The Results Are In. askpaul Releases Findings Of Its 3rd National Pensions Survey.

“We Have Pensions But Not Peace of Mind”: Irish People Still Anxious About Retirement Despite Good Habits

Dublin, Ireland – 7 May 2025

While the majority of working adults in Ireland have some form of pension in place, a deeper look reveals a very different picture, one that’s quietly worrying.

The askpaul.ie 2025 National Pension Survey of over 900 Irish working adults shows that behind the numbers, most people feel unprepared, unsure, and under pressure about their future.

The good news?
Pension participation is strong: 84% of people say they have a workplace or personal pension in place.

But the hard truth?
71% believe they’re not saving enough to actually live well in retirement.
And 96% don’t feel confident about their financial future.

Retirement Dreams vs. Financial Reality

For most people, retirement isn’t just about stopping work. It’s about finally living life, travelling, pursuing hobbies, giving back and spending time with family. But our findings show those dreams are being clouded by uncertainty.

• 64% of workers have never calculated how much they’ll actually need to retire comfortably.
• Over half (52%) have less than €100,000 saved for retirement and nearly a quarter don’t even know what their current balance is.
• And 39% expect to work beyond age 66 just to stay afloat financially.
• 65% of respondents want to pursue their hobby or travel more in retirement.

Auto-Enrolment Brings Hope But Not a Full Solution

With the Irish government’s new Auto-Enrolment pension scheme launching in 2025, more people will soon be nudged into saving. Encouragingly, 3 in 4 workers say they’d stay enrolled if automatically signed up.

Still, awareness needs work, as 28% of respondents hadn’t even heard of the upcoming scheme before taking the survey. That’s a missed opportunity.

So, What Can You Do About It?

This survey isn’t just a set of numbers but a wake-up call. For anyone who wants to retire without stress or sacrifice, the time to act is now.

“The best time to plan for retirement was yesterday. The second-best time is today,” says Paul Merriman, CEO of askpaul.ie. “Even if you have a pension in place, it’s crucial to know what’s in it, what it’s worth, and what your future could look like based on your current path.”

If you haven’t reviewed your pension in a while or if you’re not sure where to start, talk to a financial advisor who can help you run the numbers, find the gaps, and build a realistic plan.

Your Retirement, Your Responsibility

We all deserve a retirement we can actually enjoy. But hope isn’t a strategy. Whether you’re in your 30s or your 50s, now is the time to shift from guessing to planning.

Check your pension. Know your number. And get advice that’s built around your goals.

Because a comfortable retirement doesn’t happen by chance, it happens by choice.