The Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) in Wiesbaden has released its 2024 findings on income and living conditions (EU-SILC), painting a detailed picture of retirement income across Germany. The survey encompassed 16.3 million pensioners and retirees aged 65 and over, revealing significant disparities in net monthly equivalent income, persistent gender differences, and a growing reliance on state support.
The data reveals a stark division in the financial means available to older Germans. For one in five individuals in retirement (20%), the maximum net income available per month is €1,400. Another fifth of retirees aged 65 and over dispose of between €1,400 and approximately €1,790 per month. In contrast, the 20% of older persons with the highest incomes have more than €2,870 net at their disposal each month.
When looking at the median income, which serves as a central benchmark, the findings highlight a continuing gap between retirees and the general working-age population. The median net equivalent income for persons aged 65 and over in retirement was €1,990 per month in 2024. This figure is notably lower than the median net equivalent income for the total population, which stood at approximately €2,300 per month.
The number of persons in retirement aged 65 and over has been increasing, and so has their average income. The average monthly income for this group was around €1,820 in 2021 and saw an increase of 9% by 2024. For the general population, however, the median income rose slightly faster during the same period, showing an 11% increase (from €2,080 in 2021).
A significant factor contributing to income inequality in retirement is the persistent difference between men's and women's pension earnings, known as the Gender Pension Gap. In 2024, the average gross retirement income for women was approximately €1,720 per month, which was about one-quarter lower than that of men, who averaged around €2,320.
This gap, which accounts for old-age pensions, survivors' pensions, and private pension plans, measured 25.8% in 2024. While still substantial, this figure has narrowed somewhat in recent years, decreasing from 29.8% in 2021, primarily due to the stronger increase in retirement income for women. The report highlights that the primary reason for this gender-specific gap remains the lower employment rate of women throughout their working lives. Furthermore, when excluding income derived from a spouse's work (such as survivors' pensions), the gap becomes even wider, measuring 36.9% in 2024, down from 41.0% in 2021.
For households consisting exclusively of retirees, pensions and retirement benefits serve as the overwhelming source of funds, accounting for an average of 92% of income in 2024. The remaining funds were derived from secondary sources: five percent came from income from assets, two percent from employment, and only one percent from transfer payments, such as basic old-age security.
Despite the high percentage of income coming from pensions, a growing number of retirees find themselves unable to cover their living expenses and rely on state support. Nearly 739,000 people received Basic Old-Age Security at the end of 2024, meaning they could not support themselves from their own income or assets. This figure represents a notable increase, rising by 7.1% compared to the previous year and a significant 31% compared to 2020.
This trend has also caused the proportion of the eligible population receiving this benefit to rise, reaching 4.1% in 2024. The Federal Statistical Office notes that one reason for the recent sharp increase is the rise in the number of eligible Ukrainians receiving benefits.
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