Work & incomeSouth Africa
Retirement age (men) in South Africa
When does the state let a man retire on a full pension?
South Africa's retirement age (men) is 60 years — #5 of 49 countries on the atlas (lower is better). Period 2024.
60years old
Source: OECD Pensions at a Glance — current normal retirement age (DF_DPS, CRPLF22)
A man with a full career in South Africa reaches a full pension at 60.
Among 49 countries
- Rank
- #5 of 49
- lower is better
- Ranked behind
- 90 %
- 44 of 49 countries
vs median 65 years: −8 % (better)
The neighbourhood
| # | Country | Retirement age (men) | vs South Africa |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | India | 58 years | −2 years |
| 4 | Indonesia | 58 years | −2 years |
| 5 | South Africa | 60 years | — |
| 6 | China | 60 years | — |
| 7 | Colombia | 62 years | +2 years |
Current normal retirement age for men — the age a full-career worker entering at 22 can draw a full pension (OECD Pensions at a Glance). 49 countries.
How to read this figure
The current NORMAL retirement age for men (OECD Pensions at a Glance): the age at which a worker who entered the labour force at 22 and worked a full career can draw a full mandatory pension. Early-retirement routes, penalties and future legislated increases are not in this number — France’s 64.3 is the post-2023-reform trajectory value, and several countries have rises already written into law. It answers "when does the state pay", not "when do people actually stop working".