Saudi Arabia tops Gulf, ranks 12th globally in 2026 retirement index

Saudi Arabia has secured the top position in the Gulf and ranked 12th globally in the 2026 Mercer CFA Institute Global Pension Index, which evaluated 55 pension systems worldwide.

The Kingdom’s overall score rose to 73.2 out of 100, up from 67.6 in 2025, reflecting an improved standing in the international assessment of pension systems.

Saudi Arabia made significant progress, moving from 27th place among 44 systems in 2022 to 12th among 55 in 2026, advancing 15 spots despite the broader scope of the evaluation.

The Kingdom improved across all three main index pillars, achieving 83.5 points for integrity and reliability—an increase of 9.3 points from the previous year—and earning the highest (A) rating in this category.

Its sustainability score also rose from 54.6 to 61.2, while the adequacy of benefits improved from 75 to 77.2 points, maintaining an overall (B) category rating.

Saudi Arabia outperformed countries such as the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Germany, Belgium, Ireland, and Hong Kong, and achieved the highest score among Gulf nations included in the assessment.

The report attributed the Kingdom’s progress to enhanced integrity, improved regulatory frameworks and governance, better protection of participants’ rights, and updated data and communication with members.

The Mercer CFA Institute Global Pension Index is a leading independent international benchmark for pension system evaluation, based on more than 50 sub-indicators across three main pillars and covering around 66% of the world’s population.