Women lag behind with pension savings – time to make amends

Nearly 40% of women in the UK risk not having enough funds for a comfortable retirement, according to research. Men contribute 27% more to their pension on average per month, which means they have built up nearly double the funds of women¹. For every £1 in a man’s pension pot, a woman has just 42p¹. 

The pension contribution imbalance starts early. At 20 years old, men already have a 15% head start. By the time they reach their mid-thirties, the gap has widened to 22%. It gets even bigger closer to retirement, with men aged 60 or over contributing 41% more than women². 

Career breaks for care giving, part-time jobs and lower wages can all impact a woman’s ability to grow a healthy pension pot. More than a third of women work part-time compared with 14% of men², which means they don’t always earn enough to qualify for auto-enrolment in workplace pensions. There are opportunities, however, to redress the balance whatever your age. 

Making decisions about pension contributions can be overwhelming – especially if you lack confidence or knowledge. With 38% of women worried that their pension won’t fund a comfortable retirement¹, now is the time to take control – and make pensions work harder within your overall wealth strategy. And remember – it’s never too late, you deserve to flourish in retirement. 

Pensions are one of the most tax-efficient vehicles for building wealth, offering valuable tax relief on contributions and the ability for tax-free growth. Integrating pensions into a broader financial plan can unlock powerful opportunities for long-term security. 

¹Royal London, 2025, ²Aviva, 2025 

The value of investments can go down as well as up and you may not get back the full amount you invested. The past is not a guide to future performance and past performance may not necessarily be repeated.