This publication begins a series thatwill monitor and report on social safety nets in developingcountries. This first report in the series provides keysocial safety nets statistics and explains trends usinginformation from 146 countries, including detailed householdsurvey data from 69 countries in the World Bank's Atlasof Social Protection: Indicators of Resilience and Equity(ASPIRE) database. This report reviews important policy andpractical developments in social safety net programs andhighlights emerging innovations. While the primary focus ison developing and emerging countries, it also includes somereferences to high-income settings.