Voters in Slovenia have soundly rejected plans to gradually raise the retirement age.

Unofficial results show 72 percent voted against the referendum while just 28 percent voted in favor of it.

European Union officials had urged Slovenians to support raising the minimum retirement age from 60 to 65. They say the country's aging population is putting a strain on the Slovenian economy.

Slovenian opposition leader Janez Jansa calls the referendum's defeat a no-confidence vote in the left wing government.

Parliament passed the law raising the retirement age in December. Unions and the opposition demanded it be put to a public vote.