Statistics in Focus. Statistics on Pension Funds.

Abstract

In 1998, the number of autonomous pension funds in Europe ranges from 10 380 in Switzerland to 1 in Luxembourg. Their size in terms of members varies from an average 15 440 members per funds in Sweden to 369 in Switzerland. Higher percentages of funds having less than 1 000 members are found in Belgium (58.2%), Denmark (93.3%), Italy (78.5%), Portugal (77.7%), Iceland (58.5%), Norway (68.5%) and Switzerland (91.8%). While a larger proportion of funds over 1 001 members is found in Spain (51.4%) and Austria (100%). The share of the total active population with an active membership in autonomous pension funds is in 1998 the most important in the Netherlands (60.6%), Switzerland (79%) and Iceland (95.3%). Less important proportions from 0.5% to 9.5% are found in Denmark, Finland, Italy, Austria, Belgium, Sweden and Norway. Defined contributions schemes dominate in terms of membership in Spain (93.4%), Italy (74.8%) and Switzerland (73.2%), while defined benefits schemes have a more important membership in the Netherlands (98.9%), in Portugal (76.5%), Finland and Norway (100%). Contributions per active member are the highest in Austria1 (ECU 8 947), Switzerland (ECU 7 952), Norway (ECU 5 611) and Belgium (ECU 4 632). Highest investments by autonomous pension funds in absolute terms are found in the United-Kingdom (ECU 987 Bio) followed, by the Netherlands (ECU 391 Bio) and Switzerland (ECU 233 Bio). In Portugal, Iceland, Spain, Sweden, Norway and Denmark debt securities and other fixed income securities dominate the portfolio with proportions ranging from 57% to 69.8%. On the contrary, in Austria, the portfolio is largely dominated by units in undertakings for collective investment in transferable securities (89.5%) while in the United-Kingdom the main share of investments is in shares and other variable-yield securities (66.5%).