This page provides information on the population's access to the old-age provision system. The focus is on the combinations of benefits granted to retired people in the old-age provision scheme.
Access to the old-age provision system
Here, pensioners are defined as persons who have already reached legal retirement age (OASI) and who receive at least one old age benefit from the old-age provision system. A person is considered as early retiree if she has not yet reached legal retirement age (OASI) but is already receiving a benefit from the old-age provision system.
Beneficiaries of a payment from the three pillars of the old-age provision system (retired persons)
Only payment of benefits that occurred in the context of retirement.
Definition of pensioners: People who have reached legal retirement age and who receive a benefit from at least one of the pillars of the old age provision system. Source: FSO – SESAM
Beneficiaries of a payment from the three pillars of the old-age provision system (early retirement)
1 Only persons taking early retirement up to 2 years before legal retirement age.
(Numbers): Statistically only partially reliable
Definition of persons taking early retirement: Persons who have not yet reached legal retirement age and who receive benefits from at least one pillar of the old age provision system.
Source: FSO – SESAM
Early retirement rates
Almost all pensioners (98%) receive OASI benefits. 76% of pensioners receive benefits from an occupational pension fund and almost 40% receive benefits from the 3a pillar .
|
Total |
Men |
Women |
|---|---|---|---|
OASI benefits |
98.1% |
97.6% |
98.7% |
BV/PP benefits |
76.0% |
82.9% |
69.5% |
Pillar 3a benefits |
39.9% |
45.1% |
34.9% |
Definition of pensioners: People who have reached legal retirement age and who receive a benefit from at least one of the pillars of the old age provision system. Source: FSO – SESAM
Almost 10% of the early retirees receive a pension from the OASI, 31% receive a bridging pension and 38% receive benefits from the pillar 3a. Most persons finance their early retirement from their occupation pension fund (66%).
|
Total |
Men |
Women |
|---|---|---|---|
Early withdrawal of OASI benefit1 |
(10.3%) |
(8.1)% |
(13.2)% |
Bridging pension |
31.4% |
37.4% |
23.4% |
BV/PP benefits |
66.3% |
65.3% |
67.7% |
Pillar 3a benefits |
38.0% |
42.2% |
32.6% |
(Numbers): Statistically only partially reliable
Definition of persons taking early retirement: Persons who have not yet reached legal retirement age and who receive benefits from at least one pillar of the old age provision system.
Source: FSO – SESAM
In 2019, 61% of men aged 64 and 46% of women aged 63 received a benefit from at least one of the three pillars of the old-age provision system.
If the self-assessment of persons is evaluated irrespective of whether they receive benefits or whether they are employed, only 37% of people of the same age group said that they had taken early retirement (43% of men and 32% of women). For people up to 5 years after legal retirement age as defined by the OASI, 37% of these considered themselves as having taken early retirement (41% of men and 33% of women).
Further information
Temi comuni
Population ageing
Employment and retirement
Ageing in Switzerland
Gender equality - Pension gap
Various indicators related to the exit from the labour market are developed in the field of "Employment and retirement"
- Activity rate and employment status of 50-74 year olds
- Average age on leaving the labour market
- Early retirement rate (labour market approach)
- Number of persons aged 65 and older per 100 economically active persons aged 20 to 64
Switzerland’s population structure has changed considerably over the past few decades. The demographic ageing of Switzerland’s population has an impact on many areas of life. Health topics, employment, retirement and old-age provision are at the heart of the social and political discussion.
The gender pension gap represents the percentage difference in average pensions between women and men in the permanent resident population aged 65 and over.
Statistical sources and concepts
Contact
Federal statistical Office Section Income, Consumption and Living ConditionsEspace de l'Europe 10
CH-2010 Neuchâtel
- Tel.
- +41 58 463 64 21