Denmark will have the highest retirement age in Europe after passing a controversial new law that raises the state pension age to 70
Denmark will become the country with the highest retirement age in Europe after its parliament voted to raise the state pension age to 70.
The country’s official retirement age is tied to life expectancy and is revised every five years. The current retirement age in Denmark is 67, rising to 68 in 2030 and to 69 in 2035.
The new controversial new law passed on Thursday means the retirement age will rise to 70 by 2040. It affects anyone born after 31 December 1970.
The move has sparked anger among Danish voters who have highlighted the problem of working extra years for those with physically demanding jobs, in particular.
Jesper Ettrup Rasmussen, chair of the Danish trade union confederation, branded the change “completely unfair”.
“Denmark has a healthy economy and yet the EU’s highest retirement age,” he told the BBC. “A higher retirement age means that [people will] lose the right to a dignified senior life.”
Retirement ages across Europe vary. Here’s how the UK’s retirement rules measure up compared to other countries.
The UK
Men and women born in Britain between October,1954 and 5 April 1960 can receive their pension at the age of 66. The full new state pension works out at approximately £998 a month.
For those born on or after 5 April 1960 the retirement age will be 67, and for those born on or after 5 April 1977 it will be 68.
The International Longevity Centre think tank has suggested the UK will have to increase the state pension age to 71 by 2050.
Ireland
In the Republic of Ireland the retirement age is 66, with average monthly pension payment of £1,051 (€1,253).
France
The French retirement age is currently 62, but a law passed passed in 2023 to raise it to 64 sparked rioting and protests in the country.
Under the changes, anyone born after 1968 will have a statutory retirement age of 64.
Monthly state pensions are worth roughly £1,261 (€1,500), according to data from Almond Financial.
Sweden
In Sweden, the earliest the age to draw a national pension related to income is 63, but the guaranteed non-earnings related pension can be drawn from 65.
Retirees can pull a monthly income of around £1,397 (18,000 krona) from the state pension.
Italy
The statutory retirement age in Italy is 67, currently the highest in Europe.
As with Denmark, the state pension age is adjusted on projected life expectancy estimates and may increase in 2026.
Germany
The statutory retirement age currently 65 and scheduled to rise to 67 in 2031. At present, the regular old-age pension is payable from 65 and 10 or 11 months, depending on the pensioner’s year of birth.
The monthly pension payment is calculated at 48 per cent of the average monthly wage. A pensioner who earned the average wage for 45 years receives £1,486 (€1,769) a month.
Luxembourg
Luxembourg has an official retirement age of 65 at which people can receive the state pension.
The monthly average state pension of £5,456 (€6,489) is the highest in Europe.
Greece
The Greeks also have a retirement age of 67, while the monthly state pension of £321 (€384) is one of the lowest on the continent.
Spain
The average retirement pension has increased to around £1,245 (€1,481) a month.
To retire with a full pension in Spain you must be at least 66 years and 8 months old, however, that age will gradually increase to 67 by 2027.
Portugal
In 2025, the standard retirement age in Portugal for a full pension is 66 years and 7 months.
Portuguese state pension rates vary depending on a person’s earnings and contributions over their working life. The minimum pension ranges from £278 (€331) a month for 15 years of contributions to £403 (€480) for 31 years’ worth.
