Retirement ages around the world
Pension ages keep rising as populations age. Figures below are ages for the state pension (not private plans); many countries are phasing in changes by birth year, so check your birth cohort.
| Country | Pension age | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| China | 60 M / 55 F (rising) | Phased reform to 63/58/55 from 2025 |
| France | 64 | Reformed in 2023 from 62 |
| Italy | 67 | Indexed to life expectancy |
| Germany | 67 (phasing) | 66+ for transition cohorts |
| Spain | 66.5 (rising to 67) | Depends on contribution years |
| United Kingdom | 66 (rising to 67) | 67 from 2026–28 |
| United States | 67 (full benefit) | 62 with reduced benefits |
| Japan | 65 | Can start reduced at 60 |
| South Korea | 60 | Base pension paid from 65 |
| Canada | 65 (OAS) | CPP can start at 60 reduced |
| Australia | 67 | Since July 2023 |
| Netherlands | 67 (linked) | Indexed to life expectancy |
| Sweden | 65–67 (flexible) | Income pension from 62 possible |
| Switzerland | 65 M / 64 F | Referendum adjusted 2024 |
| Brazil | 65 M / 62 F | Contribution-based rules |
| Russia | 65 M / 60 F | After the 2019–2028 reform |
| India | 60 | Formal-sector/government jobs |
| Singapore | 63 (rising to 64) | Re-employment to 68 |
| Turkey | ~60 (varies) | Long contribution rules |
| Poland | 65 M / 60 F | Equalization debates ongoing |
Notes
- “Pension age” means the age for the basic state pension, not when people actually stop working.
- Many countries index pension age to life expectancy — expect further rises.
- Early claiming usually reduces the benefit permanently (e.g. US 70–80% at 62).
Pension age is not the age people stop working
The figures in a retirement-age chart describe when the state pension becomes payable, not when people actually leave work. In many countries the effective retirement age is lower, because early-claiming options, redundancy, health or caring responsibilities pull people out sooner, while others work past the pension age for financial or personal reasons. The two numbers also move independently: a country can raise its pension age while the average age of exit barely changes. When comparing countries, keep the legal pension age, the average exit age and the availability of early retirement in separate columns of your thinking.
Why pension ages keep climbing
State pension ages have risen almost everywhere over the past two decades, and the underlying arithmetic is hard to escape. Life expectancy at 65 has increased substantially, so a pension paid from 65 now has to last years longer than when the age was set. At the same time, the ratio of workers to retirees has fallen as populations age and birth rates decline. Many systems now link the pension age directly to life expectancy, which means automatic future increases rather than one-off political decisions. Denmark, for example, ties its age to life expectancy and is scheduled to reach 70 for younger cohorts; Italy and others index it similarly.
Phased reforms and birth cohorts
Reforms are almost never switched on overnight; they are phased in by birth year, which makes the headline number misleading for anyone in the transition. Germany, for instance, raised its age from 65 to 67 over more than a decade, with each cohort retiring a month or two later than the one before. France's 2023 reform moved the age from 62 to 64 gradually. China began a phased rise in 2025 that will lift men's age from 60 toward 63 and women's from 55/50 toward 58/55 over fifteen years. If you are planning around a pension age, look up your specific birth cohort rather than the figure quoted for new retirees.
Claiming early or late changes the amount permanently
In most systems the pension age is a reference point, not a fixed start date. Claiming early typically reduces the benefit for life: in the United States, claiming at 62 rather than at the full retirement age of 67 cuts the payment by roughly 30%. Claiming later increases it — US benefits rise by around 8% for each year of delay up to 70. The same shape appears in many European systems, though the exact reductions and credits differ. That means the decision is not only about when you can afford to stop but about the trade-off between years of payments and the size of each one.
Beyond the state pension
The state pension is usually only part of retirement income, and in some countries a small part. Occupational or workplace schemes, private savings, and in a few cases mandatory individual accounts fill the gap, and their rules — contribution years, vesting, tax treatment — differ from the state scheme entirely. Contribution history also matters: many countries require a minimum number of qualifying years, and gaps for time spent abroad or out of work can reduce the entitlement. If you have worked in more than one country, totalisation agreements may let you combine periods, but you generally have to claim from each system separately. Check both the state age and your own contribution record.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the retirement age in the US?
- Full Social Security benefits start at 67 for those born in 1960 or later; you can claim reduced benefits from 62.
- Which country has the lowest pension age?
- Among major economies, China's 60 (men) is lowest but a phased rise to 63 started in 2025; India's formal-sector age is 60.
- Are pension ages rising everywhere?
- Broadly yes — life expectancy and aging populations push reforms. Denmark links its age to life expectancy outright (reaching 70 for the young cohorts).