The gulf between men and women's private pension pots boils down to 'entrenched systemic barriers' rather than a lack of financial confidence, new findings suggest. 

Men hold a median total of £75,000 in defined contribution pension pots by the age of 59, compared to £19,000 for women, figures from the Department for Work and Pensions published in July 2025 showed. 

Among the 15million people not saving enough for retirement in Britain, women are disproportionately affected, the DWP added.  

According to a new analysis this week from the University of Edinburgh supported by Evelyn Partners, the current private pensions gap sees men accumulate, on average, 75 per cent more in their private pension pots by the age of 60 than women. 

The private pensions gap has increased from 35 per cent to 48 per cent in recent years, the analysis claimed.  

The gulf has emerged despite the fact women typically contribute a similar proportion of their earnings to pension pots than men, the report added. 

The new research claims debate around the issue of a 'lack of financial confidence' among women saving for retirement is misguided. 

It claimed the financial sector should instead focus on the 'hidden systemic, social and situational factors' preventing many women from planning and saving for retirement. 

The publication flagged 'time scarcity and high mental load' among women. 

The report said a 'pensions timebomb' was on the cards if the financial sector continued its current approach, bearing in mind it found that 60 per cent of women had no financial plan for retirement in place.  

A slew of factors, ranging from lower pay, employment gaps and part-time work to taking on unpaid care for relatives and 'gender stereotypes', all play a role in the gulf between men and women's private pension pots as they near retirement, according to the analysis. 

The report's author, Emily Shipp, a psychologist and associate of the Edinburgh Futures Institute, said: 'Mental load and time scarcity operate together. 

'Women are more likely to carry the ongoing cognitive labour of anticipating and coordinating care, while also spending significantly more time on unpaid work. 

'These pressures reduce both the mental bandwidth and the available time needed for sustained engagement with long-term financial planning.' 

The report noted that women in Britain typically spend over three and a half hours a day doing unpaid work. 

It said that 'where women appear disengaged with long-term financial planning, this instead may be the predictable consequence of over-loaded present contexts.' 

Tobi Schneider, fintech sector lead at Edinburgh Innovations , said: 'With an ageing population, without action, we are sleepwalking into financial disaster for a large proportion of people.' 

Meanwhile, Emma Sterland, chief financial planning officer at Evelyn Partners, said the report shone a light on the 'complex barriers that women face as they build their financial security over a lifetime.' 

Another factor flagged in the report affecting both men and women, is that most people add money to defined contribution rather than more lucrative final salary pension schemes. The move away from final salary pension schemes has shifted the risks involved from employers to workers. 

People are also living longer and often have more varied working lives, often involving career breaks, caring duties, retraining and a phased retirement.  

'It's no longer enough to "set and forget" - active engagement and deliberate financial decision-making is needed', the report said. 

It added: 'Firms must shift to contextually informed and psychologically attuned approaches.' 

The report said initiatives such as pension credits for carers and pension products aimed at part-time work could help narrow the private pension pot gap. 

Lisa Picardo, chief business officer UK at PensionBee, told This is Money: 'To help narrow the gap, women can take proactive steps where possible, such as increasing contributions after pay rises, making full use of employer contributions and salary sacrifice, making contributions out of household earnings when facing gaps in work due to caring responsibilities, and actively boosting pension saving during higher-earning periods. 

'However, lasting progress will require coordinated action from employers, policymakers and the pensions industry to better support women’s retirement outcomes and prevent today’s contribution gaps becoming tomorrow’s retirement shortfalls.'

How big is the state pension gender gap? 

The state pension gender gap has shrunk to 1 per cent, less than a decade after a major overhaul aimed at gradually equalising payments.

Women received £208.15 per week on average on reaching 66 and men got £209.95 in the year to November 2024, Government figures revealed in August 2025.

Although couples can get by on two full state pensions, financial experts warn individuals face a struggle on only one and recommend building a private fund too to achieve a decent standard of living. 

The state pension is set to increase by 4.8 per cent from April 2026 under what is known as the 'triple lock' guarantee. 

The exact sum those eligible will receive will depend on which version of the state pension they get, namely the old or new one. 

How much do you need for a good comfortable retirement? 

A single person needs an income of £31,700 a year for a decent retirement, according to a widely used pension industry benchmark from trade group Pensions UK.

This 'moderate' lifestyle covers the essentials plus some splashing out on food and entertainment, trips abroad and running a car.

Couples need a joint income of £43,900 to meet this ‘moderate’ lifestyle, according to the annual Retirement Living Standards, and should bear in mind they will be able to afford retirement more easily with two state pensions and greater combined purchasing power.

The very minimum a single person needs to get by is £13,400 a year and £21,600 for a couple, while they need an income of £43,900 and £60,600, respectively, for an affluent lifestyle.

But these headline targets do not include some important items, which should be factored in, such as income tax, housing costs if you are still paying a mortgage or rent and care costs in later life.