Gender pension gap: women left with £5,000 less each year in retirement

Government figures reveal a gender pension gap of 48% among those approaching retirement, leaving women with thousands of pounds less each year

Woman looking at row of traffic cones with gap
(Image credit: Martin Barraud)

The gender pension gap is a whopping 48% among those approaching retirement, according to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

The latest figures have been published alongside a stark warning from the government, which said people retiring in 2050 are on track to be poorer than pensioners today.

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Median pension pot by age for men and women

Age group

Men

Women

Gender pension gap (£)

Gender pension gap (%)

16-24

£7,000

£5,000

£2,000

26%

25-29

£15,000

£12,000

£3,000

22%

30-34

£36,000

£16,000

£20,000

56%

35-39

£36,000

£24,000

£12,000

32%

40-44

£58,000

£44,000

£14,000

24%

45-49

£100,000

£48,000

£52,000

52%

50-54

£102,000

£63,000

£39,000

38%

55-59

£156,000

£81,000

£75,000

48%

60-64

£99,000

£63,000

£36,000

36%

65-69

£89,000

£60,000

£29,000

33%

70-74

£100,000

£50,000

£50,000

50%

75+

£96,000

£25,000

£71,000

74%

Katie Williams
Staff Writer

Katie has a background in investment writing and is interested in everything to do with personal finance, politics, and investing. She enjoys translating complex topics into easy-to-understand stories to help people make the most of their money.


Katie believes investing shouldn’t be complicated, and that demystifying it can help normal people improve their lives.


Before joining the MoneyWeek team, Katie worked as an investment writer at Invesco, a global asset management firm. She joined the company as a graduate in 2019. While there, she wrote about the global economy, bond markets, alternative investments and UK equities.


Katie loves writing and studied English at the University of Cambridge. Outside of work, she enjoys going to the theatre, reading novels, travelling and trying new restaurants with friends.