Are DC/iDeCo and NISA Rivals or Friends? (2026 Survey) - Approx. 80% of DC/iDeCo Users Positive About NISA

The Sumitomo Mitsui Trust, Mirai Lab for Our Assets, established by Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank, Limited, conducted a survey of 10,000 individuals aged 18 to 69 across Japan in January 2026. The survey analyzed trends in asset formation and the use of tax-advantaged systems like Defined Contribution pensions (DC) and NISA.

**Key Points:** - Roughly 1 in 4 people use tax-advantaged systems (Corporate DC/iDeCo, NISA). - About 60% of DC users also use NISA; this rises to about 80% when including those intending to use it. - Over half of young NISA users are also interested in iDeCo.

**1. Roughly 60% of People are Engaged in Asset Formation** According to the survey, 43.3% of respondents said they are "not doing anything for asset formation," which conversely means 56.7% are engaged in some form of it. The most common methods were Japanese Yen savings (44.2%), followed by investment trusts (16.3%) and stock investments (12.5%).

**2. Roughly 1 in 4 Use Tax-Advantaged Systems** The proportion of people using NISA or DC systems was 27.0%. By system, NISA users accounted for 22.3% and DC users for 13.5%, indicating NISA is relatively more popular. 8.7% of all respondents use both systems. An analysis by income shows that as annual income increases, the rate of using both systems rises significantly, with over 30% of those earning ¥10 million or more using both. DC usage, in particular, markedly increases with income. A three-year comparison from 2024 shows a decrease in non-users across many age groups, with the proportion of those using both DC and NISA increasing in all age groups except for those in their 60s.

**3. About 80% of DC Users are Positive About NISA** While only 15.7% of non-DC participants use NISA, 64.7% of DC participants (either corporate DC or iDeCo) also use NISA. This rate is even higher, at around 70%, for users of iDeCo, which requires proactive enrollment. Among corporate DC-only participants, NISA usage was highest for those aged 18-29. For iDeCo-only participants, it was highest among those in their 30s.

**4. Over Half of Young NISA Users Interested in iDeCo** The iDeCo usage rate among NISA users is 25.8%, more than ten times higher than the 2.4% rate for non-NISA users. It became clear that, especially among younger generations, over half of NISA users are interested in iDeCo.