Contributory public pension systems
Public pension rights built through covered work, contributions, insurance credits or an equivalent employment-linked record.
Pension system architecture
Types of Pension Systems
Pension systems usually combine public, workplace, private and assistance-based pillars. This guide explains the main pension system types used across the country profiles and links each type to examples.
Basic or residence-based pension systems
Public designs where a basic, flat, residence-based or universal layer is central to old-age income support.
Funded account and provident fund systems
Systems where an account, provident fund, superannuation or other funded accumulation route is a major pension pillar.
Social assistance and minimum pension systems
Benefits aimed at older people with low income, insufficient contribution records or limited resources.
Occupational and private pension systems
Employer, workplace, occupational, personal or voluntary pension layers that supplement the public system.
How to compare pension system types
A country can appear in more than one category because many pension systems are mixed. For example, a country may have a contributory public pension, a separate social assistance benefit and a voluntary private pension layer.
Use the comparison table to filter country profiles by public pension type, private pillar, retirement age, portability and data quality. Use the glossary when terms such as funded pillar, qualifying period or replacement rate need a quick definition.