How Long Will Europeans Work? OECD Predicts Retirement Ages to Rise — Denmark Could Reach 74

Across much of Europe, the age at which people can claim a full state pension is set to rise — in many cases substantially — as governments respond to ageing populations and the financial pressures they place on pension systems. An analysis by Euronews, based on OECD data in Pensions at a Glance 2025, compares current statutory retirement ages (2024) with projected ages for people who enter the labour market at 22 in 2024 and work uninterrupted into the late 2060s.

Key Findings

The OECD data shows EU-wide average increases of about +2.1 years for men and +2.6 years for women. Today, retirement ages are higher for men in 21 of 32 countries in the dataset and higher for women in 24.

Current Patterns (2024)

• Highest current statutory retirement ages for men: 67 (Denmark, Norway, Iceland, Netherlands). EU average: 64.7.
• Highest current statutory retirement ages for women: 67 (Denmark, Netherlands, Iceland, Norway). EU average: 64.0.
• Lowest current ages: Turkey is a clear outlier — 52 for men and 49 for women. The next lowest are around 60–62 in a few countries.

Projected Future Ages (Late 2060s, Cohort Entering Work at 22 in 2024)

Across the EU the typical projected retirement age for that cohort is 66.9 for men and 66.6 for women. Some notable country projections:

• Denmark: Projected highest for both sexes at 74 (though the country may relax its current automatic link between life expectancy and retirement age, which could lower that figure).
• Estonia: Men ~71, Women ~71.
• Italy, Netherlands, Sweden, Cyprus: Men and/or women projected to reach about 70.
• Lowest projected ages for men remain about 62 (Slovenia, Luxembourg); for women Poland is projected to remain lowest within the EU at 60.

Biggest Changes

• Turkey shows the largest increases because its starting point is very low: men +13 years (52 → 65) and women +14 years (49 → 63).
• Denmark is expected to rise by about 7 years for both men and women under current rules.
• Other sizable increases (men and women combined): Estonia, Italy, Slovakia and Cyprus see rises of around 5 years or more. Italy’s female retirement age is projected to rise by about 6.2 years, Estonia by 6.3 years, Slovakia by 5.8 years.
• Some large economies change little: Germany and France are projected to see increases of under one year for men and women; the UK and Portugal rise by about 2 years.

Policy Context

The OECD highlights that raising the statutory retirement age is a commonly used policy lever to improve the long-run financial sustainability of public pension systems without cutting benefit levels. Alternatives include higher contribution rates or reduced benefits. The report also notes that changes in life expectancy and country-specific rules (for example, links tying retirement age to life expectancy) can alter future outcomes — Denmark has indicated it may moderate its automatic one-to-one formula.

Demographic Pressure

Population ageing is the underlying driver. The OECD projects that, across member countries, the number of people aged 65+ per 100 people aged 20–64 will climb from about 33 in 2025 to 52 in 2050 (it was 22 in 2000). That rising dependency ratio increases fiscal pressure on pension systems and helps explain the move toward later retirement ages.

Bottom line: Most Europeans can expect to work longer than previous generations, with average statutory retirement ages in the EU rising by roughly two to three years for the cohort entering work now — and much larger changes in countries starting from very low current ages.