Shocking truth revealed: Why Hungarians have shorter retirement lives

Despite Hungary’s high retirement age, the truth is that the life expectancy of those who retire is disappointingly short. This puzzling phenomenon has sparked widespread curiosity, leading to an interview which delves into the problems’ complex roots.

András Farkas, an expert at NyugdíjGuru News noted health and lifestyle factors as the main cause for why Hungarian people have a shorter retirement span than those from other EU member states.

According to Index, he mentioned that Hungary‘s place in pension statistics across Europe is not great even though the exact reasons are not clear yet. Farkas discussed various elements that are adding to this trend, like sedentary lifestyles, obesity and smoking, which have an impact on Hungary’s short life expectancy.

Farkas highlighted the concerning trend of decreasing life expectancy in good health in Hungary and the EU, noting Hungary‘s particularly poor standing. Farkas also mentioned that premature deaths, especially among middle-aged individuals are causing high rates of mortality in Hungary compared to more developed nations.

The expert suggested the future development of the healthcare system and health awareness is very important for increasing life expectancy. Even though recent changes have set Hungary’s retirement age to 65, the expert thinks there could still be more increases in the upcoming years depending on various elements.

Recent news about pensions include a positive highlight: in 2023, voluntary pension funds made a net profit of 21.2% – the most in more than 25 years. Furthermore, there is talk of possible advantages related to health funds that might significantly boost the worth of one’s pension.