社会保障給付費１２１兆円　１８年度、過去最高更新―厚労省

　厚生労働省の国立社会保障・人口問題研究所は１６日、２０１８年度に年金、医療、介護などに充てられた社会保障給付費が前年度比１．１％増の１２１兆５４０８億円だったと発表した。初の１２０兆円台に達した１７年度を１兆３３９１億円上回り、過去最高を更新。国民１人当たりの給付費も９６万１２００円で最高だった。
　社会保障給付費は、社会保険料と税金などから年金や医療などに充てられた費用の総額。国民の自己負担は含まない。統計を取り始めた１９５０年度以来、一貫して伸び続けている。
　分野別で伸びが大きかったのは、子育てや介護などを含む「福祉その他」で、２．３％増の２６兆５３８２億円。うち介護は２．８％増の１０兆３８７２億円で、高齢化の進行が影響した。
　「医療」は０．８％増の３９兆７４４５億円。診療報酬のマイナス改定による圧縮効果を、高齢化や医療の高度化による伸びが上回った。「年金」は０．８％増の５５兆２５８１億円だった。（2020/10/16-15:36）

Social security benefits in Japan in fiscal 2018 grew 1.1 pct from the previous year to a record 121,540.8 billion yen, due to the rapid aging of the country's population, a welfare ministry-affiliated think tank said Friday.
   The figure was up by 1,339.1 billion yen from the level in fiscal 2017. Benefits per capita also hit a record high, of 961,200 yen, in fiscal 2018, which ended in March 2019, the National Institute of Population and Social Security Research said.
   Social security benefits are the total amount of money used for pension payments, medical treatment and other social welfare purposes from funds collected as tax revenue and social security insurance premiums. Self-pay portions are not included in the data. The benefits have been on the rise since statistics began in 1950.
   By category, benefits related to welfare and other purposes including child-rearing and nursing care rose 2.3 pct to 26,538.2 billion yen. Of the figure, benefits for nursing care increased 2.8 pct to 10,387.2 billion yen, reflecting the aging of society.
   Benefits for medical treatment inched up 0.8 pct to 39,744.5 billion yen, with growth in spending associated with advanced therapies and the aging of society outpacing cuts in medical fees. Pensions totaled 55,258.1 billion yen, up 0.8 pct.