Pension Watch: turning data and evidence into action on social pensions

What is Pension Watch?

Pension Watch is part of HelpAge’s wider work on income security and social protection. It is a global platform that brings together clear, up‑to‑date information on social pensions across countries and regions. It consolidates data that is often scattered, hard to compare or difficult to access, and presents it in one place.  

At its core, Pension Watch exists to make data and evidence usable. It helps people move beyond assumptions and myths about social pensions, and towards grounded discussion based on real country experience. The platform is regularly updated to reflect changes in pension policy and coverage. 

Why Pension Watch matters now

Around the world, social pensions are proving their value. Where they exist, they provide older people with a reliable income, greater security and the ability to live with dignity. They reduce poverty, support families and communities, and contribute to more inclusive social protection systems overall. 

At the same time, there is growing global experience to draw on. Countries are introducing or expanding social pensions, demonstrating that they are achievable, affordable and effective. Evidence from diverse contexts shows what works, how schemes can be designed to have the biggest impact, and how concerns about affordability and feasibility can be addressed in practice. 

Pension Watch brings this experience together. By making clear, comparable evidence available in one place, it helps shift debates towards solutions – showing what is possible, learning from progress across countries, and supporting informed decisions that can strengthen income security in older age.

Who is Pension Watch for?

Pension Watch is designed for people who need credible evidence on social pensions they can trust and use. Its primary audiences include:  

• Civil society organisations and advocates working on ageing, income security and social protection  
• Members of the HelpAge global network engaged in national as well as regional and global advocacy  
• Government officials and advisers shaping pension or social protection policy 
• Researchers and policy specialists in international organisations and development institutions  

While these audiences differ, they share a common need: clear, factual data and evidence that can inform real‑world decisions.  

What you can do on Pension Watch

In practical terms, Pension Watch is designed to be simple and easy to use. Users can:  

• Explore an interactive global map of social pensions to see which countries are implementing them 
• Explore country data on demographic trends, pension coverage and detailed information on the design of social pensions  
• Interact with and download key evidence and insights on the coverage, affordability and impact of social pensions globally  
• Calculate the cost of introducing a social pension in any country 
• Download the up-to-date global datasets on social pensions and pension systems to conduct further analysis

How different audiences use Pension Watch

Pension Watch is designed to be useful across policy, advocacy and research contexts.  

• Advocates and civil society organisations use it to make the case for social pensions with credible, comparative evidence and costed policy options 
• Governments and policymakers use it as a factual reference point to explore the costs and impacts of social pensions, and how they are designed and financed in other countries.  
• Researchers and analysts in international organisations use it to analyse trends, compare systems, confidently reference pension data. They can also download the datasets to conduct further analysis.  

Across all audiences, Pension Watch helps shift conversations away from assumptions and towards evidence-based discussion. 

Explore the evidence

If you are working on pensions, social protection or ageing, Pension Watch is a strong place to begin.

Explore Pension Watch to:  

• Ground your work in credible, comparative evidence  
• Strengthen arguments for inclusive and effective pension systems and social pensions  
• Support informed, constructive debate on income security in older age  

Visit Pension Watch and use the evidence to help shape fairer futures for older people.