Mercer CFA Institute Global Pension Index 2024 Highlights Need for Retirement System Improvements Given Falling Birth Rates and Increasing Longevity
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The Netherlands retains top spot as world’s leading retirement income system
The Netherlands’ retirement income system has retained the top spot on the list, with
“In a world where fertility rates are falling and life expectancy is rising, retirement income systems are center stage,” commented Pat Tomlinson, Mercer’s President and CEO. “Ensuring strong alignment in private and public retirement income arrangements, increasing employee coverage and encouraging higher labor force participation for those who wish to work at older ages are just a few ways to improve long-term outcomes for retirees.”
Helping DC plan members get the best retirement outcomes
Retirement systems around the world are increasingly moving away from defined benefit (DB) plans and shifting to defined contribution (DC) arrangements. The report explores the opportunities and challenges associated with DC plans for both pension plans and individuals.
“The ongoing shift to defined contribution pension plans introduces many financial planning challenges, which are falling squarely on the shoulders of tomorrow’s retirees,” said Margaret Franklin, CFA and CFA Institute’s President and CEO. “DC plans require individuals to make complex financial planning decisions that may significantly impact their financial circumstances, and yet many individuals are not well prepared to manage the required decisions. The Index serves as an important reminder of the gaps that remain in providing long-term financial security and advice for individuals. The need for credentialed and ethical financial advisors once again stands out, and that’s why we have launched new initiatives in the private wealth space to meet this gap.”
Despite these challenges, as people live longer, the increased flexibility and personalization offered by DC programs will be critical. The concept of retirement is shifting, and many individuals are transitioning gradually to retirement or rejoining the workforce in a different capacity after their initial retirement. DC plans also offer important benefits to gig and contract workers, who have often been left out of traditional DB schemes.
“Significant retirement income system reforms are needed to meet the financial needs of retirees and their evolving work expectations,” commented Dr. David
By the numbers
The Index uses the weighted average of the sub-indices of adequacy, sustainability and integrity. For each sub-index, the systems with the highest values were
Increasing longevity, high interest rates and rising costs of care have put increased pressure on government budgets to support pension programs, causing scores to be slightly lower this year overall. Several systems, including
2024 Mercer CFA Institute Global Pension Index
System |
Overall Grade |
Total |
Adequacy |
Sustainability |
Integrity |
|
A |
84.8 |
86.3 |
81.7 |
86.8 |
|
A |
83.4 |
82.0 |
84.3 |
84.4 |
|
A |
81.6 |
84.0 |
82.6 |
76.3 |
|
A |
80.2 |
75.7 |
82.6 |
84.1 |
|
B+ |
78.7 |
79.8 |
74.3 |
83.0 |
|
B+ |
76.7 |
68.4 |
79.5 |
86.1 |
|
B+ |
75.9 |
77.0 |
64.2 |
90.8 |
|
B+ |
75.2 |
77.2 |
63.6 |
88.3 |
|
B |
74.9 |
71.2 |
70.9 |
86.5 |
|
B |
74.3 |
75.2 |
73.7 |
73.6 |
|
B |
71.6 |
75.7 |
61.5 |
79.3 |
|
B |
71.5 |
66.0 |
71.4 |
80.4 |
|
B |
68.9 |
84.0 |
46.6 |
76.1 |
|
B |
68.7 |
64.8 |
64.9 |
80.2 |
|
B |
68.6 |
81.8 |
40.1 |
87.4 |
|
B |
68.5 |
73.8 |
63.4 |
67.1 |
|
B |
68.4 |
67.0 |
63.8 |
77.1 |
|
B |
68.1 |
73.6 |
52.8 |
80.5 |
|
B |
68.0 |
84.8 |
43.4 |
75.7 |
|
B |
67.3 |
81.1 |
45.8 |
75.3 |
|
B |
67.2 |
66.8 |
57.4 |
81.7 |
|
B |
66.9 |
83.4 |
34.6 |
85.7 |
|
C+ |
64.8 |
77.1 |
43.3 |
75.3 |
|
C+ |
64.0 |
45.8 |
73.1 |
80.4 |
Hong Kong SAR |
C+ |
63.9 |
51.5 |
61.1 |
87.5 |
|
C+ |
63.3 |
82.9 |
30.7 |
77.6 |
|
C+ |
63.0 |
63.9 |
57.4 |
69.5 |
|
C+ |
60.5 |
61.1 |
58.0 |
62.9 |
|
C+ |
60.4 |
63.9 |
58.4 |
57.5 |
|
C |
56.8 |
59.2 |
45.2 |
69.4 |
|
C |
56.5 |
65.2 |
37.8 |
69.1 |
|
C |
56.3 |
44.5 |
54.6 |
77.4 |
|
C |
55.8 |
70.4 |
31.0 |
67.3 |
|
C |
55.4 |
39.7 |
52.0 |
85.2 |
|
C |
55.4 |
68.2 |
25.1 |
77.2 |
|
C |
54.9 |
57.1 |
47.1 |
62.1 |
|
C |
54.7 |
55.3 |
46.9 |
64.7 |
|
C |
54.5 |
56.8 |
41.3 |
69.3 |
|
C |
53.7 |
46.2 |
51.9 |
68.2 |
|
C |
53.4 |
67.2 |
22.0 |
75.2 |
|
C |
52.2 |
40.5 |
52.4 |
70.5 |
|
C |
50.2 |
38.1 |
50.4 |
69.3 |
|
C |
50.0 |
50.2 |
43.8 |
58.2 |
|
D |
49.6 |
34.7 |
48.0 |
75.7 |
Türkiye |
D |
48.3 |
48.3 |
32.2 |
70.8 |
|
D |
45.8 |
41.7 |
63.4 |
27.7 |
|
D |
45.5 |
61.5 |
29.4 |
42.3 |
|
D |
44.0 |
34.2 |
44.9 |
58.4 |
About the Mercer CFA Institute Global Pension Index (MCGPI)
The MCGPI benchmarks retirement income systems around the world and suggests possible areas of reform that would provide more adequate and sustainable retirement benefits. This year, it compares 48 retirement income systems across the globe, including a new entrant,
The Global Pension Index is a collaborative research project co-sponsored by CFA Institute and Mercer and is supported by the Monash Centre for Financial Studies (MCFS). Find more information about the Mercer CFA Institute Global Pension Index here.
About Mercer
Mercer, a business of Marsh McLennan (NYSE: MMC), is a global leader in helping clients realize their investment objectives, shape the future of work and enhance health and retirement outcomes for their people. Marsh McLennan is a global leader in risk, strategy and people, advising clients in 130 countries across four businesses: Marsh, Guy Carpenter, Mercer and Oliver Wyman. With annual revenue of
About CFA Institute
As the global association of investment professionals, CFA Institute sets the standard for professional excellence and credentials. We champion ethical behavior in investment markets and serve as the leading source of learning and research for the investment industry. We believe in fostering an environment where investors’ interests come first, markets function at their best, and economies grow. With more than 200,000 charterholders worldwide across 160 markets, CFA Institute has 10 offices and 160 local societies. Find us at www.cfainstitute.org or follow us on LinkedIn and X at @CFAInstitute.
About the Monash Centre for Financial Studies (MCFS)
A research centre based within Monash University's Monash Business School,
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