Only 29% of Slovak Women Confident About Financing Longer Life

Bratislava, 8 June (TASR) - Only 45 percent of women in Slovakia have enough savings to cover at least three months without income, compared with 55 percent of men. Lower current financial wellbeing is also reflected in weaker financial confidence among women regarding the future. Although women live on average seven years longer than men, only 29 percent believe they will have sufficient financial resources to support a longer lifespan, according to the NN Group's international longevity survey. Women in Slovakia have long faced lower incomes than men, which may ultimately result in lower savings and smaller pensions. Single mothers, single women and widows face a particularly high risk of financial insecurity in old age. Changes to the calculation of pensions under the first pension pillar took effect in January 2026 and are expected to benefit women in particular. Under the new rules, periods spent caring for a child — maternity and parental leave — are assessed in the same way as periods of paid employment, as if a woman had been working during that time. The change applies both to current female pensioners and to all working women and future mothers. In addition to finances, health plays a significant role in overall preparedness for longevity, and women perform better in this area. More than half of women rate their health as good or very good. Women consume less alcohol, with only 14 percent drinking regularly, compared with one-third of men. They also smoke less and are more diligent in cancer prevention. According to the survey, 43 percent of eligible women underwent breast cancer screening in the past two years, while only 19 percent of men had prostate cancer screening. Unlike physical health, mental health indicators show similar results for both sexes. However, men report slightly greater peace of mind than women, with a score of 5.7 compared with 5.2, reflecting higher levels of daily stress and uncertainty among women. Feelings of anxiety or depression were reported by 14 percent of women and 11 percent of men. Women also reported feeling somewhat lonelier, with 42 percent of female respondents saying they felt lonely. They also described themselves as less adaptable to change, which may be particularly stressful in the current environment. The international survey for NN Group, titled 'Longevity Survey 2025', was conducted by research agency Indiville through an online questionnaire in five European countries — Slovakia, Czech Republic, Belgium, Greece and Spain — on a sample of 5,119 respondents, including 1,018 from Slovakia. Data collection took place from 29 September to 4 November 2025. The survey was the fourth edition of the ongoing research project. mf