Pensions: They do it differently in Denmark

Denmark raises retirement age to 70 without controversy, linking it to life expectancy, contrasting sharply with protests and political resistance seen elsewhere in Europe

The key points: Denmark has quietly raised its state pension age to 70, linking it to life expectancy, with no public protests or political backlash. This contrasts sharply with France, where pension reforms have sparked ongoing unrest.

Why this matters: Denmark’s approach demonstrates how long-term political consensus and automatic indexation can make pension systems more sustainable, especially as populations age and birth rates fall.

What might happen next: Other EU countries may look to Denmark as a model, but political resistance remains strong elsewhere. The debate over pension reform and retirement ages will intensify as demographic pressures grow.

What you should be doing: Assess the sustainability of your organisation’s pension schemes in light of rising life expectancy. Consider how automatic indexation or similar mechanisms could be introduced to future-proof your retirement benefits.

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Blog post by Professor Jesper Rangvid Co-Director of the Danish Pension Research Centre