Women have more financial independence than ever, with increasing numbers in charge of household finances.

But though they may excel in budgeting for the family, new research shows women still lag behind when it comes to pensions.

A study by the Future Foundation for Friends Life has exposed a gulf in understanding across the genders with men more aware of how much their pension is currently worth, how much income they will have in retirement and whether they will be able to retire early.

The survey also showed men are more likely to realise they can change how much they save and where their pension is invested.

Experts said the study suggests that women face a "rougher ride" than men over coming years. It found that 59% of women were not saving for a pension, compared to just over half (52%) of men.

Nearly two-thirds of men (65%) said they knew how much their pensions were worth, compared to only half of women (50%), while more than two-thirds (68%) of men claimed to know what their retirement income would be compared to fewer than half (49%) of women.

When it came to where their pensions were invested, 48% of men were aware, compared to just 37% of women. And 59% of men said they understood they could alter contribution levels compared to only 39% of women.

Asked whether they knew whether their pension would allow them to retire early, nearly two thirds of men (63%) claimed to know compared to just 47% of women.