Bayerische Staatsmedaille für soziale Verdienste

The Bavarian State Medal for Social Merit (Bayerische Staatsmedaille für soziale Verdienste) has been awarded since 1970. It is awarded to people who have rendered outstanding service to the Free State of Bavaria and its citizens in social fields. The decoration was instituted by Fritz Pirkl, the Bavarian State Minister for Labour and Social Welfare at the time. Since then, it has been awarded annually to approximately 20 people.

The front bears the inscription Bavarian State Medal for Social Merit, and the reverse bears the Bavarian state coat of arms with the inscription Bavarian State Ministry for Family, Labour and Social Affairs.

From 1970 through 2018, a total of 1,039 notable people had been honoured with the decoration, also known as the Social Medal.

Nominations for the Bavarian State Medal for Social Merit may be submitted informally by any citizen to the Bavarian State Ministry for Labour and Social Order, Family and Women, to the district governments, district offices or municipalities.