Asian Countries In The Top 10 Of GSFW’s List Of Countries With Most Public Pension Assets; Know Where India Stands

Global Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF), in its recent rankings, listed countries as per the public pension assets, reflecting decades of strategic financial planning and investment. The total value of assets held by a country’s public pension system is known as the pension wealth which provides financial security and stability for its senior citizens. It plays an important role in determining the financial stability of its citizens during retirement. The public pension wealth is formed largely by the employees, and employers and largely by the government itself. The funds are managed under government schemes as well as government agencies which keep investing a portion to generate more returns and provide pensions to the citizens and maintain the system’s stability. The systems with larger pension funds are better equipped to deal with economic fluctuations, an ageing population and social inequalities.

Top Ten Countries With The Most Public Pension Assets

The global ranking of public pension funds is primarily dominated by Asian countries, showcasing the significance of Asia in managing pension assets due to its ageing population. The USA\ holds the first position with a staggering $11.76 trillion in public pension funds. Japan ranks second with $2.06 trillion, highlighting its role in the global pension landscape which is followed by Canada in third with $1.8 trillion, while European countries such as the Netherlands owning $1.13 trillion and Australia with $1.12 trillion occupy the fourth and fifth positions, respectively.

South Korea ranks sixth with $948 billion, and China, despite being a global economic powerhouse, holds the eighth position with $588 billion. The UK, Denmark, and Sweden sum up the top ten, with each country managing between $489 billion and $610 billion in pension funds. The findings highlight the growing significance of Asian Countries in the global pension fund market.

Where does India Stand?

Global SWF 2025 findings have shown that India has ranked 14th, with assets totalling $305 billion. This ranking highlights the gap in pension sustainability as nearly half the country’s employment still remains in the informal sector. The need for better social security coverage is alarmingly urgent as the country’s three-fourths of employees work in the informal sector. These employees do not get healthcare facilities, secure working conditions or even job security exposing them to financial uncertainty and instability. The Union Cabinet approved the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) back in August 2024 to reform pension policies, providing government employees with an assured pension after retirement.

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