Retirement ages around the world: 20 countries from youngest to oldest
When Americans think about retirement, 65 or 67 may sound like the magic number. Around the world, however, the age at which workers qualify for full retirement benefits varies dramatically.
Government pension systems reflect decades of political choices, demographic changes, life expectancy, labor-market conditions, and the difficult question every aging society faces: How long can a country afford to support people in retirement?
According to the OECD’s latest international comparison, the normal retirement age for someone with a full career averages 64.7 for men and 63.9 for women across OECD countries. But some workers can qualify for normal retirement benefits in their early 60s—or even earlier—while others must wait until 67.
And those ages are changing. More than half of OECD countries are already scheduled to increase their normal retirement ages under existing laws as populations live longer.
One important distinction: “retirement age” does not necessarily mean the age when people actually stop working. For this comparison, we are primarily looking at the normal age at which someone with a full career can receive pension benefits without an early-retirement penalty.
Here are 20 countries showing just how differently retirement works around the world.
1. Türkiye: 49 for women, 52 for men
Türkiye is a striking outlier among OECD countries, with a normal retirement age of 49 for women and 52 for men under the OECD’s full-career assumptions. Those unusually low ages won’t last indefinitely. Under current rules, normal retirement ages for younger generations are ultimately expected to rise substantially.
2. Luxembourg: 62
Luxembourg has one of Europe’s comparatively low normal retirement ages at 62 for someone with a full career. Unlike many neighboring countries, its normal retirement age is not currently projected to rise substantially under existing legislation.
3. Greece: 62
Greece has a normal retirement age of 62 under the OECD’s full-career assumptions, placing it among the lowest in Europe. Its pension rules include contribution requirements, however, so simply reaching age 62 does not necessarily mean every worker qualifies for a full pension.
4. Slovenia: 62
Slovenia currently has a normal retirement age of 62 for a worker with a full career under the OECD comparison. Pension reforms are gradually changing retirement requirements as the country responds to the same aging-population pressures affecting much of Europe.
5. South Korea: 63
South Korea’s normal retirement age is now 63. The country faces particularly intense demographic pressure from rapid population aging and extremely low fertility. Under current legislation, the normal pension age is scheduled to eventually reach 65.
6. France: about 64
France’s pension system is more complicated than a single retirement-age figure suggests. Following its controversial pension reforms, retirement ages are being phased upward. The OECD calculates a normal retirement age of approximately 64 under its comparable full-career measure.
The reforms sparked enormous public protests and illustrate just how politically explosive raising retirement ages can become.
7. Switzerland: 64 for women, 65 for men
Switzerland currently has a normal retirement age of 65 for men and 64 for women in the OECD comparison. The country has been moving toward greater alignment of retirement ages between men and women.
8. Canada: 65
Canada’s normal retirement age remains 65. Canada’s public retirement system includes Old Age Security and the Canada Pension Plan, with options that allow some benefits to be claimed earlier or deferred in exchange for adjusted payments.
9. Finland: 65
Finland’s normal retirement age is currently around 65 in the OECD comparison, although some earnings-related benefits can be accessed earlier. Finland is also among the countries adapting pension ages to increasing longevity, meaning younger workers can expect to retire later than many of today’s retirees.
10. Japan: 65
Japan’s normal pension age is 65. Benefits can be claimed earlier, beginning at 60, with reductions. Japan also encourages people to remain employed longer as it manages one of the world’s oldest populations.
That distinction is important because the age at which Japanese workers actually leave the workforce can be considerably higher than the age at which normal pension benefits become available.
11. Brazil: 62 for women, 65 for men
Brazil’s standard retirement rules generally require a minimum age of 62 for women and 65 for men, along with minimum contribution requirements. The country’s 2019 pension reform significantly changed the system, and transitional rules can apply to people who were already participating before the reform.
The Brazilian government’s National Social Security Institute provides details on the current requirements.
12. United Kingdom: 66
The UK’s State Pension age is currently 66, although it is already scheduled to increase. Under current legislation, younger generations can expect to wait longer before qualifying for their State Pension.
The UK’s experience reflects a broader international trend: as people live longer, governments are reconsidering how many years pension systems can realistically support people after they leave the workforce.
13. Sweden: 66
Sweden’s system is unusually flexible, so there isn’t a single retirement age that applies neatly to every component. For comparative purposes, the OECD puts the normal age associated with its basic pension at approximately 66, while earnings-related pension benefits may be accessed earlier.
The bigger story may be what’s ahead. Sweden links aspects of its retirement system to longevity, meaning younger workers could face significantly higher retirement ages than today’s retirees.
14. Germany: about 66
Germany’s normal retirement age is currently a little over 66 under the OECD comparison and is gradually increasing. Under current legislation, it will ultimately reach 67.
Like many European countries, Germany is attempting to balance pension sustainability with the realities of an aging population and a shrinking proportion of working-age residents supporting retirees.
15. United States: 66 to 67
For Americans, Social Security’s full retirement age depends on birth year. People born in 1960 or later have a full retirement age of 67.
Social Security retirement benefits can be claimed beginning at 62, but claiming before full retirement age permanently reduces monthly benefits. Conversely, delaying benefits beyond full retirement age can increase monthly payments up to age 70.
READ: Americans are still planning to retire, but retirement math feels more fragile in 2026
16. Denmark: 67
Denmark’s normal retirement age is 67, putting it among the highest current retirement ages in the OECD.
But Denmark is also one of the most dramatic examples of where retirement policy may be headed. Because its retirement age is linked to life expectancy, the OECD projects that the normal retirement age for younger generations could eventually reach the 70s under current legislation.
17. Iceland: 67
Iceland also has a normal retirement age of 67, although occupational pension arrangements can provide additional flexibility. Its current normal retirement age is among the highest in the OECD.
18. Israel: 62 for women, 67 for men
Israel currently has one of the more pronounced gender differences in retirement ages, with a normal retirement age of approximately 62 for women and 67 for men under the OECD comparison.
That gap is scheduled to narrow. The retirement age for women is being gradually increased, while the age for men remains 67.
19. Norway: 67
Norway’s normal retirement age is 67, although eligible workers can begin drawing an adjusted pension from age 62.
Norway is also moving toward linking retirement more closely with life expectancy, meaning younger generations may need to work longer before receiving comparable pension benefits.
20. Australia: 67
Australia’s qualifying age for its public Age Pension is 67, putting it alongside several other countries at the upper end of current retirement ages.
Australia also has a compulsory employer-funded retirement savings system known as superannuation, so retirement income for many Australians combines private retirement savings with government benefits.
Retirement ages are moving higher
There is no universal age at which the world retires. Even the term “retirement age” can mean different things depending on the country: the earliest age someone can collect a pension, the age for unreduced benefits, or the age people actually stop working.
What is clear is that retirement is gradually moving later. The OECD projects that the average normal retirement age will rise from today’s 64.7 for men and 63.9 for women to 66.4 and 65.9, respectively, for people entering the workforce today. More than half of OECD countries already have increases built into existing law.
And the future differences could become even more striking. While some countries are projected to retain retirement ages around 62, younger workers in countries including Denmark, the Netherlands, and Sweden could eventually face normal retirement ages of 70 or higher.
So today’s retirement age tells only half the story. For younger workers, the more important number may be the retirement age their country is moving toward.
