Why is the retirement age being raised? The head of the Pension Fund explained the reasons.

Why is the retirement age being raised? The head of the Pension Fund explained the reasons.

There are several reasons for raising the retirement age in Uzbekistan. Murodbek Otajonov, Director of the Pension Fund, disclosed this information in an interview with the "Lolazor" project.
According to him, the primary reason is the increase in the population's average life expectancy. While the average life expectancy in Uzbekistan was 67.3 years in 1993, it reached 75.4 years in 2025. The average life expectancy stands at 72.39 years for men and 77 years for women. Furthermore, the duration for which citizens receive pensions has also extended. In 1993, men received a pension for an average of 5 years after retiring; today, that figure has reached 13 years. For women, the period has increased from 15 to 22 years.
Rising pension expenditures are also increasing the burden on the state budget. Currently, nearly 26 percent of the Pension Fund's expenses—approximately 23 trillion soums in 2026—are covered by the state budget. If the system remains unchanged, this share could reach 40 percent by 2030.
There are currently 4.3 million pensioners in Uzbekistan, representing 11.2 percent of the population. It is projected that by 2040, the number of pensioners will reach 8 million, and their share of the population will rise to 15 percent. According to a draft presidential decree on reforming the pension system, plans are in place to gradually raise the retirement age starting in 2028.
Under the plan, the age will increase by three months annually, reaching 63 for men and 58 for women by 2039.
Currently, men retire at age 60 and women at age 55.
It is also proposed to gradually increase the minimum length of service required for an age-based pension from 7 years to 15 years by 2034.
The draft decree will be open for public discussion until September 30, 2026.