Topical issues

The investment year 2023 was challenging for pension funds in different parts of the world. The average real return of pension investors was less than 2 per cent. The yield of Finnish pension funds was even worse. Due to high inflation, the average real return 0.2 per cent negative. The average real return of Swedish pension funds was 1.2 per cent negative.

In Finland and Sweden, the old-age poverty risk varies greatly between men and women because clearly more women than men live alone. A research article by the Finnish Centre for Pensions reviews the gender differences in old-age poverty in 14 EU countries. The differences between the northern and southern countries are surprisingly large.

The Nordic countries are leading the way in introducing flexible pension options. How do those on flexible – often partial – pensions adjust their working patterns before taking a full old-age pension? What are the consequences of the objective of extending working lives?

Welcome to the English language research webinar of the Finnish Centre for Pensions on Monday 22 April 2024 at 2.00–3.15 p.m. (EEST) / 1.00–1.15 p.m. (CEST).

The Finnish average pension developed positively in 2023. At the same time, total pension expenditure increased – pensions were paid out totalling almost 38 billion euros. About 1.6 million Finns received a pension in 2023.

The short booklets “The ABCs of pensions for employees” and “The ABCs of pensions for the self-employed” have been updated. The online and printable two-page booklets provide key facts about earnings-related pensions for employees and the self-employed and are published by the Finnish Centre for Pensions. The figures are in 2024 prices.

The assets of the Finnish earnings-related pension scheme increased by about 13 billion euros in 2023. The growth is due to investment returns. Insurance contribution income increased by more than one billion euros.

The recently published book Understanding Finnish Pensions tells the success story of Finnish pensions. Pension are an essential part of a welfare society and play a role in everyone’s life. Yet pension are not very well known. Read more about the easy-to-understand and concise book, as well as about rehabilitation refusals, pension taxation and pension …

According to a recent report by the Finnish Centre for Pensions, the take-home pension will grow for all income levels in 2024. The purchasing power can also be expected to increase after a drop in previous years.

In 2023, a total of 17,700 persons retired from the earnings-related pension system on a disability pension. This was almost as many as in 2022. However, the number of disabled persons in the older population is increasing. This information comes from new statistics released by the Finnish Centre for Pensions.

The majority of respondents feel that their quality of life has improved after retirement on an old-age pension, with more leisure time increases and better coping skills. However, income is perceived as weaker, according to a survey conducted by the Finnish Centre for Pensions among people who had recently retired from gainful employment with an old-age pension.