AZE.US
A fresh debate over retirement age is unfolding in Azerbaijan, where concerns are growing that a large share of citizens – especially men – do not live long enough to benefit fully from the pension system.
The discussion has intensified as the country moves toward setting the retirement age for both men and women at 65 from July 1 next year. Critics say that threshold is too high for many citizens, particularly those in poor health or physically demanding jobs.
Residents interviewed in a local report said many people now see 65 to 70 as the practical upper limit of life expectancy for a large part of the population. Some argued that by the time they near retirement age, their health has already deteriorated to the point where continuing to work becomes difficult, while pension access remains out of reach.
MP Aydin Huseynov said lowering the retirement age is not currently seen as a necessary step, arguing that the country’s average life expectancy remains relatively high by official standards. At the same time, he said another idea could be discussed: allowing people to use part of their accumulated pension capital before reaching retirement age for urgent needs such as medical treatment, education, or other essential expenses.
That option, however, would require a system backed by private or voluntary pension contributions.
MP Vugar Bayramov said the retirement system should better reflect social realities. In his view, women should be able to retire earlier than men, while families with three or more children should also be considered for earlier retirement rights. He also said single mothers may need additional support under any future reform.
Economist Rashad Hasanov said a lower retirement age could become possible in the future, but only if Azerbaijan expands employment and increases social insurance contributions enough to create a stronger financial base for the pension system.
He also pointed to figures that are likely to sharpen the public debate. According to Hasanov, the number of pensioners in the country has fallen from roughly 1.32 million to around 1.1 million. He said the share of pensioners in the overall population is declining, and added that men face particularly limited access to retirement because of lower life expectancy.
“Almost 47-48% of men die before reaching retirement age,” Hasanov said, according to the report.
That figure goes to the heart of the argument now building around pension reform in Azerbaijan: for many people, the issue is no longer just about fiscal sustainability, but whether the system is still aligned with the way people actually live – and die.