Where Does the World Have the Lowest Retirement Ages? A Global Overview of Early Pension Systems

The concept of retirement has evolved dramatically across the globe. While many developed nations push retirement ages toward 65 or beyond, dozens of countries still maintain significantly lower thresholds for workers to exit the workforce. Understanding which countries offer the lowest retirement ages reveals important insights about global labor policies, demographic challenges, and the sustainability of pension systems worldwide.

The trajectory is clear: retirement ages are rising in most places. Aging populations and strained pension funds have forced governments to rethink when workers can stop working. Yet, pockets of the world still maintain notably early retirement windows. These nations operate through two primary pension frameworks—defined contribution plans, where workers pay a percentage of earnings toward future benefits calculated on years worked and age, and defined benefit plans, which guarantee specific benefit levels regardless of market conditions. Examining these countries provides a snapshot of how different economies approach the question of when citizens can retire.

The Lowest Retirement Ages: Asia’s Early Exit Model

Indonesia currently leads with one of the lowest pension eligibility ages globally. Both men and women can retire at age 57, though this threshold is rising steadily. By 2024, the retirement age increased to 58, with further annual increases scheduled every three years until reaching 65 in 2043. Private sector workers contribute to the state social security program and can choose between lump-sum payouts or periodic payments combined with partial distributions upon retirement.

India presents a more complex landscape. While retirement typically occurs between 58 and 60 years old depending on employment sector, government workers face variable standards. Kerala’s government workers retire at 60 (adjusted in 2020), and other state governments have followed suit. Central government employees currently exit at 60. India’s pension architecture combines employee contribution schemes with employer-managed funds. The Employees’ Pension Scheme requires workers to be at least 58 with ten years of contributions, while the Employees Provident Fund sets its minimum at 55 years old. However, these programs reach only about 12% of Indian workers—primarily government employees and those at companies with 20+ staff.

China uses a differentiated approach based on employment type. Men retire at 60, while women in white-collar positions leave at 55 and those in blue-collar roles at 50. Workers in physically demanding jobs may exit as early as 45 (women) or 55 (men). The Chinese pension system operates two tracks: the basic pension, which pays 1% of average wages annually for workers with 15+ years of coverage, and the defined contribution system, where employees deposit 8% of wages yearly into individual accounts, with benefits determined by age and national life expectancy calculations.

Middle East: Young Retirement in a Modernizing Region

Saudi Arabia stands out as a nation rapidly modernizing its gender pension policies. Men have long retired at 58, and increasingly, women now enjoy the same opportunity as workforce participation grows. Both genders contribute to mandatory public pension schemes and can draw benefits at 58 with at least 120 months of contributions—or at any age with 300 months regardless of retirement age. A significant policy shift occurred in 2023, when the government raised minimum pension payments by 20%, reflecting commitment to retiree support.

Europe’s Varied Approaches to Early Retirement

Russia maintains one of Europe’s lowest thresholds: men at 60 and women at 55. However, demographic pressures and an aging population are forcing change. The government plans to incrementally raise these ages to 65 for men and 60 for women by 2028. An important exception exists: men who have worked 42+ years and women who have worked 37+ years can retire early, though they cannot collect payments until reaching the standard ages. All workers must contribute at least eight years before claiming pensions.

Turkey currently allows men to retire at 60 and women at 58, but reform is underway. A 2023 policy change permitted workers who enrolled in the social insurance program by September 1999 to claim pensions based on contribution history alone—25 years for men, 20 years for women. This represented a significant shift from 1999 pension law changes that had created hardship. Turkey is gradually implementing increases, targeting 65 for both genders by 2044.

Austria sets men’s retirement at 65 while women currently retire at 60, though this will equalize to 65 by 2033. Austria’s defined benefit system requires at least 180 months of contributions, and workers earning below threshold levels receive supplementary payments ensuring minimum income floors.

Africa and the Americas: A Broader Global Picture

South Africa provides pension eligibility at 60 for both men and women through means-tested public programs. Retirees must be 60+ with limited income and assets to qualify for the ‘older person’s grant.’ Additionally, voluntary private pension schemes accept employer and employee contributions.

Colombia differentiates by gender: men retire at 62, women at 57. Workers can select between a public pay-as-you-go system and a private individual plan, switching every five years until the decade before retirement, though simultaneous participation is prohibited. Employees must enroll in one system.

Costa Rica sets retirement at 65 for both genders, contingent on contributing for at least 300 months (25 years). Workers with 180-300 months of contributions receive proportional pensions. The system includes supplementary individual accounts and optional voluntary defined contribution personal pensions.

The Global Shift: Understanding Contribution Requirements and System Sustainability

While these countries offer early retirement options, eligibility demands serious financial commitment. Workers must typically contribute for 15-25+ years before claiming benefits. This explains why global pension systems face stress: people live longer, birthrates decline, and fewer workers support each retirees.

The common thread across all these nations—whether Indonesia, India, China, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Turkey, South Africa, Colombia, Costa Rica, or Austria—is that early retirement comes with stringent contribution requirements. These safeguards attempt to ensure system solvency while providing meaningful benefits to workers who’ve invested decades in mandatory or voluntary pension programs.

The future shows clear momentum: nearly every nation from this list is already raising its lowest retirement ages. Indonesia moves to 65 by 2043, Turkey by 2044, and Austria by 2033. This global trend toward later retirement reflects economic reality. Policymakers recognize that younger retirement ages, while politically popular, prove unsustainable when populations age and pension funds drain.

For those planning retirement internationally, understanding which countries have the lowest retirement ages remains valuable, but it’s increasingly important to recognize this landscape is shifting. Early retirement, whether at 57 in Indonesia or 60 in Russia, demands preparation, sustained contributions, and realistic expectations about future policy changes.