Australia has ranked third in Mercer's global pension index with a score of 77.9, following Denmark at 80.5 and the Netherlands at 80.1.
However, the country's overall score had dropped 1.7 points since 2015, primarily due to a reduction in the net replacement rate.
The index found Australia's pension adequacy dropped from 81.2 in 2015 to 76 in 2016, its sustainability increased from 72.1 to 74.1, and integrity dropped from 87.6 to 86.1.
Mercer said the score for Australia's system could be increased by:
Despite the high ranking, Australia was not the top country for any indicator with the Netherlands claiming the top spot for adequacy, Denmark for sustainability, and Finland for integrity.
Introducing reforms for strengthening simpler and faster claims handling and better servicing for First Nations members are critical priorities, according to the Super Members Council.
The Commonwealth Bank has warned that uncapped superannuation concessions may be “unsustainable” and has called for the introduction of a superannuation cap.
Superannuation funds have posted another year of strong returns, but this time, the gains weren’t powered solely by Silicon Valley.
Australia’s $4.1 trillion superannuation system is doing more than funding retirements – it’s quietly fuelling the nation’s productivity, lifting GDP, and adding thousands to workers’ pay packets, according to new analysis from the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA).