UK pension saving statistics
The number of people in the UK with a pension and the type they have.
UK adults with private pensions in 2020/2021
74%
Source
UK adults with active private pensions (still contributing) in 2020/2021
58%
Source
UK adults with private pensions in decumulation (taking money out) in 2020/2021
22%
Source
Number of workplace pension savers in 2021
22.6 million
Source
Number of UK defined contribution pension savers in 2020/2021
20.8 million
Source
Number of UK defined benefit pension savers in 2020/2021
11.4 million
Source
Number of workers automatically enrolled in workplace schemes in 2023
Over 10.8 million
Source
Employees in a defined benefit pension scheme in 2020/2021
28%
Source
Employees in a defined contribution pension scheme in 2020/2021
51%
Source
Pension participation in the private sector in 2021
86% (up from 41% in 2012)
Source
Self-employed savers paying into a workplace or personal pension in 2022
16%
Source
Eligible employees participating in a workplace pension in 2022
88%
Source
Value of individual contributions made to personal pensions in 2020/21, up from £10.6 billion in 2019/20
£11.9 billion
Source
Value of individual contributions made by self-employed people in 2020/21, up from £1.7 billion in 2019/20
£2.3 billion
Source
Proportion of private pension wealth in pensions in 2023
42%
Source
Total amount of pension savings at risk of being lost in the UK in 2024
£50 billion
Source
Number of times the average adult is estimated to change jobs in a working lifetime
11
Source
Savings amounts across various age groups
Median pension pot value of 25 to 34 year olds with a private pension
£9,500
Source
Median pension pot value of 35 to 44 year olds with a private pension
£30,600
Source
Median pension pot value of 45 to 54 year olds with a private pension
£81,200
Source
Median pension pot value of 55 to 64 year olds with a private pension
£189,700
Source
Median pension wealth for women by their 60s
£51,100
Source
Median pension wealth for men by their 60s
£156,500
Source
Be pension confident!
Combine your old pension pots into one new online plan. It takes just a few minutes to sign up.
