Social Security Programs Throughout the World: The Americas, 2013
This publication was discontinued after the 2018–2019 volume. Our data partner for the series, the International Social Security Association, still provides country profiles on their own website.
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The original web version of this report contained errors in Table 4. For Colombia, all the percentages except the two “employer” columns were incorrect. For El Salvador, all the percentages except the two “insured” columns were incorrect. Correct data now appears in the web version of this report.
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This fourth issue in the current four-volume series of Social Security Programs Throughout the World reports on the countries of the Americas. The combined findings of this series, which also includes volumes on Asia and the Pacific, Africa, and Europe, 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. With the introduction of the four-volume format in 2002, however, the research and writing has been contracted out to the ISSA. 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 2013, or the last date for which information has been received by SSA or ISSA.
Barbara Kritzer and John Jankowski managed the preparation of this report. Staff of the Division of Information Resources edited the report and prepared it for publication.
Ted Horan
Acting Associate Commissioner for Research, Evaluation, and Statistics
March 2014
- Table 1. Types of social security programs
- Table 2. Types of mandatory systems for retirement income
- Table 3. Demographic and other statistics related to social security, 2013
- Table 4. Contribution rates for social security programs, 2013
Country Summaries
