Average pension in Germany in 2026

Actual average pension in Germany

The average pension in Germany depends on the type of pension. In the state pension system there are several main types of payments, and the amounts are different.

The three main types of pensions are:

• old-age pension (Altersrente) — the most common type;
• disability pension (Erwerbsminderungsrente) — if a person can no longer work because of health reasons;
• survivor’s pension (Witwen- / Witwerrente) — for widows and widowers.

When people talk about the average pension, they usually mean the old-age pension. Most pensioners receive this type.

According to the latest official data ¹ as of 31 December 2024, the average monthly old-age pension in Germany is 1,153.96 euros net per month. Disability and survivor’s pensions are usually lower.

The following table shows the average pension amounts in Germany for different types of pensions. The amounts shown are net pensions, which means this is what pensioners actually receive after taxes and contributions have been deducted.

Table: Average pension in Germany as of 31 December 2024

Average pension for men and women

The average pension for men in Germany is noticeably higher than for women. This is not because of different calculation rules, but because men and women have different work histories.

On average, men receive a pension that is 47.2% higher than women. So, the average monthly pension for men is 1,405.36 € euros, while for women it is 954.84 € euros.

Why is there a difference?

• women more often work part-time;
• many women have career breaks to look after children;
• women usually earn less on average;
• in older generations, many women did not work full-time at all.

The size of the pension depends directly on how many years you have worked and your official salary, so these factors have a big impact on the final amount.

It is important to note that among younger people, the gap is slowly getting smaller, as more women now work full-time and have more stable insurance records.

What is the standard pension (Standardrente)?

The media often discuss the size of the average pension in Germany, but this figure is very different from the actual average pension paid out, which we showed above. This is because they often talk about the standard pension.

The standard pension (Standardrente) is a calculated, theoretical amount. It shows what a person would get if they worked for 45 years, always earned the average salary in Germany, and always paid their contributions. So it is not the real average pension or a guaranteed payment. It is just a model example used for comparisons and calculations.

If someone meets all the conditions for a standard pension, they would get 45 pension points (one for each year with an average salary). The amount of the standard pension is then calculated using the current value of a pension point, which is 40.79 €.

According to the latest official data ² as of 1 July 2025, the calculated standard gross pension in Germany is 1,835.55 € per month.

It is important to understand that most people actually receive less than the standard pension, because not everyone has 45 years of work, salaries are often lower than average, and there are usually breaks in employment. Also, the standard pension figure is a gross amount, so taxes and social contributions are still deducted from it. So the standard pension is just a reference point for calculations and analysis, not a typical amount that most people receive. Read more about the minimum pension at this link.

Gross and net pensions: how much do you actually get?

The gross pension is the amount before any deductions. This is often shown in calculations and official examples.

The net pension is what you actually get paid into your bank account. The following are deducted from the gross amount:

• health insurance (Krankenversicherung);
• long-term care insurance (Pflegeversicherung);
• income tax, if your income is high enough.

This means that the difference between gross and net can be about 10–15% or even more, depending on your situation. So when comparing pensions, it’s important to know whether you are looking at amounts before or after deductions.

Is it possible to live on the average pension?

Whether you can live on the average pension depends on your personal situation. If a pensioner has no loans to pay, pays low rent, and does not have big extra expenses, the average pension may be enough for basic needs. But in big cities where rents are high, even the average pension might not be enough. This is especially true for people living alone who pay all their rent themselves.

You should also remember that the standard pension is just a statistical figure. Many people get less than this standard amount, so they often need extra help, extra income or social assistance for pensioners.

This is why in Germany, besides the state pension, other savings are very important — such as company pensions, private pensions, or personal savings.