Based on 2025 data, people aged 15 and over in the EU are expected to work on average 37.5 years, up from 37.2 in 2024. Since 2016, the expected duration of working life in the EU has increased by 2.3 years, from 35.2 to 37.5. However, this indicator differs significantly between EU countries.
In 7 EU countries, the average expected duration of working life is 40 years or more: the Netherlands (44.0 years), Sweden (43.4), Denmark (42.6), Estonia (41.5), Ireland (40.7), Germany (40.2) and Finland (40.1). By contrast, Romania (32.7 years), Italy (33.0) and Bulgaria (34.6) have the shortest working lives.
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Source dataset: lfsi_dwl_a
Men have longer working lives than women
In 2025, men in the EU are expected to work on average 39.5 years, with the longest durations in the Netherlands (45.9 years), Sweden and Denmark (both 44.5) and Ireland (43.4). The shortest expected working lives for men are in Bulgaria (35.9 years), Romania (36.0) and Croatia (36.3).
For women, the average expected duration of working life in the EU is 35.4 years. The longest durations were in Sweden (42.3 years), the Netherlands (41.9) and Estonia (41.8). The shortest durations are in Italy (28.4 years), Romania (29.1) and Greece (31.8).
Source dataset: lfsi_dwl_a
For more information
- Statistics Explained article on the duration of working life – statistics
- Thematic section on the labour market
- Database on employment and unemployment (lfs)
Methodological notes
Expected duration of working life: this indicator estimates the average number of years a person aged 15 is expected to remain in the labour force (either employed or unemployed) under current conditions. The indicator does not reflect legal retirement ages, policy targets, or any prescriptive measure of how long people must or should work. Instead, it describes observed labour market participation patterns. It is calculated using life expectancy and age-specific labour force participation rates, where the labour force includes both employed and unemployed persons.