Average pension pot by age in Ireland: how you compare in 2025 and what to do next

Most of the online “average pot” figures come from the UK, but Irish savers face different rules and realities. This guide reframes the question for Ireland using current State Pension rates, official coverage data and common benchmarks. It shows where many people tend to be by age, and the practical steps that can move you into a stronger position.

The headline numbers that frame retirement in Ireland

The maximum State Pension (Contributory) in 2025 is €289.30 per week. That is about €15,044 a year before tax. For most households this is a useful foundation, not a full retirement. OECD data puts Ireland’s future net replacement rate for an average earner at roughly four in ten of pre‑retirement take‑home pay, so private saving has to do a lot of the work.

Pension participation is improving, but uneven. In Q3 2024 the CSO reported that around two‑thirds of workers had some supplementary pension cover. Coverage was highest among ages 45 to 54 at about eight in ten, and lowest among ages 20 to 24 at just over a quarter. The new auto enrolment system, My Future Fund, begins in January 2026 and will bring employer contributions and a State top‑up for eligible workers who are not already in a scheme. That will lift participation, especially among younger and lower‑paid workers.

What is a reasonable pot by age in Ireland?

Ireland does not publish official “average pot by age” tables for private pensions. A practical way to benchmark progress is to use salary‑multiple targets that reflect the State Pension, typical contribution patterns and long‑term market returns. As a broad rule of thumb:

• By age 30: about one times your current gross salary
• By age 40: about three times
• By age 50: five to six times
• By age 60: about eight times
• By retirement (66+): around ten times

These are not hard limits. They are waypoints that assume you will also receive the State Pension and that you invest through market ups and downs. If your expected spending in retirement is modest or you will have other income, your personal target can be lower. If you want more flexibility or to retire earlier, you will likely need more.

To make this concrete, the OECD’s latest estimate of Irish average worker earnings is roughly €54,600. On that income, the illustrative targets would be around €55,000 at 30, €164,000 at 40, €273,000 to €328,000 at 50, €437,000 at 60 and about €546,000 by retirement. These figures are signposts, not scorecards.

What the data says about how people are tracking

Provider data suggests many Irish workers start late and contribute less than they intend. One large insurer reports an average starting age near the late thirties and total contributions around the low‑teens percent of salary. That creates a gap in the 40s and 50s unless people step up contributions or receive strong employer matching. The CSO coverage figures back this up: participation climbs with age, but the early years are often missed, reducing the compounding runway.

Auto enrolment will change the picture from 2026

If you are aged 23 to 60, earn at least €20,000 and are not already in a pension through work, you will be enrolled into My Future Fund. Contributions will phase in from 1.5 percent of pay and rise to 6 percent over ten years. Your employer will match the same percentage and the State will add a top‑up worth €1 for every €3 you put in, up to an earnings cap. That means every €3 you save becomes €7 before investment. For many workers this will be the single biggest boost to their retirement saving.

A key point for higher‑rate taxpayers is that auto enrolment uses a State top‑up rather than Income Tax relief. If your employer offers a good occupational scheme or you can fund a PRSA with full relief at 40 percent, compare your net cost per euro saved.

Age‑by‑age actions that work in Ireland

In your 20s focus on getting into any employer plan and capturing every cent of match. Even small percentages matter when you have four decades ahead. A default multi‑asset fund is usually a sensible starting point. Keep fees low, keep contributing, and let compounding do the heavy lifting.

In your 30s set a standing order to move your total saving rate toward the “half your age” rule of thumb. At 30 that is 15 percent, at 36 it is 18 percent. If the budget is tight, step up by one percentage point each year. Consolidate small pots where appropriate so your money is actually invested, not sitting in cash.

In your 40s test your plan against real numbers. Use your current balance, contributions and a conservative growth rate to project income at 66. If there is a gap, use AVCs or a PRSA to raise contributions toward your age‑related tax‑relief limit. Diversify globally and revisit your risk level so you are not too cautious too soon.

In your 50s get forensic. Sequence‑of‑returns risk becomes real in the decade before retirement. Review charges, tax‑free lump sum options and whether your drawdown plan will keep you on track after the mandatory ARF imputed distributions begin. If you are behind, increasing contributions now has an outsized impact because of tax relief and the sums involved.

In your early 60s align withdrawals with your likely State Pension start date and consider the mix of tax‑free lump sum, annuity and ARF. Build a two to three‑year cash buffer for planned spending so market swings do not force you to sell assets at poor prices.

A simple sense‑check

Start with what you want to spend each year in retirement. Subtract the State Pension figure. Multiply the remainder by twenty to twenty‑five to get a rough capital target. If that target is higher than your current trajectory, you can still close the gap by increasing contributions, extending working years, or adjusting spending plans. The earlier you act, the smaller the adjustments need to be.

Bottom line and next step

Irish savers do not need to chase a perfect “average pot”. What matters is a plan that blends the State Pension with disciplined, tax‑efficient saving and sensible investment. If you want a personalised calculation using your age, earnings, tax rate and target retirement income, contact F J Hanly & Associates and we will build the numbers and set out clear next steps.