The OECD Social Expenditure Database (SOCX) has been developed in order to serve a growing need for indicators of social policy. It includes reliable and internationally comparable statistics on public and (mandatory and voluntary) private social expenditure at programme level. This version also includes estimates of net total social spending for 2009 for 30 OECD countries. SOCX provides a unique tool for monitoring trends in aggregate social expenditure and analysing changes in its composition. It covers 34 OECD countries for the period 1980-2009 and estimates for 2010-2012. The main social policy areas are as follows: Old age, Survivors, Incapacity-related benefits, Health, Family, Active labour market programmes, Unemployment, Housing, and Other social policy areas.