AI Adoption in Social Protection: A Global Evidence Review (2020-2025)

Overview

Artificial Intelligence is no longer a future possibility for social protection—it is already being implemented across the world. Yet evidence on where, how, and why AI is being adopted remains fragmented.

The Global Evidence Review brings together verified AI use cases from more than 90 countries, providing the most comprehensive overview to date of AI adoption across social protection systems between 2020 and 2025.

The publication documents applications across social assistance, social insurance, and labour market programmes, identifying emerging trends, implementation patterns, and lessons that can inform responsible AI adoption worldwide.

Why this publication matters:

As interest in AI continues to grow, policymakers and practitioners need reliable evidence—not just isolated examples.

This review provides a global evidence base that helps readers understand how AI is being used in practice, where innovation is taking place, and what lessons can be drawn from implementation experiences across different contexts.

By consolidating evidence from around the world, the publication supports more informed decision-making and encourages responsible innovation grounded in real-world experience.

What you’ll find inside:

• Verified AI use cases from more than 90 countries
• Coverage of five years of global AI adoption (2020–2025)
• Applications across social assistance, social insurance, and labour market programmes
• Analysis of trends and implementation patterns
• Lessons and emerging opportunities for responsible AI adoption

Who is this publication for?

This publication is intended for:

• Policymakers
• Social protection agencies
• Development partners
• Researchers
• AI practitioners working in the public sector

Key takeaways:

• Presents the largest evidence base on AI adoption in social protection.
• Documents verified AI applications across more than 90 countries.
• Identifies global trends and emerging use cases.
• Highlights lessons for responsible implementation.
• Supports evidence-based policymaking and international learning.

Required citation:

DCI AI Hub for Social Protection, AI Adoption in Social Protection: A Global Evidence Review (2020-2025), Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit, Germany, 2026.