30+ Compelling UK Pension Statistics and Facts

The COVID-19 pandemic has made the last two years financially challenging for many. Although the average pension in UK has seen a recent increase, the future remains uncertain. Millions of people have been forced to reassess their financial situations and dip into savings for support. Pensions have especially taken a hard blow during the current recession, and many fear for their financial stability as retirement age nears. Let’s check out the pension situation in the UK.

Average Pension in UK: Fascinating Facts

• The average UK pensions pot is worth £42,651.
• Women have 64% less than men in retirement savings.
• The maximum state pension payment is £175.20 a week.
• 77% of all UK employees are members of pension schemes.
• UK residents need at least 10 years on their National Insurance record to qualify for a state pension.
• 67% of retirement income comes from private pension schemes.
• 63% of Brits plan to delay retiring due to COVID-19.

What Are the Numbers Saying?

The average pension may be confusing for UK residents new to retirement, so we singled out important figures and sums.

#1 The UK pension pot is currently at £42,651

(Finder)

A UK pension pot holds, on average, £42,651! This is 18% less than the targeted amount for those 67 and older, £237,000. British citizens who work have roughly £33,809 saved for retirement, £203,191 less than what experts recommend. 

#2 The average pension income in 2020 was £21,663

(Wealth Adviser)

The average UK pension income in 2020 was £21,663, three-quarters of the median full-time earnings income – £30,472. That being said, this is still 5% higher than the expected income, but it’s simply not enough for many to live a comfortable lifestyle. 

#3 Gen Xers hold the largest pension pots with £33,547

(Pension Bee)

Generation X carries the largest pension pots compared to other cohorts. The average Gen Xer pot holds £33,547, while a Millennial pot holds £22,049. Generation Z has the lowest amounts in their average pension pot at only £21,765. 

#4 Women possess 64% less than men in their pension fund

(Finder)

Working men have, on average, £62,336 in their pension funds; women have £22,735 in theirs – a 64% difference. Even though the gender pay gap is decreasing, it still influences how much women can save. Women are also more likely to work part-time. 38% of women are employed part-time as opposed to 13% of men, which also affects a woman’s average UK pension pot. 

#5 The maximum state pension is £175.20 per week

(The Guardian; Gov.uk)

The maximum payment you can receive from a state pension weekly is £175.20. Not everyone is entitled to the maximum payment, and most people receive less. The average state pension in the UK is £137.60 a week – £37.6 less than the maximum. 

#6 The maximum amount of a Scottish pension for the 2021-22 tax year is £179.60

(Scottish Widows)

Scottish pensions are seeing a rise compared to the rest of the UK, as the state pays £179.60 maximum pensions to those entitled for 2021-2022. People eligible for the full amount must have 35 qualifying years of National Insurance contributions. How much is the state pension in Scotland? It could be £179.60 but will be lower for most.

#7 The average annual pension in the UK is £12,000 per year

(The Telegraph)

The funds from a pensions pot combined with average payments from a state pension amount to £12,000 a year, which is only enough for a basic retirement lifestyle. If you want to enhance your pension, talk to an expert or use software that helps with personal finances. 

#8 Couples require £26,000 for a comfortable retirement

(Independent)

It’s estimated that the average income for retired couples in the UK should be £26,000 per year if they want to lead a comfortable lifestyle. This can be achieved with a joint pensions pot of £155,000, in addition to any state pension. Single retirees (divorced or widowed) need more money in retirement since they don’t share housing costs with anyone.

Who Can Retire and When?

There have been many changes for pensions and the age of retirement over the years, so let’s take a look at who is eligible to retire and when. 

#9 The earliest age you can claim a state pension is 66

(Age UK)

The State Pension age is the earliest you can claim your share of the state pension; the official age of retirement in the UK is 66. The average pension pot for UK residents comes into play here: if you think you have enough money in your personal pension, you can retire before you’re 66. 

#10 A total of 9% of British citizens say they have no pension plan

(Finder)

9% of the British population say they don’t have a personal pension or workplace pension! 18% state that they only have a workplace pension.

#11 At least 77% of UK employees are members of a workplace pension scheme

(ONS)

Data from 2019 shows that 77% of employed UK citizens are members of workplace pension schemes and have access to the average pension pot at 60. This is a significant rise from 2012 when only 47% of workers were members of such programs. 

#12 Around 89% of public sector employees have access to workplace pensions

(ONS)

Employees in the public sector have more access to workplace pensions than those in the private sector. 89% employed in the public sector are members of workplace schemes, while only 73% of private-sector workers are. This indicates that public sector workers receive more than the average pension in the UK

#13 Brits need ten qualifying years on the National Insurance record to get a state pension

(Gov.uk)

British citizens need to have at least ten years on the National Insurance record to be entitled to a state pension. These don’t have to be ten consecutive years, and people can always opt to pay voluntary contributions towards National Insurance. 

#14 The average weekly income of a pensioner is £304 with 67% from private pensions

(Unbiased)

The average pension in the UK per week is £304, or £15,080 a year. According to these numbers, 67% of total retirement income comes from private pensions and only 33% from state pensions. 

#15 Exactly 45.6 million Brits were members of pension schemes in 2018

(ONS)

Data from 2018 shows that 45.6 million people in the UK were members of pension schemes, out of which 17.3 million were active members. Out of these 17.3 million, 11 million were employed in the private sector and 6.3 million in the public sector. 

#16 A disappointing 48% of people aged 54 to 74 don’t know how much to save for retirement

(FT Adviser)

Nearly half of people between 54 and 74 don’t know what is the average UK pension and how much they need to save to enjoy retirement. One in five believe that £50,000 would be sufficient, far less than the actual amount needed. 

The Rising Rates of Retirement

The age of retirement has increased, but so has the number of retirees. At the same time, employment rates among the older population are also steadily growing! How can this be? Let’s see exactly what is happening with average pension rates in the UK. 

#17 The average age of retirement has increased over the past two decades

(DWP)

The average age of retirement was 63.2 years for men in 1999; in 2019, the average age was 65.3 years, showing an increase of 2.1 years. For women, the average age of retirement was 60.8 years in 1999 and 64.3 years in 2019 – a 3.5 years increase. 

#18 Employment rates have increased in men and women

(DWP)

UK pension statistics show that employment rates and the age of retirement have increased since 1999. Even though the employment rate decreases as people get older, for the first time in history the number of employed women aged 60 to 64 is higher than those unemployed.

#19 The over-65 age group is large and rapidly growing

(Ageing Better)

There are over 11.9 million people 65 and older in the UK; 3.2 million are over 80 and 1.6 million are over 85. This represents a large part of the British population, and these numbers are expected to rise as life expectancy increases. 

#20 Around 16% of people over 65 live in poverty

(Ageing Better)

How much is the average pension? While the number might seem high, remember that not everyone has access to the same funds. 1.9 million people or 16% of those over 65 live in relative poverty. Within this group, 1.1 million live in severe poverty on less than 50% of the median income; 1.1 million people live just above the poverty line, receiving 60-70% of the median income. 

#21 Exactly 12.4 million people receive a state pension in the UK

(Gov.uk)

If you were wondering how many pensioners there are in the UK, numbers from February 2021 show that 12.4 million people are receiving a state pension. This is a 130,000 decrease from the previous year since the age of retirement increased. 

#22 Turning 55 is a key milestone for many retirees

(The Telegraph)

Turning 55 means that you can access savings from your pension fund, and if you have enough money, you can retire! However, you need to have a substantial amount saved; at least £100,000 (if you make a regular payment of £500) plus the average state pension will set you up with an income of £25,000 per year before tax relief.

The Future of Pensions

We’ve seen the current state of UK pensions, so let’s check out what the future holds for upcoming retirees. 

#23 The UK government plans to increase the retirement age 

(The Guardian)

The UK plans to move the age of retirement to 67 by 2028; further increases are planned for 2046, by which time the government hopes to make the minimum retirement age 68. 

#24 A disappointing 43% of people in the UK are forced to delay retirement due to COVID-19

(Pension Bee)

The COVID-19 pandemic has left millions of people without work or on furlough with decreased income, making it more difficult to reach the career average pension. 43% of the British population is projected to delay their retirement – that’s 13.5 million Brits that plan to work longer than expected.

#25 Retirement delays are expected to be around 18 months

(Pension Bee)

The age of retirement is expected to be pushed back with delays for about 18 months. This varies between generations, though. For those closest to retirement (Generation X) the expected delay is 17 months. For Millennials, this number grows to 20 months, and 24 months for Generation Z. 

#26 Younger generations are considering not having children to enjoy an early retirement

(Pension Bee)

Since the basic pension in the UK is usually not enough, younger people are considering not having children to save more for early retirement. 10% of Gen Zers are considering not having children, as opposed to 4% of Millennials. Many of these citizens are looking into ways of earning a passive income to supplement their earnings. 

#27 The workforce average is expected to grow older in the future

(Ageing Better)

There are 10.4 million employees over 50 in the UK, showing a 2.4 million increase over the past decade. These numbers are only expected to grow as the age of retirement increases and people work longer to afford a comfortable retirement.

You Might Want to Know

Everyone reaches the age of retirement eventually, so here are a few more tidbits about the average pension that might be interesting.

#28 Edinburgh has the highest pension savings in the UK

(Pension Bee)

The average UK pension depends on the region. The largest pot can be found in Edinburgh at £82,000, while the smallest is in Glasgow with £22,900. 

#29 Around 16% of Gen Xers believe they won’t live in peaceful retirement

(Pension Bee)

A significant percentage of Generation X (16%) believe that they won’t be able to fully enjoy retirement due to their lack of finance. 12% of Millennials share the same opinion, with only 5% of Generation Z agreeing. 

#30 Poor investments can cost much as £13,000

(The Telegraph)

The average pension income in the UK is largely dependent on investments. Pension providers allow you to make diverse investments (for example, buying shares), but if you make one poor investment it can cost you £13,000 over 20 years! If you want a secure investment, it may be smart to invest in gold, while for those feeling more adventurous, investing in Bitcoin is always a good option. 

#31 Payouts are determined by the last two digits of your National Insurance Number

(The Guardian)

Not everyone gets paid on the same day; the last two digits of your National Insurance Number determine when you’ll be paid. Data on the UK average pension says that numbers between 00-19 get paid on Monday; numbers between 20-39 get paid on Tuesday, and so on. 

Wrap Up

Even though the average UK pension pot is rising, many people are increasingly worried as their age of retirement nears. The current recession and increased living costs make the future seem bleak and uncertain for many future retirees; retiring is much more stressful than it used to be.