Total spending tells you how big the state is; the functional breakdown tells you what it does. Eurostat classifies expenditure using an international standard called COFOG (Classification of the Functions of Government).
Social protection — pensions, unemployment benefits, family support. Almost always the largest single function in EU budgets.
Health — public healthcare systems and related services.
Education — schools and universities.
Defence — armed forces and military procurement, historically low across much of the EU.
How to read it
Each is shown as a percentage of GDP. Comparing the mix across countries reveals very different priorities — and comparing it over time shows where the long-run pressures, especially ageing-related social protection and health, are building.
Source: Eurostat COFOG, annual.