These statistics refer to the number of members in pension funds (PFs). The data are reported annually.
This dataset presents statistics collected under the new Regulation ECB/2018/2 on pension funds (PFs) which belong to the sector “pension funds (PFs)” in the European System of Accounts (ESA 2010) and data are available by type of members (active, deferred, retired and total).
An active member is a pension scheme member who is making contributions (and/or on behalf of whom contributions are being made) and is accumulating assets or has accrued assets in the past and is not yet retired. A deferred member is a pension scheme member who no longer contributes to or accrues benefits from the scheme but has not yet begun to receive retirement benefits from that scheme. A retired member is a pension scheme member who no longer contributes to or accrues benefits from the scheme and has begun to receive retirement benefits from that scheme.
Members can have accrued multiple pension rights with multiple pension funds. For example, an individual can be registered as active member in one pension fund, as a deferred member in another and receiving pension benefits from another pension fund. In that case, they will also be counted multiple times in the data.
PFs resident in the territory of a euro area Member State form the reference reporting population
Euro Area
Pension funds belonging to the sector "pension funds (PFs)" in the ESA 2010
PFs submit to the NCBs the data that the NCBs require in accordance with Regulation ECB/2018/2. These in turn report national aggregates to the ECB.
These statistics are available as of reference period 2019.
End of the period
annually
For information about the naming convention (series key dimensions and metadata), refer to the PFBM underlying DSD (ECB_PFM1) maintained by the ECB.
Number of members of euro area pension funds.
Data are aggregated across the PF sector in each Member State by NCBs to derive national contributions to the euro area aggregated numbers of members of the PF sector.
Not adjusted or consolidated
Basic validations are carried out at different levels.
The revisions policy and procedures set by the ECB and the relevant NCB must be followed.
PFBM - Members of Pension Funds
National central banks (NCBs) and ECB
Quality is ensured by means of a comprehensive legal framework included in the Regulation ECB/2018/2 on statistical reporting requirements for pension funds.
Minimum standards for accuracy:
(a) the statistical information must be correct: all linear constraints must be fulfilled (e.g. subtotals must add up to totals);
(b) reporting agents must be able to provide information on the developments implied by the transmitted data;
(c) the statistical information must be complete and must not contain continuous and structural gaps; existing gaps should be acknowledged, explained to the relevant NCB and, where applicable, bridged as soon as possible;
(d) reporting agents must follow the dimensions, rounding policy and decimals set by the relevant NCB for the technical transmission of the data.
As mentioned in the legal documents, there is a phasing in period until 2022 for the annual data. Currently the annual data are reported to the ECB by close of business on the 90th working day following the end of the year to which the data relate. As of reference period 2022, the data are reported to the ECB by close of business on the 80th working day following the end of the year to which the data relate.
See the release calendar for pension funds statistics in the euro area on the ECB’s website.
Statistical Data Warehouse (SDW) and ECB website
The framework for the collection of pension funds (PF) statistics is laid down in the ECB Regulation concerning statistics on the members of pension funds ( ECB/2018/2 ).
Regulation ECB/2018/2 concerning statistical reporting requirements for pension funds
Download the series catalogue containing a full list of series and associated metadata of the dataset PFBM in CSV format (zipped)