New Report Highlights Stark Regional Disparities in German Pension Payments

Men in North Rhine-Westphalia and Saarland receive the highest pensions, while eastern states like Thüringen and Sachsen-Anhalt remain at the bottom of the rankings.

The 2024 Rentenatlas reveals that men in North Rhine-Westphalia and Saarland receive the highest average pensions, at €1,923 and €1,920 respectively, over €100 above the national average for men.
Pensions for women remain significantly lower than those for men, with the national average for women at €1,394 compared to €1,809 for men after 35 contribution years.
Eastern German states such as Thüringen (€1,509) and Sachsen-Anhalt (€1,515) report the lowest average pensions, reflecting historical income disparities.
The report attributes higher pensions in NRW and Saarland to well-paying mining jobs in past decades, which are now reflected in retirement benefits.
Despite a growing number of pension payments, contribution rates have remained stable for over 20 years due to increased workforce participation by women, older workers, and immigration.