Survey: Only One Third of Slovaks Relying on State Pension for Retirement

Bratislava, 17 January (TASR) - Slovaks are becoming increasingly aware that they cannot rely exclusively on the state in retirement, with only roughly one-third of the population counting on a state pension alone when they get older, TASR learnt earlier this week from a representative survey carried out by STEM/MARK agency for a company called Amundi. Conducted in September 2025 on a sample of 1,013 respondents, the survey also showed that such awareness among Slovaks isn't reflected in their financial behaviour yet, however. Expectations from the state were the lowest among younger people and respondents who have completed university education. Among Generation Z (born roughly between 1997 and 2012), only 6 percent believe that they will receive a decent pension from the state, while the share is 7 percent among millennials (1980–1996). Conversely, a decent pension from the state was expected most frequently by older respondents, particularly the post-war generation (48 percent) and people born before 1945 (40 percent). Younger respondents tend to trust private solutions more, as 60 percent of GenZ's and 42 percent of millennials preferred private investment companies to the state's pension system. "The figures show that Slovaks are aware of the need to save for retirement, but those who are actually addressing this issue in practice make up a minority. Even the reported trust in the private sector has not yet been translated into the required investment activity," stated Miroslav Ovcarik from Amundi. According to the survey, 38 percent of the adult population are saving beyond the statutory requirements. The highest proportion of savers was among millennials, with 53 percent of the respondents putting money aside for retirement. Among GenZ's, this group accounted for 42 percent. The survey also revealed differences in expectations regarding the total amount that people should have saved for retirement. Most of the respondents over the age of 50 stated that €40,000 should suffice, while younger people think it's necessary to save more than €200,000. However, only 10 percent of Slovaks said that they are actively interested in investing, with more than half of them keeping available funds in current accounts, while a further 39 percent hold their funds in savings accounts. jrg/df/ko