A global survey of people's attitudes to retirement savings shows while Australians expect to spend 23 years in retirement, their money will run out after only just 10 years, leaving them on the age pension.

The funding gap, or shortfall, of 13 years is among the longest gaps of the 15 countries surveyed by HSBC for its Future of Retirement report.

Debt is preventing many Australians from planning for their retirement. Credit:Glenn Hunt

Mortgages and other debts are among the main reasons Australians say they are unable to save adequately for their retirements.

The average savings gap among the 15 countries is seven years. Australia's funding gap is the longest funding gap in Asia and the fourth-longest in the world.