Overview
- Fidelity International estimates the UK state pension replaces about 22% of pre‑retirement income, compared with roughly 76% in Italy and up to 58% in France.
- The full UK payment is currently about £230.25 to £241 a week, equating to just over £12,500 a year for those eligible.
- UK retirees are expected to receive state payments for around 20 years on average, versus nearly 27 years in France and more than 24 in Japan.
- Britain spends among the lowest shares of GDP on state pensions in the G7, with costs rising under the triple lock.
- Cross‑country comparisons are complicated by different pension formulas and funding models, as well as supports such as the NHS, and UK policy relies more on private saving with auto‑enrolment as a key pillar.