Europeans See State Pensions as Unaffordable but Reject Raising Retirement Age, Poll Finds
December 29, 2025
Most Europeans believe their state pension systems are becoming unaffordable but also think pensions are not generous enough. A YouGov poll across six countries shows large majorities think current schemes will fail by the time today's 30- and 40-year-olds retire. Between 52% and 61% in Italy, France, Germany, and Spain already say their pensions are unaffordable. In Poland, 45% feel the same, with only 32% in the UK.
Pensioners are more optimistic; for example, 62% of UK pensioners say the pension system is affordable, versus just 27% of non-retired people. Yet across all countries, between 53% and 83% say pension payments are too low. Pensioners especially agree, with 72% to 88% feeling pensions are insufficient.
Most working people doubt they will enjoy a comfortable retirement. Support for pension reforms is low. Large majorities oppose raising the retirement age, with opposition ranging from 47% in France to 65% in Germany. There is also strong rejection of lowering pension amounts, with opposition from 61% in Italy to 81% in Germany.
Other unpopular ideas include raising taxes on workers and requiring working-age children to support retired parents. However, some support exists for legally making working people contribute to private or workplace pensions—highest in the UK at 57%, then Germany (49%) and France (41%).
Supporting older workers to stay on the job longer is fairly popular, from 27% support in Italy to 57% in Poland. Italians also favor taxing wealthy pensioners more (66%) and denying state pensions to high-income retirees (52%).
Generally, retirees resist cuts to their payments, while working-age people oppose raising retirement age or taxes on their generation. The poll shows European governments face tough challenges fixing pension systems amid public resistance.
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Tags:
State Pension
Europe
Retirement age
Pension Reforms
Public opinion
Yougov poll
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