In the article questions of the economic-statistical analysis of the basic directions of social protection of the population are considered. The problem of poverty can not be solved once and for all. Every society faces it at any level of social and economic development, and the very concept of poverty in every next stage of development is filled with new content. The majority of modern developed states have today practically solved the problem of absolute poverty; however, relative poverty continues to persist in society, even in conditions of raising the standard of living of all segments of the population.