The bar chart illustrate the average retirement age fo man and woman between 2004 and 2008.
Overall, it is clear that retirement ages tended to rise in most counties for both genders over the four-years period. Sweden consistently recorded highest, meanwhile Italy remaind the lowest.
In 2004, the average retirement ages for man varited between 58 years in France. Germany, Netherland and the UK share similar figures at around 61 years, while Denmark and France reported slightly lower average, at roughly 59. By 2008, increase wer observed across nearly all countries, with the most notable rise in Germany, where man retired at 61 years compered to about 62 years in 2004. Sweden remained the dominant position at approximately 63 years, whereas Italy remaind the lowest figure at 58 years.
A similar pattern was seen among woman. In 2004, female retirement ages ranged from 57 years in Italy to nearly 63 years in Sweden. Germany, Netherland and the UK stood between 60 and 61 years. By 2008, all countries except Italy experienced up ward trends. Germany, Netherland and the UK showed the largest improvements each climbing by roughly one years. Once again, Italy remaind the lowest, however, Sweden stand top at over 63 years.