Average retirement age in the UK & beyond

In the UK, both policy decisions and personal circumstances influence when people choose to retire. While the State Pension age sets a formal line in the sand for retirement eligibility, many people leave work earlier or continue working well beyond it.

So, what is the average retirement age in the UK today, and how is it changing?

This article examines when people in Britain are really retiring, how retirement and pension planning is changing, and why the average retirement age may continue to rise.

Why retirement age matters for retirement income

The length of someone’s working life has a direct impact on their retirement savings and long-term income security.

According to Department for Work and Pensions data published in 2026, 90% of eligible employees in Great Britain were saving into a workplace pension in 2025, equivalent to around 22.6 million people.

For people with defined contribution pensions, retirement income depends on factors including the amount contributed, investment performance and when benefits are accessed.

Retiring later may provide additional time to contribute to pension savings and potentially reduce the number of years those savings need to support someone in retirement.

This makes the average retirement age in the UK an important consideration when planning for later life.

What does “average retirement age” actually mean?

Retirement age can be measured in several different ways, depending on the metric being used.

For example:

• State Pension age refers to when someone becomes eligible to receive their State Pension.
• Official retirement age may reflect policy expectations.
• Actual retirement age refers to when individuals leave paid employment.

These figures often differ based on government guidelines, personal financial circumstances and the rules in certain countries and regions.

According to the OECD's Pensions at a Glance 2025 report, the average effective age of leaving the labour market was 64.7 years for men and 63.6 years for women across OECD countries in 2024.

These figures measure when people actually leave the labour force, rather than when they become eligible to receive their State Pension or equivalent retirement benefits.

The difference is important because people may leave work before reaching their country's pension eligibility age or continue working beyond it, depending on their financial and personal circumstances.

The current State Pension age in the UK

The State Pension age provides a useful benchmark for retirement planning in the UK.

According to the UK Government's State Pension age timetable, the State Pension age is increasing from 66 to 67 between April 2026 and April 2028. The exact age at which someone becomes eligible depends on their date of birth.

Under current legislation, it is then scheduled to increase to 68 between 2044 and 2046, although the timetable remains subject to government review.

These increases reflect considerations including life expectancy and the proportion of adult life people can expect to spend receiving their State Pension.

What is the average retirement age in the UK?

While the State Pension age provides a baseline, labour market data reveals when people actually retire in practice.

According to the Department for Work and Pensions' September 2026 labour market statistics, the average age of leaving the UK labour market in 2026 was:

• 65.8 for men.
• 65.1 for women.

These represent the highest recorded average labour market exit ages for both men and women in the DWP's historical data.

The increase has been particularly noticeable among women. In 1986, the average age at which women left the workforce was 60.3 years, compared with 65.1 years in 2026, an increase of 4.8 years.

This demonstrates how retirement patterns have changed over time, with people generally remaining economically active until later in life.

Are people working beyond the State Pension age?

Reaching State Pension age doesn't necessarily mean people stop working.

According to Department for Work and Pensions statistics published in September 2026, 46.6% of people aged 65 were employed in 2026, compared with 28.2% in 2016.

Employment rates decrease as people reach State Pension age. However, 33.1% of people aged 66 were still employed in 2026, demonstrating that a significant proportion continue working beyond traditional retirement milestones.

These figures highlight how personal circumstances and financial considerations can influence when someone leaves the workforce.

Who retires earliest in the UK?

Retirement timing can vary significantly depending on socioeconomic circumstances and health.

According to Office for National Statistics research published in April 2026, men living in the most deprived areas of England could expect 49.8 years of good health at birth, compared with 69.2 years in the least deprived areas.

For women, the corresponding figures were 48.2 and 68.5 years.

These differences highlight how health inequalities may affect people's ability to remain economically active later in life.

Health is also a significant factor in decisions to leave employment early. DWP research from September 2026 found that 43.8% of economically inactive people aged 50–64 identified sickness, injury or disability as their main reason for not working.

Why retirement age in the UK is rising

Several structural factors appear to be contributing to later retirement, including changes to the State Pension age and shifting patterns of employment among older workers.

According to Department for Work and Pensions research published in 2026, the employment rate among people aged 50–64 increased from 57.2% in 1995 to 72.2% in 2026.

Although employment fell following the pandemic, from 72.6% in 2019 to 70.4% in 2022, it has since gradually recovered.

Changes to State Pension eligibility are another important consideration, with the pension age increasing from 66 to 67 between 2026 and 2028.

Together, these trends help explain why many people are remaining economically active later in life.

Will the average retirement age UK continue to rise?

Future projections suggest that later retirement may become increasingly common.

According to the OECD's Pensions at a Glance 2025 report, the average normal retirement age across OECD countries is projected to increase to 66.4 years for men and 65.9 years for women, based on current legislation and the assumption of an uninterrupted career beginning in 2024 at age 22.

The OECD also expects normal retirement ages to rise in more than half of its member countries.

While these figures relate to pension eligibility rather than when people actually stop working, they demonstrate how retirement systems are adapting to longer-term demographic changes.

Understanding the average retirement age in the UK therefore provides valuable context for how retirement patterns may evolve in the future. 

How does the UK compare in average retirement age globally?

While the average retirement age in the UK has risen in recent decades, this trend isn't unique.

According to the OECD's Pensions at a Glance 2025 report, workers across OECD countries left the labour market at an average age of 64.7 for men and 63.6 for women in 2024.

However, the average retirement age varies considerably between countries. For example, workers in Japan and the United States tend to leave the labour market later than those in the United Kingdom, while workers in countries such as France and Luxembourg typically leave earlier.

The following comparison shows the average effective age of leaving the labour market across selected countries.

Average effective retirement age by country

Source: OECD, Pensions at a Glance 2025, Figure 6.13. Figures represent the average effective age of leaving the labour market in 2024, rather than statutory pension eligibility ages. Brazil is included as a non-OECD comparator.

Note: The OECD's international figures use a different methodology and reference period from the UK Government's national retirement statistics.

Overall, the data suggests that people in the UK tend to leave the labour market earlier than those in countries including the United States, Japan, Denmark and Iceland.

However, UK workers generally remain economically active for longer than those in countries such as Belgium, Austria and Luxembourg.

These comparisons demonstrate that pension systems, employment opportunities and personal circumstances can all play a role in shaping retirement patterns.

Want to know the average pension breakdown per country? Read our comprehensive guide.

Need Help Managing Your Pension for Retirement?

Understanding when people typically retire can provide valuable context when planning your own financial future. But, retirement income is shaped by more than timing alone.

How much you receive in later life will depend on a range of factors, including how your pension is structured and how long you’ve been able to contribute.

At LV=, we offer a range of retirement and pension options designed to help you make the most of your savings and plan with confidence for later life.

Find out how LV= can support your retirement planning by requesting a call back today.