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Italy Sets Modest Pension-Age Rise in 2026 Budget Draft, Drops Quota 103 and Opzione Donna

Fiscal limits under the Fornero rules drive a cautious shift as ageing demographics strain the system.

Overview

  • The draft phases in a higher retirement age with one additional month from January 2027 and two more months from January 2028.
  • Exemptions apply only to officially listed heavy and arduous occupations, including metalworkers, doctors, nurses and preschool teachers.
  • Quota 103 and Opzione Donna are removed in the draft, leaving Ape sociale as the remaining pathway for early exit.
  • A full freeze of automatic increases was ruled out due to an estimated €3 billion cost through 2028, prompting a limited, budget‑conscious mitigation.
  • Official projections point to a statutory age of 68 years and 11 months by 2050 and 70 by 2067, against a backdrop of 369,944 births in 2024 and a 65+ share seen near 34.6% by mid‑century.