September the 30th, 2026 – As the EU raises its retirement age and multiple countries now expect their work forces to work for longer, what exactly awaits Croatia?

Working life across the European Union is lengthening significantly, and for younger generations the difference could be as much as ten years. Croatia is not currently going to raise its retirement age above 65. The retirement age is rising across Europe, and for some of today’s younger workers a working life could last until the age of 70 or even longer. The OECD estimates that the average retirement age will increase further in the future as life expectancy rises, while numerous countries have already legally adopted gradual increases.

Denmark stands out the most. There it has already been decided that the statutory retirement age will rise to 70 by 2040, while the OECD projects an even higher threshold for generations that have only just entered the labour market if the current method of linking the pension age to life expectancy continues. According to the latest edition of the OECD’s Pensions at a Glance report, the average normal retirement age for people who retired in 2024 is around 64.7 years for men and 63.9 years for women.

For those who have only just entered the labour market, the OECD expects a significantly longer working life. The average future retirement age is estimated at 66.4 years for men and 65.9 years for women.

denmark is taking it the furthest

Denmark is at the top of the European ranking. The current normal retirement age there is 67, and parliament has already adopted an increase to 70 years from 2040. The OECD projects that if the current formula linked to life expectancy continues to be applied, the future retirement age in Denmark could rise as high as 74 years. It is important to emphasise, however, that 74 is not a legally set limit for a specific year, but a projection that depends on whether Denmark continues to link the pension age to increases in life expectancy. The country is already discussing possible easing of that formula after 2040.

High future thresholds are also expected in other European countries. Estonia could reach 71 years, while the OECD projects a normal retirement age of around 70 for Italy, the Netherlands and Sweden. Under current rules, Finland could reach around 68 years and Slovakia around 69, while in a number of other countries the future normal retirement age is approaching 67.

many countries are adopting reforms

The changes are no longer just projections. In several European countries reforms have already been adopted that gradually increase the retirement age or link its future movement to life expectancy.

Belgium will reach a retirement age of 67 years, while the United Kingdom has planned a further increase towards 68. The Czech Republic has also adopted a gradual increase of the statutory age to 67. Slovenia has reformed its pension system and raised the statutory age, but in international comparisons the possibility of full retirement with a sufficient number of contribution years must also be taken into account. The main reason for such reforms is demographics. Europeans are living longer, while at the same time in many countries the share of the working-age population that finances pension systems is shrinking.

Countries are therefore trying to achieve a balance between longer life expectancy, the number of years spent in retirement and the financial sustainability of the system.

men and women are moving towards the same threshold

Differences in retirement age between men and women are gradually narrowing. In most European countries men and women already have the same statutory retirement age, while differences have been retained only in some countries. Some countries where the difference still exists have already decided on its gradual abolition, so the number of systems in which women can take full retirement earlier than men will decrease further.

where does croatia fall here?

Croatia is currently among the countries that do not have a legally determined increase in the regular retirement age above 65. Men in Croatia acquire the right to an old-age pension at the age of 65 with at least 15 years of pensionable service. For women a transitional period is still underway. In 2026 a woman can acquire the right to an old-age pension at 64 years of age and at least 15 years of service.

The threshold for women then increases by three months each year. In 2027 it will be 64 years and three months, in 2028 64 years and six months, and in 2029 64 years and nine months. From the 1st of January 2030, the conditions will be equalised, so both men and women in Croatia will acquire a regular old-age pension at the age of 65. There are also special rules for long-term insured persons. A person who has 60 years of age and 41 years of insurance service in effective duration can acquire the right to an old-age pension for a long-term insured person.

For early old-age pension the general rule is 60 years of age and 35 years of service. For women a transitional period is still underway, so in 2026 they can acquire the right at 59 years of age and 34 years of pensionable service.

will people in croatia have to work for longer?

So far no decision has been taken according to which the regular retirement age in Croatia would be increased above 65. This currently distinguishes Croatia from countries that have already legally linked the retirement age to life expectancy or adopted increases towards 67, 68 or 70 years. Nevertheless, the demographic pressure that is driving reforms in other European countries is also present in Croatia. The population is ageing, and the ratio of the number of employed people to pension beneficiaries is one of the key factors in the sustainability of the system.

That is why the question of how long future generations will have to work before retiring will remain one of the more important topics of European, and also Croatian, social policy. The difference between today’s and future generations can be large. While in a large part of Europe today’s normal retirement age is around 65, in some countries those who are only just starting work could, under current rules, retire only after the age of 70.


 


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