Pensions and other post-retirement benefits

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

Employee Benefits [Abstract]

Pensions and other post-retirement benefits

Pensions and other post-retirement benefits

Most group companies have pension plans, the forms and benefits of which vary with conditions and practices in the countries concerned. Pension benefits may be provided through defined contribution plans (money purchase schemes) or defined benefit plans (final salary and other types of schemes with committed pension benefit payments). For defined contribution plans, retirement benefits are determined by the value of funds arising from contributions paid in respect of each employee. For defined benefit plans, retirement benefits are based on such factors as an employee’s pensionable salary and length of service. Defined benefit plans may be funded or unfunded. The assets of funded plans are generally held in separately administered trusts.

For information on significant estimates and judgements made in relation to accounting for these plans see Pensions and other post-retirement benefits in Note 1.

The pension obligation in the UK consists primarily of a funded final salary pension plan under which retired employees draw the majority of their benefit as an annuity. This pension plan is governed by a corporate trustee whose board is composed of four member-nominated directors, four company-nominated directors, one independent director and one independent chair nominated by the company. The trustee board is required by law to act in the best interests of the plan participants and is responsible for setting certain policies, such as investment policies of the plan. This plan was closed to new joiners in 2010 and was closed to future accrual on 30 June 2021.

Employees in the UK are eligible for membership of a defined contribution plan.

In the US, all pension benefits now accrue under a cash balance formula. Benefits previously accrued under final salary formulas are legally protected. Retiring US employees typically take their pension benefit in the form of a lump sum payment upon retirement. The plan is funded and its assets are overseen by a fiduciary Investment Committee. During 2023 the committee was composed of six bp employees appointed by the president of bp Corporation North America Inc. (the appointing officer). The Investment Committee is required by law to act in the best interests of the plan participants and is responsible for setting certain policies, such as the investment policies of the plan. US employees are also eligible to participate in a defined contribution (401k) plan in which employee contributions are matched with company contributions.

In the US, group companies also provide post-retirement healthcare to eligible retired employees and their dependants (and, in certain legacy cases, life insurance coverage); the entitlement to these benefits is based on the date of hire, the employee remaining in service until a specified age and completion of a minimum period of service.

In the Eurozone, there are defined benefit pension plans in Germany, France, the Netherlands and other countries. In Germany and France, the majority of the pensions are unfunded. In Germany, the group’s largest Eurozone plan, employees receive a pension and also have a choice to supplement their core pension through salary sacrifice. For employees who joined since 2002, the core pension benefit is a career average plan with retirement benefits based on such factors as an employee’s pensionable salary and length of service. The returns on the notional contributions made by both the company and employees are based on the interest rate which is set out in German tax law. Retired German employees take their pension benefit typically in the form of an annuity. The German plans are governed by legal agreements between bp and the works council or between bp and the trade union.

The level of contributions to funded defined benefit plans is the amount needed to provide adequate funds to meet pension obligations as they fall due. During 2023 the aggregate level of contributions was $42 million (2022 $74 million and 2021 $274 million). The aggregate level of contributions in 2024 is expected to be approximately $150 million and includes contributions in all countries that we expect to be required to make contributions by law or under contractual agreements, as well as an allowance for discretionary funding.

For the primary UK plan there is a funding agreement between the group and the trustee. On a three year cycle a schedule of contributions is agreed covering the next five years. The schedule of contributions is next scheduled to be updated after the 31 December 2023 formal actuarial valuation. No contractually committed funding was due at 31 December 2023. The closure of the defined benefit plan to future accrual reduces the need for funding and the plan's expected future funding volatility.

The surplus relating to the primary UK pension plan is recognized on the balance sheet on the basis that the company is entitled to a refund of any remaining assets once all members have left the plan.

Minimum pension funding in the US is determined by legislation and is supplemented by discretionary contributions. No contributions were made into the US pension plan in 2023 and no statutory funding requirement is expected in the next 12 months.

The surplus relating to the US pension fund is recognized on the balance sheet on the basis that economic benefit can be gained from the surplus through a reduction in future contributions.

There was no minimum funding requirement for the US plan, and no significant minimum funding requirements in other countries at 31 December 2023.

The obligation and cost of providing pensions and other post-retirement benefits is assessed annually using the projected unit credit method. The date of the most recent actuarial review was 31 December 2023. The UK plans are subject to a formal actuarial valuation every three years; valuations are required more frequently in many other countries. The most recent formal actuarial valuation of the primary UK pension plan was as at 31 December 2020; the 31 December 2023 valuation is currently underway. A valuation of the US plan and largest Eurozone plans are carried out annually.

24. Pensions and other post-retirement benefits – continued

The material financial assumptions used to estimate the benefit obligations of the various plans are set out below. The assumptions are reviewed by management at the end of each year and are used to evaluate the accrued benefit obligation at 31 December and pension expense for the following year.

									%
Financial assumptions used to determine benefit obligationa			UK			US			Eurozone
	2023	2022	2021	2023	2022	2021	2023	2022	2021
Discount rate for plan liabilities	4.8	5.0	1.8	5.0	5.2	2.7	3.6	4.2	1.3
Rate of increase for pensions in payment	2.8	2.9	3.2	—	—	—	2.1	1.8	1.4
Rate of increase in deferred pensions	2.8	2.9	3.2	—	—	—	0.7	0.6	0.4
Inflation for plan liabilities	3.0	3.1	3.3	2.0	2.0	2.1	2.4	2.1	1.6
									%
Financial assumptions used to determine benefit expense			UK			US			Eurozone
	2023	2022	2021	2023	2022	2021	2023	2022	2021
Discount rate for plan service costb	N/A	N/A	1.5	5.2	2.8	2.4	4.3	1.7	1.4
Discount rate for plan other finance expensec	5.0	1.8	1.7	5.2	2.7	2.2	4.2	1.3	1.0
Inflation for plan service costb	N/A	N/A	2.8	2.0	2.1	1.7	2.1	1.6	1.5

aSalary growth has not been a material financial assumption for the Group following the closure of the primary pension plan to future accrual in 2021.

bUK discount rate and inflation rate assumptions are not significant in determining the benefit expense following the closure of the primary UK plan to future accrual in 2021. Rates for the remaining small worldwide plan administered/reported through the UK are 5.0% (2022 2.5%) and 1.9% (2022 2.2%) respectively.

cThe discount rate for plan other finance expense in 2021 was 1.4% for the primary UK plan for the period before the plan closed to future accrual on 30th June 2021 and 1.9% thereafter.

The discount rate assumptions are based on third-party AA corporate bond indices and for our largest plans in the UK, US and the Eurozone we use yields that reflect the maturity profile of the expected benefit payments. The inflation rate assumptions for our UK and US plans are based on the difference between the yields on index-linked and fixed-interest long-term government bonds. In other countries, including the Eurozone, we use this approach, or advice from the local actuary depending on the information available. The inflation assumptions are used to determine the rate of increase for pensions in payment and the rate of increase in deferred pensions where there is such an increase.

In addition to the financial assumptions, we regularly review the demographic and mortality assumptions. The mortality assumptions reflect best practice in the countries in which we provide pensions and have been chosen with regard to applicable published tables adjusted where appropriate to reflect the experience of the group and an extrapolation of past longevity improvements into the future. bp’s most substantial pension liabilities are in the UK, the US and the Eurozone where our mortality assumptions are as follows:

									Years
Mortality assumptions			UK			US			Eurozone
	2023	2022	2021	2023	2022	2021	2023	2022	2021
Life expectancy at age 60 for a male currently aged 60	27.4	26.9	26.9	25.0	25.0	24.9	26.1	26.0	25.8
Life expectancy at age 60 for a male currently aged 40	29.2	28.5	28.4	26.7	26.6	26.6	28.6	28.5	28.3
Life expectancy at age 60 for a female currently aged 60	29.2	28.8	28.9	28.1	28.0	27.9	29.3	29.3	29.1
Life expectancy at age 60 for a female currently aged 40	30.6	30.6	30.5	29.6	29.5	29.4	31.6	31.4	31.2

Pension plan assets are generally held in trusts, the primary objective of which is to accumulate assets sufficient to meet the obligations of the plans. The assets of the trusts are invested in a manner consistent with fiduciary obligations and principles that reflect current practices in portfolio management.

A proportion of the assets are held in equities, which are expected to generate a higher level of return over the long term, with an acceptable level of risk. In order to provide reasonable assurance that no single security or type of security has an unwarranted impact on the total portfolio, the investment portfolios are highly diversified.

The trustee’s long-term investment objective for the primary UK plan as it matures is to invest in assets whose value changes in the same way as the plan liabilities, in order to reduce the level of funding risk. To move towards this objective, the UK plan uses a liability driven investment (LDI) approach for part of the portfolio, investing primarily in government bonds to achieve this matching effect for the most significant plan liability assumptions of interest rate and inflation rate. This is partly funded by short-term sale and repurchase agreements, whereby the plan borrows money using existing bonds as security and which will be bought back at a specified price at an agreed future date. The funds raised are used to invest in further bonds to increase the proportion of assets which match the plan liabilities. The borrowings are shown separately in the analysis of pension plan assets in the table below.

For the primary UK pension plan there is an agreement with the trustee to increase the proportion of assets with liability matching characteristics over time primarily by reducing the proportion of plan assets held as equities and increasing the proportion held as bonds. There is a similar agreement in place for the primary US plan. During 2023, the asset allocation policy of the UK plan switched 2% of plan assets from equities to bonds (2022 2%). The US asset allocation policy remained consistent.

The current asset allocation policy for the major plans at 31 December 2023 was as follows:

	UK	US
Asset category	%	%
Total equity (including private equity)	8	19
Bonds/cash (including LDI)	85	81
Property/real estate	7	—

24. Pensions and other post-retirement benefits – continued

The amounts invested under the LDI programme by the primary UK pension plan as at 31 December 2023 were $6,215 million (2022 $3,981 million) of government-issued nominal bonds and $13,177 million (2022 $11,945 million) of index-linked bonds.

Some of the group’s pension plans in the Eurozone and other countries use derivative financial instruments as part of their asset mix to manage the level of risk. The fair value of these instruments is included in other assets in the table below.

The group’s main pension plans do not invest directly in either securities or property/real estate of the company or of any subsidiary.

The fair values of the various categories of assets held by the defined benefit plans at 31 December are presented in the table below, including the effects of derivative financial instruments. Movements in the fair value of plan assets during the year are shown in detail in the table on page 216.

					$ million
	UKa	USb	Eurozone	Other	Total
Fair value of pension plan assets
At 31 December 2023
Listed equities – developed markets	862	97	333	232	1,524
– emerging markets	28	12	51	66	157
Private equityc	2,022	1,014	—	2	3,038
Government issued nominal bondsd	6,285	1,457	746	285	8,773
Government issued index-linked bondsd	13,177	—	88	—	13,265
Corporate bondsd	6,144	2,802	605	166	9,717
Propertye	2,437	—	92	17	2,546
Cash	453	59	82	85	679
Otherf	1,123	33	55	391	1,602
Debt (repurchase agreements) used to fund liability driven investments	(6,485)	—	—	—	(6,485)
	26,046	5,474	2,052	1,244	34,816
At 31 December 2022
Listed equities – developed markets	1,252	127	299	213	1,891
– emerging markets	117	17	48	71	253
Private equityc	2,715	1,126	—	2	3,843
Government issued nominal bondsd	4,039	1,370	682	263	6,354
Government issued index-linked bondsd	11,945	—	79	—	12,024
Corporate bondsd	6,317	2,569	563	146	9,595
Propertye	2,297	—	89	18	2,404
Cash	567	175	61	116	919
Otherf	1,088	33	56	357	1,534
Debt (repurchase agreements) used to fund liability driven investments	(5,290)	—	—	—	(5,290)
	25,047	5,417	1,877	1,186	33,527
At 31 December 2021
Listed equities – developed markets	2,964	340	473	290	4,067
– emerging markets	252	45	67	76	440
Private equityc	3,233	1,537	—	3	4,773
Government issued nominal bondsd	7,491	2,606	974	432	11,503
Government issued index-linked bondsd	24,516	—	100	—	24,616
Corporate bondsd	10,128	2,475	689	498	13,790
Propertye	2,714	—	110	22	2,846
Cash	1,136	116	54	69	1,375
Other	1,133	54	70	22	1,279
Debt (repurchase agreements) used to fund liability driven investments	(10,723)	—	—	—	(10,723)
	42,844	7,173	2,537	1,412	53,966

aBonds held by the UK pension plans are denominated in sterling or hedged back to sterling to minimize foreign currency exposure. Property held by the UK pension plans is in the United Kingdom.

bBonds held by the US pension plans are denominated in US dollars or hedged back to USD to minimize foreign currency exposure.

cPrivate equity is valued at fair value based on the most recent transaction price or third-party net asset, revenue or earnings based valuations that generally result in the use of significant unobservable inputs.

dBonds held by pension plans are predominantly valued using observable market data based inputs other than quoted market prices in active markets.

eProperties are valued based on an analysis of recent market transactions supported by market knowledge derived from third-party professional valuers that generally result in the use of significant unobservable inputs.

fOther includes insurance policies arising from annuity buy-in in Canada amounting to $374 million.

24. Pensions and other post-retirement benefits – continued

					$ million
					2023
	UK	US	Eurozone	Other	Total
Analysis of the amount charged to profit or loss
Current service costa	44	156	47	21	268
Past service costb	4	—	5	(2)	7
Settlementb	—	—	—	3	3
Operating charge (credit) relating to defined benefit plans	48	156	52	22	278
Payments to defined contribution plans	132	158	7	36	333
Total operating charge (credit)	180	314	59	58	611
Interest income on plan assetsa	(1,259)	(274)	(78)	(56)	(1,667)
Interest on plan liabilities	869	297	194	66	1,426
Other finance (income) expense	(390)	23	116	10	(241)
Analysis of the amount recognized in other comprehensive income
Actual asset return less interest income on plan assets	(677)	45	82	28	(522)
Change in financial assumptions underlying the present value of the plan liabilities	(649)	28	(508)	(24)	(1,153)
Change in demographic assumptions underlying the present value of the plan liabilities	(230)	(5)	8	—	(227)
Experience gains and losses arising on the plan liabilities	(320)	45	(84)	(1)	(360)
Remeasurements recognized in other comprehensive income	(1,876)	113	(502)	3	(2,262)
Movements in benefit obligation during the year
Benefit obligation at 1 January	17,480	5,880	4,799	1,343	29,502
Exchange adjustments	1,056	—	215	30	1,301
Operating charge relating to defined benefit plans	48	156	52	22	278
Interest cost	869	297	194	66	1,426
Contributions by plan participants	6	—	2	5	13
Benefit payments (funded plans)c	(1,071)	(262)	(79)	(81)	(1,493)
Benefit payments (unfunded plans)c	(8)	(166)	(230)	(25)	(429)
Reclassified as assets held for sale	—	—	—	(14)	(14)
Remeasurements	1,199	(68)	584	25	1,740
Benefit obligation at 31 Decembera d	19,579	5,837	5,537	1,371	32,324
Movements in fair value of plan assets during the year
Fair value of plan assets at 1 January	25,047	5,417	1,877	1,186	33,527
Exchange adjustments	1,462	—	81	39	1,582
Interest income on plan assetsa e	1,259	274	78	56	1,667
Contributions by plan participants	6	—	2	5	13
Contributions by employers (funded plans)	20	—	11	11	42
Benefit payments (funded plans)c	(1,071)	(262)	(79)	(81)	(1,493)
Remeasurementse	(677)	45	82	28	(522)
Fair value of plan assets at 31 Decemberf	26,046	5,474	2,052	1,244	34,816
Surplus (deficit) at 31 December	6,467	(363)	(3,485)	(127)	2,492
Represented by
Asset recognized	6,631	1,133	120	64	7,948
Liability recognized	(164)	(1,496)	(3,605)	(191)	(5,456)
	6,467	(363)	(3,485)	(127)	2,492
The surplus (deficit) may be analysed between funded and unfunded plans as follows
Funded	6,631	1,133	104	29	7,897
Unfunded	(164)	(1,496)	(3,589)	(156)	(5,405)
	6,467	(363)	(3,485)	(127)	2,492
The defined benefit obligation may be analysed between funded and unfunded plans as follows
Funded	(19,415)	(4,341)	(1,948)	(1,215)	(26,919)
Unfunded	(164)	(1,496)	(3,589)	(156)	(5,405)
	(19,579)	(5,837)	(5,537)	(1,371)	(32,324)

aThe costs of managing plan investments are offset against the investment return, the costs of administering pension plan benefits are generally included in current service cost and the costs of administering other post-retirement benefit plans are included in the benefit obligation. Following the closure of the primary UK pension plan to future accrual, current service cost in the UK consists of $34 million of costs of administering that plan and $10 million of current service cost from the remaining small worldwide plans administered and reported through the UK.

bPast service costs predominantly represent largely offsetting income and costs due to the removal of some benefits for members in Turkish plans and their replacement with new arrangements administered and reported through the UK. There was also a $5 million past service cost in France relating to statutory retirement age changes. Settlements represent charges for special termination benefits arising as a result of early retirements.

cThe benefit payments amount shown above comprises $1,858 million benefits and $10 million settlements, plus $54 million of plan expenses incurred in the administration of the benefit.

dThe benefit obligation for the US is made up of $4,527 million for pension liabilities and $1,310 million for other post-retirement benefit liabilities (which are unfunded and are primarily retiree medical liabilities). The benefit obligation for the Eurozone includes $3,393 million for pension liabilities in Germany which is largely unfunded.

eThe actual return on plan assets is made up of the sum of the interest income on plan assets and the remeasurement of plan assets as disclosed above.

fThe fair value of plan assets includes borrowings related to the LDI programme as described on page 214.

24. Pensions and other post-retirement benefits – continued

					$ million
					2022
	UK	US	Eurozone	Other	Total
Analysis of the amount charged to profit or loss
Current service costa	41	219	87	25	372
Past service costb	23	—	(1)	(21)	1
Settlementb	(8)	—	—	(4)	(12)
Operating charge (credit) relating to defined benefit plans	56	219	86	—	361
Payments to defined contribution plans	110	132	6	36	284
Total operating charge (credit)	166	351	92	36	645
Interest income on plan assetsa	(694)	(189)	(34)	(44)	(961)
Interest on plan liabilities	529	217	85	61	892
Other finance (income) expense	(165)	28	51	17	(69)
Analysis of the amount recognized in other comprehensive income
Actual asset return less interest income on plan assets	(12,955)	(1,581)	(507)	(151)	(15,194)
Change in financial assumptions underlying the present value of the plan liabilities	11,531	2,195	1,903	221	15,850
Change in demographic assumptions underlying the present value of the plan liabilities	47	—	(14)	(15)	18
Experience gains and losses arising on the plan liabilities	(146)	(15)	(159)	(14)	(334)
Remeasurements recognized in other comprehensive income	(1,523)	599	1,223	41	340
Movements in benefit obligation during the year
Benefit obligation at 1 January	32,834	8,273	7,108	1,652	49,867
Exchange adjustments	(3,224)	—	(443)	(68)	(3,735)
Operating charge relating to defined benefit plans	56	219	86	—	361
Interest cost	529	217	85	61	892
Contributions by plan participants	9	—	2	4	15
Benefit payments (funded plans)c	(1,211)	(364)	(78)	(79)	(1,732)
Benefit payments (unfunded plans)c	(7)	(285)	(229)	(23)	(544)
Reclassified as assets held for sale	—	—	—	(12)	(12)
Disposals	(74)	—	(2)	—	(76)
Remeasurements	(11,432)	(2,180)	(1,730)	(192)	(15,534)
Benefit obligation at 31 Decembera d	17,480	5,880	4,799	1,343	29,502
Movements in fair value of plan assets during the year
Fair value of plan assets at 1 January	42,844	7,173	2,537	1,412	53,966
Exchange adjustments	(4,258)	—	(156)	(52)	(4,466)
Interest income on plan assetsa e	694	189	34	44	961
Contributions by plan participants	9	—	2	4	15
Contributions by employers (funded plans)	10	—	45	19	74
Benefit payments (funded plans)c	(1,211)	(364)	(78)	(79)	(1,732)
Reclassified as assets held for sale	—	—	—	(11)	(11)
Disposals	(86)	—	—	—	(86)
Remeasurementse	(12,955)	(1,581)	(507)	(151)	(15,194)
Fair value of plan assets at 31 Decemberf	25,047	5,417	1,877	1,186	33,527
Surplus (deficit) at 31 December	7,567	(463)	(2,922)	(157)	4,025
Represented by
Asset recognized	7,716	1,227	256	70	9,269
Liability recognized	(149)	(1,690)	(3,178)	(227)	(5,244)
	7,567	(463)	(2,922)	(157)	4,025
The surplus (deficit) may be analysed between funded and unfunded plans as follows
Funded	7,716	1,227	238	39	9,220
Unfunded	(149)	(1,690)	(3,160)	(196)	(5,195)
	7,567	(463)	(2,922)	(157)	4,025
The defined benefit obligation may be analysed between funded and unfunded plans as follows
Funded	(17,331)	(4,190)	(1,639)	(1,147)	(24,307)
Unfunded	(149)	(1,690)	(3,160)	(196)	(5,195)
	(17,480)	(5,880)	(4,799)	(1,343)	(29,502)

aThe costs of managing plan investments are offset against the investment return, the costs of administering pension plan benefits are generally included in current service cost and the costs of administering other post-retirement benefit plans are included in the benefit obligation. Following the closure of the primary UK pension plan to future accrual, current service cost in the UK consists of $30 million of costs of administering that plan and $11 million of current service cost from the remaining small worldwide plans administered and reported through the UK.

bPast service costs predominantly represent largely offsetting income and costs due to the removal of some benefits for members in Turkish plans and their replacement with new arrangements administered and reported through the UK. Settlements reflect costs associated with buyouts in Canada and in certain other small worldwide plans administered and reported through the UK.

cThe benefit payments amount shown above comprises $2,217 million benefits and $8 million settlements, plus $51 million of plan expenses incurred in the administration of the benefit.

dThe benefit obligation for the US is made up of $4,411 million for pension liabilities and $1,469 million for other post-retirement benefit liabilities (which are unfunded and are primarily retiree medical liabilities). The benefit obligation for the Eurozone includes $2,992 million for pension liabilities in Germany which is largely unfunded.

eThe actual return on plan assets is made up of the sum of the interest income on plan assets and the remeasurement of plan assets as disclosed above.

fThe fair value of plan assets includes borrowings related to the LDI programme as described on page 214.

24. Pensions and other post-retirement benefits – continued

					$ million
					2021
	UK	US	Eurozone	Other	Total
Analysis of the amount charged to profit or loss
Current service costa	154	246	105	31	536
Past service costb	(302)	—	(27)	2	(327)
Settlementb	—	—	(4)	(1)	(5)
Operating charge (credit) relating to defined benefit plans	(148)	246	74	32	204
Payments to defined contribution plans	76	136	7	36	255
Total operating charge (credit)	(72)	382	81	68	459
Interest income on plan assetsa	(684)	(150)	(30)	(40)	(904)
Interest on plan liabilities	559	209	78	56	902
Other finance (income) expense	(125)	59	48	16	(2)
Analysis of the amount recognized in other comprehensive income
Actual asset return less interest income on plan assets	2,440	749	12	25	3,226
Change in financial assumptions underlying the present value of the plan liabilities	(100)	777	233	97	1,007
Change in demographic assumptions underlying the present value of the plan liabilities	66	(41)	(15)	1	11
Experience gains and losses arising on the plan liabilities	7	173	(11)	3	172
Remeasurements recognized in other comprehensive income	2,413	1,658	219	126	4,416

aThe costs of managing plan investments are offset against the investment return, the costs of administering pension plan benefits are generally included in current service cost and the costs of administering other post-retirement benefit plans are included in the benefit obligation.

bThe past service credit in the UK represents curtailment gains arising from the closure of the primary pension plan in the UK to future accrual. For active members of that plan on 30 June 2021, benefits payable are now linked to salary as at that date. Past service credits and settlements in the Eurozone include $18 million of curtailments and settlements due to restructuring initiatives. Remaining past service cost and settlements represent charges for special termination benefits arising as a result of early retirements.

Sensitivity analysis

The discount rate, inflation and the mortality assumptions all have a significant effect on the amounts reported. A one-percentage point change, in isolation, in certain assumptions as at 31 December 2023 for the group’s pensions and other post-retirement benefit expense would have had the effects shown in the tables below. The effects shown for the expense in 2024 comprise the total of current service cost and net finance income or expense.

						$ million
					One percentage point
	UK		US		Eurozone
	Increase	Decrease	Increase	Decrease	Increase	Decrease
Discount ratea
Effect on expense in 2024	(197)	173	(40)	46	(8)	4
Effect on obligation at 31 December 2023	(2,259)	2,811	(449)	651	(608)	737
Inflation rateb
Effect on expense in 2024	89	(83)	7	(6)	34	(29)
Effect on obligation at 31 December 2023	1,872	(1,738)	41	(35)	582	(503)

aThe amounts presented reflect that the discount rate is used to determine the asset interest income as well as the interest cost on the obligation.

bThe amounts presented reflect the total impact of an inflation rate change on the assumptions for rate of increase in salaries, pensions in payment and deferred pensions.

			$ million
		One year increase
	UK	US	Eurozone
Longevity
Effect on expense in 2024	28	4	10
Effect on obligation at 31 December 2023	577	64	216

Estimated future benefit payments and the weighted average duration of defined benefit obligations

The expected benefit payments, which reflect expected future service, as appropriate, but exclude plan expenses, and the weighted average duration of the defined benefit obligations at 31 December 2023 are as follows:

					$ million
Estimated future benefit payments	UK	US	Eurozone	Other	Total
2024	1,169	474	332	88	2,063
2025	1,113	469	326	84	1,992
2026	1,126	456	318	85	1,985
2027	1,146	458	313	86	2,003
2028	1,159	441	308	86	1,994
2029 - 2033	5,958	2,204	1,454	440	10,056
					Years
Weighted average duration	12.9	9.3	12.9	11.4

Employee costs and numbers

			$ million
Employee costs	2023	2022	2021
Wages and salariesa	7,835	7,486	6,934
Social security costs	943	720	733
Share-based paymentsb	1,131	1,034	733
Pension and other post-retirement benefit costs	370	576	457
	10,279	9,816	8,857

			2023			2022			2021
Average number of employeesc	US	Non-US	Total	US	Non-US	Total	US	Non-US	Total
gas & low carbon energy	900	3,700	4,600	700	3,400	4,100	400	3,400	3,800
oil production & operations	3,100	5,500	8,600	3,000	5,700	8,700	3,100	6,000	9,100
customers & productsd	19,500	36,300	55,800	8,000	35,700	43,700	6,200	35,800	42,000
other businesses and corporate	1,400	9,000	10,400	1,300	8,500	9,800	1,400	7,700	9,100
	24,900	54,500	79,400	13,000	53,300	66,300	11,100	52,900	64,000

aIncludes termination costs of $96 million (2022 $27 million and 2021 $74 million).

bThe group provides certain employees with shares and share options as part of their remuneration packages. The majority of these share-based payment arrangements are equity-settled.

cReported to the nearest 100.

dIncludes 33,800 (2022 23,300 and 2021 21,300) service station staff.