Global pension assets take largest slide in 2022 since thorny GFC times

Assets declined by 16.7% with the UK pensions market taking 4th place

Jasmine Urquhart
clock • 2 min read

Last year marked the largest annual decline in global pension assets since the 2008 financial crisis, analysis by the Thinking Ahead Institute (TAI) has found.

The latest Global Pensions Assets study, published today (16 February) showed global pension assets declined by 16.7% in 2022 and now stand at $47.9trn (£39.9trn). The study, which covered 22 pension markets worldwide, known as the ‘P22', found the US pensions market remained the largest globally, followed by Japan, Canada and the UK. It found that last year, the UK pension market had total estimated assets of $2.57tn (£2.1trn), with an assets to GDP ratio of 80.3%. The UK had an 81% allocation to defined benefit (DB) funds and 19% allocated to defined contribution (DC). It also fo...

To continue reading this article...

Join Professional Adviser for free

  • Unlimited access to real-time news, industry insights and market intelligence
  • Stay ahead of the curve with spotlights on emerging trends and technologies
  • Receive breaking news stories straight to your inbox in the daily newsletters
  • Make smart business decisions with the latest developments in regulation, investing retirement and protection
  • Members-only access to the editor’s weekly Friday commentary
  • Be the first to hear about our events and awards programmes

Join

 

Already a Professional Adviser member?

Login

Jasmine Urquhart
Author spotlight

Jasmine Urquhart

Senior Correspondent at Professional Pensions

More on Pensions

DWP publishes updated roadmap for workplace pensions

DWP publishes updated roadmap for workplace pensions

Government sets out an updated plan to implement workplace pension reform

Jonathan Stapleton
clock 13 July 2026 • 2 min read
'Significant gap' found in HMRC's SIPP data

'Significant gap' found in HMRC's SIPP data

No data identifying SIPPs or junior SIPPs as distinct categories, Aberdeen Adviser FOI finds

Isabel Baxter
clock 01 July 2026 • 2 min read
Strong chance 'nightmare' IHT pension reforms will 'simply not work'

Strong chance 'nightmare' IHT pension reforms will 'simply not work'

Baroness Ros Altmann says the policy is ‘fraught with dangers’

Holly Roach
clock 30 June 2026 • 1 min read