Research conducted by Mercer, Now:Pensions, and the Pension Policy Institute (PPI) further indicates a substantial gap in pension wealth among married couples: men hold an average of £111,540 in pension funds compared to £43,656 for women, representing a 61% discrepancy.
Despite pensions being the second-largest asset within marriage after property, only 11% of more than 100,000 divorces in 2024 and 2025 included pension attachment orders, which facilitate the division of pension assets.
The upcoming 2026 Gender Pensions Gap report reveals that approximately 71% of divorce settlements do not account for pension assets, often prioritising housing and property instead.
Based on a retirement age of 66 and average life expectancy, pension wealth is required to cover about 13 years for men and 17 years for women. Annual pension income for divorced women is £13,893—slightly above the UK’s minimum living standard—compared to £18,753 for divorced men.
Employment disparities are also highlighted as contributing factors to the pension gap: 30% of divorced women work part-time, versus 10% of divorced men, and they earn on average 37% less. This reduced earning potential results in divorced women being twice as likely to be excluded from automatic pension enrolment in comparison to men.
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