Lithuania has seen over 300,000 requests to withdraw from pension savings, representing about 21% of residents, with a significant drop in requests following an initial surge.
In January 2026, Lithuania received approximately 300,000 requests for withdrawals from the second tier of pension savings, which constitutes about 21% of its population of 1.45 million who are actively participating in this savings system. Most of these requests originated in the first weeks of the year, after which the number of submissions decreased significantly. According to the association representing pension funds, four out of five Lithuanians saving for their future pensions remain in the second tier, indicating a strong base of participation despite the withdrawal requests.
Vaidotas Rūkas, the head of LIPFA, noted that the dynamics of withdrawal requests have aligned with preliminary forecasts. Compared to the two initial weeks of January, the current registration of withdrawal requests has significantly decreased. This trend mirrors earlier predictions and resembles the situation in Estonia in 2021, which also experienced high initial withdrawal activity followed by stabilization.
Looking ahead, Rūkas expresses hope that Lithuania can avoid similar outcomes as Estonia, where a substantial portion of withdrawn funds was allocated to consumer spending rather than re-invested into savings. This concern highlights the importance of ensuring that withdrawal decisions do not adversely impact long-term financial stability for those intending to rely on these funds for retirement.
