The average age at which people retired last year was 65 years and eight months, which is almost one year younger than the state pension age, national statistics agency CBS said on Monday.

In total, half the 84,000 people who quit work were younger than 66 years and seven months, when the state pension kicks in. The age at which pensioners can claim AOW was 65 until 2013 but has been rising steadily since then.

Civil servants were most likely to retire early – with an average age of 65 years and one month, followed by healthcare workers and teachers. People working in farming and fishing were least likely to retire ahead of time.

The difference in retirement age between sectors is also shrinking, the CBS said. In 2006, the difference was four years but this has now gone down to 1.5 years.

People over the age of 45 are also now more willing to say they will work well into their 60s, but shorter working weeks are a popular option, the CBS found.

The state pension age has been frozen for the past two years but is due to rise by two months in 2023 and a further three months in 2024, following increases in life expectancy.