How many years do people live in retirement in European countries?

Life expectancy after retirement varies significantly across European countries. According to data from the OECD and Eurostat, the gap between countries exceeds 10 years. Euronews reports on this.

How much Europeans receive in retirement benefits on average, which countries have the longest retirement periods, and how the figures differ for men and women—we’ll cover all of this in the article below.

Are you planning to move to Europe and considering a country based on its retirement conditions?

The lawyers at Visit World will analyze the immigration laws of your chosen country, select the best grounds for legalization, and guide you through the process of obtaining a residence permit.

How many years do Europeans spend in retirement?

The average length of the retirement period in the EU in 2024 was 18.4 years for men and 21.8 years for women. These figures are based on life expectancy at retirement age, according to Eurostat and the OECD. The retirement age in the EU is 64.7 years for men and 64 years for women, while life expectancy is 83.1 years and 85.8 years, respectively. These figures determine how many years, on average, Europeans will receive pension benefits.

Receiving a pension requires meeting other criteria—in particular, the required length of service. Some retirees in Europe also continue to work after reaching the official retirement age.

Where to move in 2026 and 8 countries for expats—find out more at the link.

Visit World services for tourists, migrants, and expats: Insurance | Guides | Legal advice

Length of the Retirement Period for Men

For European men, the expected length of retirement ranges from 14.7 years in Bulgaria and Hungary to 27.3 years in Turkey. Within the EU, the longest retirement period is projected for Luxembourg—22 years. Men in Greece (21), France (20.7), Slovenia (20.7), Switzerland (20.4), and Malta (20.2) are projected to spend more than 20 years in retirement.

A figure above the EU average (18.4 years) is also recorded in a number of countries:

• Cyprus — 19.8 years;
• Sweden — 19.4 years;
• Portugal—19.3 years;
• Belgium—19.1 years;
• Ireland and the United Kingdom—19 years each;
• Austria—18.8 years;
• Finland—18.7 years.

Photo: Euronews

How many years do women in Europe spend in retirement?

For women, the average length of the retirement period in the EU is 21.8 years. This figure ranges from 18.6 years in Hungary to 34.5 years in Turkey. In Luxembourg, women are projected to receive a pension for more than 25 years. The longest retirement periods within the EU are also expected in Slovenia, Greece, France, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Cyprus, and Finland—more than 22 years.

Women in the following countries are projected to spend less than 20 years in retirement: Hungary (18.6), Bulgaria (18.8), Romania (19.1), the Netherlands (19.2), Croatia (19.6), Denmark (19.7), Latvia, and Iceland (both 19.8). Figures below the EU average are also recorded in Germany (20.3) and the United Kingdom (21).


Photo: Euronews

Retirement Age in European Countries

In 2024, the retirement age in 32 European countries ranged from 62 to 67 years for men and from 60 to 67 years for women. The exception is Turkey, where the official retirement age is 52 for men and 49 for women. On average in the EU, men retire at age 64.7, and women at age 64.

Life expectancy also significantly affects the number of years Europeans will spend in retirement. In the EU, this figure stands at 83.1 years for men and 85.8 years for women. The difference in retirement age and life expectancy explains the variation in the length of the retirement period across countries.

What is a Golden Visa and why does a foreigner need it—we explain it here.

Gender Gap in Retirement Duration

On average in the EU, women spend 3.4 years longer in retirement than men. The gap ranges from 1.6 years in Iceland to 7.2 years in Turkey. A difference of four or more years is also observed in Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Bulgaria, Romania, and Poland. Women’s labor force participation rates in these countries are relatively lower.

The gender pension gap in terms of benefit amounts remains a separate issue. In OECD countries, women receive, on average, 23% less in pension benefits than men. In the United Kingdom, this gap reaches 37%.

The world’s best cities to live and work in 2026—listed in this article.

Actual Age of Exit from the Labor Market in Europe

The average actual age of exit from the labor market in Europe often differs from the official retirement age. In the EU, men leave the labor market at age 63.8, while the official retirement age is 64.7; women leave at age 62.9, while the official retirement age is 64. The largest gap is observed in Turkey: men retire at age 52 but leave the labor market at age 60.8.

In Turkey, women can officially retire at age 49, but they leave the labor market at age 60.5. Taking this factor into account, life expectancy after leaving the labor market in Turkey is 18.2 years for men and 22.6 years for women, which is significantly shorter than the duration of the retirement period.

Read also: Plan B for $100,000. 6 Countries for a Second Home.

Important! Factors such as retirement age, benefit amounts, and the duration of the retirement period significantly influence the choice of a country for long-term residence. Pension provisions vary even among neighboring European countries. The specifics of immigration law, requirements for obtaining a residence permit, and grounds for legalization require detailed consideration as early as the planning stage of your move.

The lawyers at Visit World will help you choose a country to live in, taking into account pension and immigration conditions, prepare the necessary documents, and guide you through the process of obtaining a residence permit.

Schedule a consultation with a Visit World immigration lawyer for a detailed analysis of your situation!

Reminder! In our previous article, we discussed where a child’s birth entitles parents to residency.

Photo: Magnific

Products from Visit World for a comfortable trip:

Travel guide for 200 countries;

Legal advice from a local specialist on visa and migration issues;

Travel insurance around the world (please select the country of interest and citizenship to receive services);

Medical insurance all over the world.

We monitor the accuracy and relevance of our information, so if you notice any errors or inconsistencies, please contact our hotline.