Retirement Savings Statistics 2026

This share included the 61 percent of adults who had a tax-preferred retirement account, including employer-sponsored defined contribution plans such as 401(k)s, individual retirement accounts (IRA), or Roth IRAs.

It also included 29 percent who had a defined benefit pension through an employer

Among those ages 55 to 64 who were nearing common retirement ages, 73 percent had tax-preferred retirement savings accounts—higher than shares of prime-age adults and those age 65 and older who had these accounts (63 percent and 62 percent, respectively).

Overall plan participation is 65.1 percent in 2025, up slightly from 64.4 percent in 2022.

Retirement benefits were available to 72 percent of private industry workers in March 2026

Fifty-two percent of private industry workers participated in retirement plans, 49 percent participated in defined contribution plans, and 9 percent participated in defined benefit plans.

Among state and local government workers, 92 percent of workers had access to retirement benefits and 81 percent participated.

Among those who are not retired, the percentage saving for retirement increased from 65% in 2020 to 69% in 2025.

Nearly as many (59 percent) report that they are currently saving for retirement.

In 2025, the average account balance for Vanguard participants was $167,970, while the median balance was $44,115 (Figure 50)—increases of 13% and 16%, respectively, from 2024.

$155,800 Up 10% from Q1 2026 Up 13% from Q2 2025

$144,523 Up 10% from Q1 2026 Up 10% from Q2 2025

The conditional median value of retirement accounts increased 11 percent between 2022 and 2025 to $106,000, while the conditional mean value rose 23 percent to $451,100 in 2025.

The total household savings in retirement accounts also increased from $44,000 in 2020 to $56,000 in 2025 (estimated medians).

Among RCS workers providing this type of information, 35 percent report that the total value of their savings and investments, excluding the value of their primary home, is less than $25,000 (Figure 3).

This includes 22 percent who say they have less than $1,000 in savings.

Retirement Preparedness by the Numbers Even as retirement targets climb, nearly a quarter (23%) of those with retirement savings say they have just one year or less of their current annual income set aside for it.

In 2025, Vanguard’s plan-weighted participation rate was 86%, an increase of 5 percentage points since 2017.

Plans with automatic enrollment had a 94% participation rate, compared with 64% among voluntary enrollment plans.

By year-end 2025, 61% of Vanguard defined contribution (DC) plans had adopted automatic enrollment, including 79% of plans with at least 1,000 participants.

The average deferral rate in 2025 was 7.6%, and the median rate was 6.6%.

Including both employee and employer contributions, the average total participant contribution rate was 12.1%; the median, 11.6%.

Total average savings rates held at record levels for the second consecutive quarter, remaining at 14.4% for 401(k) savers and 12% for 403(b) participants.

The 401(k) rate was driven by a record-high employee contribution rate of 9.6%, combined with an average employer contribution of 4.8%, bringing many workers closer to Fidelity's recommended 15% annual savings benchmark.

As of Q2 2026, 12.1% of 401(k) participants increased their contribution rate, while more than 8 in 10 (81.2%) saved enough to receive their employer's full matching contribution.

In the prior 12 months, 5 percent of non-retired adults borrowed money from their retirement accounts; 4 percent cashed out funds from their retirement accounts; and 8 percent reduced their regular contributions to their account.

Collectively, 14 percent of non-retirees borrowed from, cashed out, or reduced contributions to their retirement accounts in the prior 12 months.

Among non-retirees who had cashed out funds from their retirement accounts in the prior year, the share who said they were on track was notably lower, at 24 percent.

Thirteen percent of participants had a loan outstanding, and the average loan balance was about $11,000.

Overall, hardship withdrawal activity increased modestly from 2024 to 2025, with 6% of participants initiating a hardship withdrawal, up from 5% in 2024.

The 2026 Retirement Confidence Survey (RCS) finds that six in 10 American workers (61 percent) feel confident in their ability to have enough money to live comfortably throughout their retirement, with 21 percent feeling very confident (Figure 1).

This percentage confident is down from 67 percent in 2025, and it is at its lowest level since 2017.

At the same time, nearly two-thirds of workers (66 percent) report that they either strongly or somewhat agree with the statement that preparing for retirement makes them feel stressed (Figure 1).

Two in three Americans (66%) indicate they are confident in their ability to have a comfortable retirement, including 22% who are very confident and 44% who are somewhat confident.

While most non-retired adults had some type of tax-preferred retirement account (such as a 401(k), IRA, or Roth IRA) or a defined benefit pension, a lower 35 percent of non-retirees thought their retirement saving was on track.

The April poll also finds 69% of nonretirees saying they are very or moderately worried about not having enough money in retirement, compared with 39% of retirees.

More than four in five retirees (82%) say they have enough money to live comfortably, but less than half of nonretirees (45%) expect the same when they retire, continuing a pattern that stretches back to 2002.

Nonretirees expect to retire at age 66, on average, five years later than the average age at which current retirees say they actually retired.

Americans Believe They Will Need $1.46 Million to Retire Comfortably, Up More Than 15% Since Last Year

This increase comes as 46% of Americans say they don't expect to be financially prepared for retirement and nearly half (48%) believe it is somewhat or very likely they will outlive their savings.

Total US retirement assets were $51.2 trillion as of June 30, 2026, up 7.9% from March.

Retirement assets accounted for 33% of all household financial assets in the United States at the end of June 2026.

Americans held $15.0 trillion in all employer-based DC retirement plans on June 30, 2026, of which $10.8 trillion was held in 401(k) plans.

As of June 30, 2026, we estimate that about 88 percent of the population aged 65 and over were receiving benefits, and that increases to about 94 percent for those aged 75 and older.

Social Security is a major source of retirement income for 62% of current retirees, tying last year's record high and far outpacing all other income sources.

In contrast, 36% of nonretirees expect Social Security to be a major source of retirement income, while nearly half, 48%, expect a 401(k), IRA or similar retirement savings account to be one, making it their top expected source.

Around 9-in-10 (90%) of eligible employees in Great Britain were saving into a workplace pension in 2025, continuing the trend of previous years, with 22.6 million eligible employees saving.

Total annual workplace pension savings for eligible savers was £166.1 billion in 2025.

Overall in 2025, contributions by employees accounted for 27% of saving, with employer contributions accounting for 61%, and income tax relief on the employee contribution the remaining 12%.

In the private sector, a gender gap remained in 2024 with 76% of female employees having a workplace pension, compared with 81% of male employees; in the public sector, 90% of male employees and 90% of female employees had a workplace pension.

In 2024, using qualifying earnings for the public sector, the median employer contributions were 27% for men and 26% for women, whereas for the private sector, median employer contributions were 6% for men and 5% for women.

For average earners with a full career, the net replacement rate from mandatory pension schemes at the normal retirement age averages 63.2% across the OECD, 11.2 (p.p.) higher than the average gross replacement rate.

For low earners (with half of average worker earnings), the average net replacement rate across OECD countries is 75.2% while it is 52.9% for high earners (200% of average worker earnings).

The average normal retirement age among OECD countries will increase from 64.7 and 63.9 years for men and women retiring in 2024 to 66.4 and 65.9 years, respectively, when starting the career in 2024.