The average size of a UK pension pot has been revealed, and one group of savers is falling thousands of pounds behind. Average retirement savings pots stand at £21,875 in 2025, up 9% from 2024, according to a new report by UK pension provider Pension Bee.
However, the gender gap is stark. Women’s pots averaged just £16,169, marking an 11% increase year-on-year, while men’s pots averaged £25,652, an increase of 9%. Lisa Picardo, chief business officer UK at PensionBee, said: « It’s encouraging to see both pot growth and a slight narrowing of the gender gap. But progress remains frustratingly slow.”
Ms Picardo also pointed out that the regional disparities are also “stark.”
London and the South East continue to outperform the rest of the UK, with average pots of £25,838 and £27,727 respectively, while most other regions lag significantly behind.
The report found savers in the North West had an average pot of £17,082, whilst savings in Northern Ireland averaged £15,118.
London’s gender pension gap was significantly narrower than the UK average, at 29%. The South East was a distant second, with 38%, while Wales and Northern Ireland had the widest gaps, at 43%.
While the gender pay gap has narrowed over time, women remain more likely to take a career break, work part-time, or shoulder caregiving responsibilities, according to a different report from PensionBee. All of these factors can disrupt pension contributions and erode confidence.
The data also showed that women are more likely to abstain from making investment decisions altogether, with 10% saying they don’t make any investment decisions compared to just 3% of men.
Projected pension pots in the UK
Among the results, projected pots for those who reach retirement age improved for those in their 30s and 40s to £178,439 and £130,140, respectively. This marks an increase of £11,535 and £6,327.
However, pots for under-30s fell by £13,893 to £181,165 due to a drop in weekly incomes.
Ms Picardo described this trend as “concerning”, adding: “This is a worrying warning sign for future generations who may end up heavily reliant on the state pension.”
The state pension is a benefit distributed by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), providing a monthly income based on people’s National Insurance records.
The full new state pension is currently worth £230.25 per week, amounting to around £11,973 per year. However, varying reports suggest the figure falls thousands of pounds short of the amount required for a basic standard of living for those who rely on the state pension alone.
PensionBee’s report is based on an analysis of more than 285,000 of its customers as of June 2025.
