Saudi Arabia Ranks Top in the GCC and 12th Globally in the 2026 Pension Index
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia placed first among Gulf Cooperation Council countries and 12th internationally among 55 pension systems in the 2026 Marsh CFA Institute Global Pension Index, with an overall score of 73.2 out of 100, up from 67.6 in 2025.
According to the Saudi Press Agency, the Kingdom has moved up 15 positions since 2022, from 27th among 44 systems to 12th in this year’s assessment.
Saudi Arabia improved in all three pillars of the index: sufficiency, sustainability, and integrity. Its integrity score rose 9.3 points to 83.5, earning an A rating, the highest classification. Its sustainability score rose to 61.2 from 54.6, and its adequacy score rose to 77.2 from 75. The overall system maintained a B grade.
With a score of 73.2, Saudi Arabia surpassed several established pension systems with an overall B grade, including the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Germany, Belgium, Ireland, and Hong Kong, while outperforming other Gulf states.
The SPA report attributed the Kingdom’s development to governance reforms, regulatory improvements, data modernisation, and enhanced safeguards for pension-scheme beneficiaries.
The findings come as Saudi Arabia works to modernise its social insurance system through the General Organization for Social Insurance, with reforms targeted at enhancing retirement payouts and ensuring the system’s long-term viability.
The 18th edition of the Marsh CFA Institute Global Pension Index, published in partnership with the Monash Center for Financial Studies, uses more than 50 variables to evaluate 55 retirement income systems. The systems covered represent roughly 66 percent of the world’s population.
Also Read:
Netanyahu Pressures Small Parties to Get Out of Election Contests
