Gradual increase of the statutory retirement age (2025)
A decision of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, adopted on 13 September 2024 and in force since 1 January 2025, raises the statutory retirement age over 15 years: from 60 to 63 for men, and from 55 to 58 and from 50 to 55 for women, depending on their previous statutory age. From 2030 the minimum contribution period for a monthly basic pension rises from 15 to 20 years, and workers may retire up to three years earlier or later under a flexible scheme.
Key points
Population aged 60 and over, share of the total population
21.1%
2023 · Observed
official figures reported by Xinhua with the ministries’ presentation of the reform (13 September 2024)[6]
297 million people.
Life expectancy at birth cited to justify the reform
78.6 years
as stated in September 2024 · Observed
official figures reported by Xinhua with the ministries’ presentation of the reform (13 September 2024)[6]
About 40 years in the early years of the People’s Republic, according to the same report.
Employment rate (15-64)
62.5%
2025
At a glance
Reference text
全国人民代表大会常务委员会关于实施渐进式延迟法定退休年龄的决定 (Decision of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress on implementing the gradual increase of the statutory retirement age), approving the 国务院关于渐进式延迟法定退休年龄的办法 (State Council measures on the gradual increase of the statutory retirement age)[1][2]
No. 第十四届全国人民代表大会常务委员会第十一次会议通过 · September 13, 2024
Read the text ↗Carried by
- 国务院 (State Council)[1][4]Central government; submitted the draft decision to the NPC Standing Committee and drew up the implementing measures approved by it · 2024 · Initiator
- 全国人民代表大会常务委员会 (Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress)[1][5]Legislative body that adopted the decision at its 11th session (14th NPC) · 2024 · Initiator
- Wang Xiaoping (王晓萍)[5][6]Minister of Human Resources and Social Security, presented the reform at the press conference of 13 September 2024 · 2024 · Implementation
Implementation
- Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (人力资源和社会保障部)
- Organization Department of the CPC Central Committee and Ministry of Finance (co-signatories of the flexible-retirement measures)
- Social insurance agencies (社会保险经办机构)
Stated objective
Adapt to the new demographic situation and make full use of human resources, through small-step, flexible and differentiated adjustments.[1]
According to the NPC Standing Committee decision and the State Council measures (preambles and principles)
Main measures
- Statutory retirement age raised over 15 years: men from 60 to 63; women from 55 to 58 or from 50 to 55, depending on their previous statutory age (under the former rules, 55 for women cadres and 50 for women workers).[1][4]
- Minimum contribution period for a monthly basic pension raised from 15 to 20 years, by 6 months a year from 1 January 2030; workers short of it at the statutory age may extend contributions or pay a lump sum.[1]
- Flexible retirement: voluntary early retirement up to 3 years before the statutory age (never below the former ages of 60, 55 or 50, and with the minimum contribution period), or deferred retirement up to 3 years by agreement with the employer; forcing a worker to choose a retirement age is prohibited.[1][7]
- Pension incentives: the basic pension rate is linked to cumulative contribution years and its base to actual contributions; the individual-account pension depends on retirement age and account balance.[1]
- Unemployment benefit recipients less than one year from the statutory age keep receiving it until that age, with pension contributions paid by the unemployment insurance fund during the phase-in.[1]
- Early retirement kept for designated arduous jobs (underground, at height, high temperature, very heavy physical work) and for work at high altitude; employers hiring people above the statutory age must guarantee pay, rest, safety and work-injury cover.[1]
In data
Statutory retirement age, 2025 decision (annexes 1 to 3)
| Category of worker | Before (former rules) | End of the phase-in |
|---|---|---|
| Men (63 for men born from September 1976) | 60 years | 63 years |
| Women, previous statutory age 55 (58 for those born from September 1981) | 55 years | 58 years |
| Women, previous statutory age 50 (55 for those born from November 1984) | 50 years | 55 years |
Scale starts at 45 years · Scale starts at 45. Intermediate cohorts retire at intermediate ages, month by month, as set in the annex tables.
Annex 4 of the 2024 decision
| Year | Minimum contribution period |
|---|---|
| 2025–2029 | 15 years |
| 2030 | 15.5 years |
| 2031 | 16 years |
| 2032 | 16.5 years |
| 2033 | 17 years |
| 2034 | 17.5 years |
| 2035 | 18 years |
| 2036 | 18.5 years |
| 2037 | 19 years |
| 2038 | 19.5 years |
| 2039 | 20 years |
Half years = 6 months (e.g. 15.5 = 15 years and 6 months).
Share of people aged 65 and over
14.9%
2025
Activity rate
64.6%
2025
Timeline
- Announced
Third Plenum of the CPC Central Committee calls for the reform[3]
« Following the principles of voluntariness and flexibility, steadily and orderly advance the reform of gradually raising the statutory retirement age »
- Under debate
Draft decision examined by the NPC Standing Committee[4]
Interim measures on the flexible retirement scheme issued (人社部发〔2024〕94号)[7]
Workers choosing early flexible retirement must notify their employer in writing at least 3 months ahead; a deferred retirement date is set in writing 1 month ahead and cannot then be extended.
- Current step
Phase-in of the higher statutory ages[1]
+1 month every 4 months for men and for women previously retiring at 55; +1 month every 2 months for women previously retiring at 50. Men born in January 1965 retire at 60 years and 1 month, in February 2025.
- Upcoming: the outcome is not known
Minimum contribution period scheduled to start rising (15 years and 6 months in 2030)[1]
- Upcoming: the outcome is not known
Scheduled end of the phase-in: ages of 63, 58 and 55 and a 20-year minimum contribution period[1]
Under the annex tables, the final ages apply to men born from September 1976, women previously retiring at 55 born from September 1981 and women previously retiring at 50 born from November 1984.
The debate
Citoyen takes no position: arguments are reported as their authors put them.
According to its supporters
- The ages set in the 1950s no longer match today’s life expectancy (78.6 years, against about 40 then) or education: new entrants have 14 years of schooling against 8 at the start of reform and opening, and start work later, according to the Minister of Human Resources and Social Security and official figures reported by Xinhua.[6]
- The working-age population has been falling since 2012; a later retirement age slows that decline, according to the same ministry.[6]
- Small monthly steps and a 3-year flexible window answer workers’ demand for choice, voiced during the consultation, according to the ministry; the 2025-2029 buffer protects workers close to retirement with about 15 years of contributions.[6]
- The effect on youth employment should be gentle overall, since the change is gradual and the jobs left by retirees differ structurally from those sought by young people, according to the Vice-Minister of Human Resources and Social Security.[6]
According to its opponents
- Some fear that later retirement will make it harder for young people to find jobs, as reported by Xinhua during the parliamentary examination.[4][6]
- Older workers may find it harder to get hired as competition grows; researchers interviewed by Xinhua point to age thresholds in recruitment (« 35+ »).[4]
- Working longer exposes older workers to occupational-disease and health risks, which the National Health Commission said it would monitor and prevent.[6][5]
- The rise in the minimum contribution period from 15 to 20 years weighs on workers with short contribution records, who must contribute longer or pay a lump sum to obtain a monthly pension.[1][6]
Indicators to watch
- Population aged 65 and over (% of total) · World BankSee the card →
- Activity rate · World BankSee the card →
- Employment rate · ILOSee the card →
- Average age of exit from the labour market · OECDno Citoyen card yet
Sources
- [1]全国人民代表大会常务委员会关于实施渐进式延迟法定退休年龄的决定（含《国务院关于渐进式延迟法定退休年龄的办法》及附件1-4） –中国政府网 (gov.cn), 新华社, September 13, 2024
- [2]全国人民代表大会常务委员会关于实施渐进式延迟法定退休年龄的决定 –中华人民共和国人力资源和社会保障部
- [3]中共中央关于进一步全面深化改革 推进中国式现代化的决定（2024年7月18日中国共产党第二十届中央委员会第三次全体会议通过） –中国政府网 (gov.cn), July 18, 2024
- [4]延迟退休改革决定提请审议，怎么看？ –新华网 (Xinhua), September 10, 2024
- [5]稳妥有序实施延迟法定退休年龄（全国人大常委会办公厅新闻发布会） –中国政府网 (gov.cn), 人民日报, September 14, 2024
- [6]顺应人口发展趋势 充分利用人力资源——四部门详解延迟退休办法 –中国政府网 (gov.cn), 新华社, September 14, 2024
- [7]人力资源社会保障部 中共中央组织部 财政部关于印发《实施弹性退休制度暂行办法》的通知（人社部发〔2024〕94号） –中国政府网 (gov.cn), December 31, 2024