · World Bank WDI ASPIRE per_sa_allsa.cov_pop_tot · year unavailable · as_of 2026-09-06
S7 · World Bank WDI ASPIRE per_si_allsi.cov_pop_tot · year unavailable · as_of 2026-09-06
S8 · World Bank WDI ASPIRE per_allsp.cov_pop_tot · year 2013 · as_of 2026-09-06
S9 · World Bank WDI ASPIRE per_allsp.adq_pop_tot · year 2013 · as_of 2026-09-06
S10 · World Bank WDI ASPIRE per_sa_allsa.cov_q1_tot · year unavailable · as_of 2026-09-06
S11 · World Bank WDI ASPIRE per_sa_allsa.cov_pop_tot · year unavailable · as_of 2026-09-06
S12 · World Bank WDI ASPIRE per_si_allsi.cov_pop_tot · year 2013 · as_of 2026-09-06
S13 · World Bank WDI ASPIRE per_allsp.cov_pop_tot · year 2022 · as_of 2026-09-06
S14 · World Bank WDI ASPIRE per_allsp.adq_pop_tot · year 2022 · as_of 2026-09-06
S15 · World Bank WDI ASPIRE per_sa_allsa.cov_q1_tot · year 2022 · as_of 2026-09-06
S16 · World Bank WDI ASPIRE per_sa_allsa.cov_pop_tot · year 2022 · as_of 2026-09-06
S17 · World Bank WDI ASPIRE per_si_allsi.cov_pop_tot · year 2022 · as_of 2026-09-06
S18 · World Bank WDI ASPIRE per_allsp.cov_pop_tot · year 2018 · as_of 2026-09-06
S19 · World Bank WDI ASPIRE per_allsp.adq_pop_tot · year 2018 · as_of 2026-09-06
S20 · World Bank WDI ASPIRE per_sa_allsa.cov_q1_tot · year unavailable · as_of 2026-09-06
S21 · World Bank WDI ASPIRE per_sa_allsa.cov_pop_tot · year unavailable · as_of 2026-09-06
S22 · World Bank WDI ASPIRE per_si_allsi.cov_pop_tot · year 2018 · as_of 2026-09-06
S23 · World Bank WDI ASPIRE per_allsp.cov_pop_tot · year 2016 · as_of 2026-09-06
S24 · World Bank WDI ASPIRE per_allsp.adq_pop_tot · year 2016 · as_of 2026-09-06
S25 · World Bank WDI ASPIRE per_sa_allsa.cov_q1_tot · year 2016 · as_of 2026-09-06
S26 · World Bank WDI ASPIRE per_sa_allsa.cov_pop_tot · year 2016 · as_of 2026-09-06
S27 · World Bank WDI ASPIRE per_si_allsi.cov_pop_tot · year 2016 · as_of 2026-09-06
S28 · World Bank WDI ASPIRE per_allsp.cov_pop_tot · year 2017 · as_of 2026-09-06
S29 · World Bank WDI ASPIRE per_allsp.adq_pop_tot · year 2017 · as_of 2026-09-06
S30 · World Bank WDI ASPIRE per_sa_allsa.cov_q1_tot · year 2017 · as_of 2026-09-06
S31 · World Bank WDI ASPIRE per_sa_allsa.cov_pop_tot · year 2017 · as_of 2026-09-06
S32 · World Bank WDI ASPIRE per_si_allsi.cov_pop_tot · year 2017 · as_of 2026-09-06
S33 · World Bank WDI ASPIRE per_allsp.cov_pop_tot · year 2018 · as_of 2026-09-06
S34 · World Bank WDI ASPIRE per_allsp.adq_pop_tot · year 2018 · as_of 2026-09-06
S35 · World Bank WDI ASPIRE per_sa_allsa.cov_q1_tot · year 2018 · as_of 2026-09-06
S36 · World Bank WDI ASPIRE per_sa_allsa.cov_pop_tot · year 2018 · as_of 2026-09-06
S37 · World Bank WDI ASPIRE per_si_allsi.cov_pop_tot · year 2018 · as_of 2026-09-06
S38 · World Bank WDI ASPIRE per_allsp.cov_pop_tot · year unavailable · as_of 2026-09-06
S39 · World Bank WDI ASPIRE per_allsp.adq_pop_tot · year unavailable · as_of 2026-09-06
S40 · World Bank WDI ASPIRE per_sa_allsa.cov_q1_tot · year unavailable · as_of 2026-09-06
S41 · World Bank WDI ASPIRE per_sa_allsa.cov_pop_tot · year unavailable · as_of 2026-09-06
S42 · World Bank WDI ASPIRE per_si_allsi.cov_pop_tot · year unavailable · as_of 2026-09-06
S43 · World Bank WDI ASPIRE per_allsp.cov_pop_tot · year 2021 · as_of 2026-09-06
S44 · World Bank WDI ASPIRE per_allsp.adq_pop_tot · year 2021 · as_of 2026-09-06
S45 · World Bank WDI ASPIRE per_sa_allsa.cov_q1_tot · year 2021 · as_of 2026-09-06
S46 · World Bank WDI ASPIRE per_sa_allsa.cov_pop_tot · year 2021 · as_of 2026-09-06
S47 · World Bank WDI ASPIRE per_si_allsi.cov_pop_tot · year 2021 · as_of 2026-09-06
S48 · World Bank WDI ASPIRE per_allsp.cov_pop_tot · year 2020 · as_of 2026-09-06
S49 · World Bank WDI ASPIRE per_allsp.adq_pop_tot · year 2020 · as_of 2026-09-06
S50 · World Bank WDI ASPIRE per_sa_allsa.cov_q1_tot · year 2020 · as_of 2026-09-06
S51 · World Bank WDI ASPIRE per_sa_allsa.cov_pop_tot · year 2020 · as_of 2026-09-06
S52 · World Bank WDI ASPIRE per_si_allsi.cov_pop_tot · year 2020 · as_of 2026-09-06
S53 · World Bank WDI ASPIRE per_allsp.cov_pop_tot · year 2011 · as_of 2026-09-06
S54 · World Bank WDI ASPIRE per_allsp.adq_pop_tot · year 2007 · as_of 2026-09-06
S55 · World Bank WDI ASPIRE per_sa_allsa.cov_q1_tot · year 2011 · as_of 2026-09-06
S56 · World Bank WDI ASPIRE per_sa_allsa.cov_pop_tot · year 2011 · as_of 2026-09-06
S57 · World Bank WDI ASPIRE per_si_allsi.cov_pop_tot · year unavailable · as_of 2026-09-06
Cite this page
ASEAN in Data (2026). Philippine pension coverage is a peer strength — but ASPIRE social-protection reach is the weakest of the five, and those figures are from 2018. /insights/social-protection