This article presents official statistics on the total obligations, or gross liabilities, of UK pension providers including the UK government. It includes estimates for state pensions and breakdowns by whether pensions are funded or unfunded. The estimates are compiled for national accounts Table 29: Accrued-to-date pension entitlements in social insurance, which is being published by all EU countries for 2015. For the UK, the years 2010 to 2014 are also provided.
Publications
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Pensions in the national accounts, a fuller picture of the UK’s funded and unfunded pension obligations: 2010 to 2015
Estimates of the total entitlement of households in the UK and abroad to pensions provided by UK government, pension funds and insurance companies.
Data
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Unfunded government pension estimates from UK National Accounts Table 29: Column G
Annual estimates for unfunded defined benefit workplace pension schemes for which government is responsible, for 2010 to 2015.
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Funded government pension estimates from UK National Accounts Table 29: Column E
Annual estimates for funded defined benefit workplace pension schemes for which government is responsible, for 2010 to 2015.
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Sensitivity analysis for Columns E, G and H of UK National Accounts Table 29
Estimates showing the impact on pension liabilities in the UK National Accounts of changing the discount rate for 2015.
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Accrued-to-date pension entitlements in social insurance from UK National Accounts Table 29
Estimates of pension entitlements in social insurance including state pensions, by funded and unfunded, and defined contribution and defined benefit.
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State Pension estimates from UK National Accounts Table 29: Column H
Annual estimates for the unfunded UK State Pension system for 2010 to 2015.
Methodology
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Pensions in the national accounts: UK Table 29 methodology
The methods and sources used to compile national accounts Table 29: Accrued-to-date pension entitlements in social insurance.
The United Kingdom Statistics Authority has designated these statistics as National Statistics, in accordance with the Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007 and signifying compliance with the Code of Practice for Official Statistics.
Designation can be broadly interpreted to mean that the statistics:
- meet identified user needs
- are well explained and readily accessible
- are produced according to sound methods
- are managed impartially and objectively in the public interest
Once statistics have been designated as National Statistics it is a statutory requirement that the Code of Practice shall continue to be observed.