EU predicts pension age could reach 74 years by 2060

The Organisation for Economic Co‑operation and Development’s European branch (EBPO) forecasts that the average statutory retirement age in European Union member states will rise from the current 64.7 years for men and 64 years for women to almost 67 years by the end of 2060. Some countries are projected to push the limit further: Denmark could see the pension age climb to 74, while Estonia may reach 71 and several others such as Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden and Cyprus could move toward 70. The United Kingdom is expected to hit 68 and Germany 67, whereas France and Spain are likely to stay at 65. These adjustments are driven by demographic shifts, with the share of people over 65 projected to grow from 22 % in 2000 to about 33 % by 2025, pressuring public pension budgets.

In Macedonia, birth rates have fallen sharply, dropping from 36‑45 000 annual births in the 1950s‑60s to roughly 16 000 today. The decline is linked to lower family sizes, economic factors and changing social attitudes, raising concerns about a shrinking workforce and the long‑term sustainability of the pension system. Policymakers fear that without a reversal, the country will face similar ageing pressures as those projected for the wider European region.