A “growing proportion” of Finns over the age of 60 are retiring on a disability pension, according to the Finnish Centre for Pensions (ETK).

Each year, more than 17,000 Finns retire on a disability pension, and in 2025, this figure stood at 17,650. According to statistics from ETK, the number of new disability pensions increased by 1 per cent last year.

In 2025, 7,200 people who retired on disability pension were aged 60 or over, which is more than 4 per cent higher than in 2024. In 2020, around 31 per cent of new disability pensions were granted to people aged 60 or over. In 2025, their share had increased to 41 per cent.

“This trend is also influenced by the upper age limit for disability pensions, which has been raised by three months each year in line with the rising old-age retirement age,” ETK statistics planner, Joonas Hautamäki, explained.

The most common cause of disability among older members of the workforce is musculoskeletal disorders.

Across all age groups, the causes of disability have remained the same as in previous years.

“Last year, around one in three disability pensions were granted because of musculoskeletal disorders. Less than one in three disability pensions were granted because of mental disorders,” Hautamäki said.

However, women are more likely than men to retire on a disability pension due to mental disorders.

Despite the increase in take-up of the over 60s, ETK found that the risk of disability for working-age Finns between 25 and 65 has decreased.

For example, in 2025, the incidence of disability among 25-65 year-olds averaged 4.9 per million, compared to 6.3 per million in 2020.

However, ETK said measuring this risk among young people is more difficult.
ETK development manager, Jari Kanni, explained: “Disability among young adults is a problem that is not fully visible in earnings-related pension statistics. Many young people end up disabled before their working life has even begun.”

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