Pension Atlas Germany
Why the pensions in the east are 190 euros higher
The catch -up process for pensions in the east has been completed. The surprising result: the pensions are now much higher than in the West. Our interactive cards show why.
It may be surprising at first glance, but in the new federal states the old -age pensions are significantly higher than in the old. The pensions there are around 1350 euros on average, as the card below shows. In the west, the pensions reach an average of around 1160 euros, i.e. 190 euros less. The pensions in Brandenburg are highest, followed by Saxony. If you look at East Berlin alone, the pensions there are highest with an average of 1433 euros.
For a long time, the pensions in the east were lower than in the west. After reunification, a formula for the pensions had been developed, according to which the pensions should increase piece by piece with the wages, productivity and the cost of living in East Germany. Therefore, the annual pension increases were greater than in the West. This process has been completed for two years. As the current pension statistics show, the result is now higher average pensions in the federal states in the east than in the west.
At this point, our editorial team has integrated content from Datawrapper GmbH.
Due to their data protection settings, this content was not invited to protect their privacy.
The so -called pension payments have been received on the card above, i.e. what the pension fund transfers monthly. The health insurance and long -term care insurance are then deducted from this, but not the tax.
In addition to aligning the pension levels, the differences between east and west have a decisive reason: the pensions of women are much higher in the east than in the west. At the time of the GDR, childcare was more comprehensive than in the West, and also expecting women, was greater.
At this point, our editorial team has integrated content from Datawrapper GmbH.
Due to their data protection settings, this content was not invited to protect their privacy.
Pension in old age: childcare makes the difference
Conversely, there were fewer daycare centers in the old Federal Republic, and the were mostly geared towards half -day care. The upbringing of the toddlers was considered a private matter, and there was the expectation of women to take care of it solely. Many exposed to work for a long time. This is partly absorbed by the so -called mother’s pension, but not that many women worked part -time after the break in order to continue to do the majority of family work. The generations that had small children before reunification are now all retired.
Today is a bit romantic about better childcare in the GDR. But it is also clear that the facilities were 86 percent state, 12 percent company – and had a clear order “to promote the training of a socialist personality developed on all sides”, as. There was also “no right of voice or co-determination of the parents”.
If you only look at the men’s pension covers on the Germany card, then you can see that the differences are much smaller. While almost 500 euros are between the federal state with the highest and the lowest old -age pension for women, it is just under 200 for men. You can also see it from the lower color shades (all three cards are colored with the same color gradients for the pension height).
At this point, our editorial team has integrated content from Datawrapper GmbH.
Due to their data protection settings, this content was not invited to protect their privacy.
Statistical effects make the West pension appear lower
The number of insurance years in the west is significantly smaller for the Altrenters than in the east. This is due to the fact that there are more cases among Westrentners where employees from the pension fund switch to professional care systems. Then you only have pension claims for a few years, i.e. lower pensions, which presses the average pension of all pensioners. On the other hand, such supply systems in the east were in pension insurance during reunification. It is difficult to quantify how much this compares from the 190 euros again. But the references of those who are currently retiring are still significantly higher in the east than in the West.
Either way, the statutory pension does not draw the entire picture: factors such as assets, own housing, company pensions and other private retirement provisions also play a role for age. Many people in the old federal states are much better positioned in these factors. For this, the lifestyle in the new federal states, especially the rent, is significantly cheaper than in the old federal states.
More articles on the subject of pension:
The pensions become smaller again
If you take a closer look at the statistics of the new players, it is noticeable that the average pensions are already falling. This affects the men in the new federal states, as well as in Bremen, Hamburg, NRW and Saarland. In all of these federal states, the men’s pensions each decreased by more than 130 euros – compared to the total cut.
The pension height depends on how long and how much has been paid into the pension fund. After reunification, unemployment in these federal states was greater. In the east, there is also less collective bargaining in the company and that wages are still lower than in the west. By 2024, this disadvantage for employees in the east was somewhat compensated for with a deposit in the pension fund. In the meantime it is over.
If you take men and women together, however, the following applies: The people who retired in 2024, i.e. 34 years after reunification, had developed more pension on average in the east than in the West: if only around 70 euros more. The women still make the difference.
Source: Stern
