2016年-世界发展银行全球_Pension_Systems_in_Sub-Saharan_Africa___Brief_Review_of_Design_Parameters_and_Key_Performance_Indicators_48页_2mb

Summary of Pension Systems in Sub-Saharan Africa

Core Content

This document provides a brief review of the design parameters and performance indicators of national and civil service pension systems in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). It serves as a resource for pension reform efforts, highlighting current trends, challenges, and international benchmarking.

Main Points

1. Overview of Mandatory National Pension Systems

• 44 countries in SSA have at least some information available on pension systems.
• 38 countries have mandatory contributory national pension schemes.
  • 31 of these are Defined Benefit (DB) systems, Pay-As-You-Go (PAYG) funded.
  • 4 countries have Provident Funds (Uganda, Swaziland, Kenya, and Gambia).
  • 2 countries have Funded Defined Contribution (FDC) systems (Malawi and Nigeria).
  • 1 country has a hybrid system (Ghana).
• 6 countries (Botswana, Eritrea, Lesotho, Namibia, South Sudan, and South Africa) do not have a mandatory national contributory pension scheme, relying instead on civil service pension schemes, occupational pension schemes, and non-contributory old age benefits.

2. Civil Service Pension Systems

• Civil service pension schemes are universal in SSA, covering all public sector workers.
• 33 countries have separate civil service pension schemes.
• 7 countries (Botswana, Lesotho, Liberia, Mauritius, Namibia, South Africa, and Swaziland) provide social pensions or means-tested/pension-tested benefits in addition to civil service pensions.
• 10 countries have integrated pension systems, covering both public and private sector workers.
  • Integration allows for better labor mobility and reduces inequities between civil service and private sector schemes.
• Civil service pension schemes are generally more mature and more expensive than national schemes, due to higher benefit generosity, longer duration, and older demographic profiles.

3. Performance of Pension Systems

Fiscal Performance

• National pension systems spend on average 0.5% of GDP.
• Low spending is attributed to:
  • A small elderly population.
  • A small share of elderly receiving pensions.
  • Immaturity of pension systems, as many were established recently.
• As systems mature, dependency rates increase, leading to higher fiscal burdens.

Elderly Coverage

• Coverage of the elderly is low in most SSA countries, with less than 10% of the labor force contributing to national schemes.
• Mauritius and Seychelles have relatively high coverage (around 63% and 54% of the labor force, respectively).
• Civil service pension schemes tend to have higher elderly coverage compared to national schemes.

4. Design Parameters

• Contribution Rates: Vary significantly across countries. Some are fully funded, others are PAYG.
• Accrual Rates: Influence replacement rates and benefit generosity.
• Wage Base: Typically includes average wages or highest wages.
• Retirement Ages: Generally lower than OECD countries, contributing to longer benefit durations.
• Indexation: Used in some systems to adjust benefits for inflation.
• Funding Models: Include PAYG, FDC, and hybrid systems.

5. Demographic Trends

• Aging populations are a growing concern in SSA, with life expectancy increasing and fertility rates decreasing.
• Projected dependency ratios are rising, indicating a greater fiscal burden in the future.
• Population over 65 is increasing, which affects pension sustainability and system design.

Key Performance Indicators

• Pension Expenditure as a Share of GDP: Low for national systems, higher for civil service.
• Elderly Coverage: Varies widely, with some countries having very low coverage.
• System Maturity: Affects fiscal sustainability and dependency rates.
• Benefit Generosity: Influenced by accrual rates, indexation, and retirement ages.
• Integration: Often recommended to improve portability and reduce inequities.

Challenges

• Low labor force coverage of national pension schemes.
• Fiscal sustainability concerns as populations age.
• Inequities between civil service and private sector pension schemes.
• Immaturity of many pension systems, leading to fiscal surpluses in the early stages.

Conclusion

The paper highlights the diverse design parameters and performance metrics of pension systems in SSA. It underscores the importance of integration, fiscal planning, and demographic awareness in reforming and sustaining these systems. Civil service schemes are more mature and costlier, while national schemes face low coverage and fiscal challenges due to demographic and structural factors.