Overview
- Majorities or near-majorities in Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain and the US (49%–66%) expect their state pension systems to be unaffordable by the time today’s 30- and 40-somethings retire.
- Many already see systems as unaffordable, with majorities in Italy, France, Germany and Spain, 45% in Poland, about a third in the UK and US, and retirees generally more optimistic than workers, especially in Britain.
- Despite affordability fears, most respondents in every country (53%–83%) say state pensions pay too little, and most non-retired people doubt they will live comfortably in retirement.
- There is net opposition across countries to raising pension ages, cutting benefits or increasing taxes on working-age people, with the most support for mandatory private or workplace saving and help for older people to stay in work.
- Views vary by nation: UK respondents show the strongest support for compulsory private saving (57%), while Italians favor targeting affluent retirees, including higher taxes on wealthier pensioners (66%) and removing benefits for high earners (52%).