Global Pension Assets Study

Thinking Ahead Institute

Research

44 Pages

The Thinking Ahead Institute’s annual Global Pension Assets Study analyzes retirement market trends across 22 major pension systems, covering over $50 trillion in assets. The 2025 edition highlights slowing asset growth, the continued dominance of defined contribution (DC) plans, and an accelerating shift toward alternative investments and sustainable strategies.

Key Takeaways

Asset slowdown: Global pension assets grew just 2.1% in 2024, well below the 10-year average of 6.9%.
Alternatives expansion: Allocations to private markets and real assets reached 24% of total assets, the highest in study history.
Regional divergence: U.S. pensions account for 62% of global assets, while Asia-Pacific systems show the fastest growth driven by DC adoption.
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