Households and families

7 March 2023 Gender pension gap: retirement income of women almost one third below that of men in 2021

In terms of both their average income and their retirement income, women are worse off than men. According to results of the survey of income and living conditions (EU-SILC) 2021, women aged 65 or over received gross retirement income of 17,814 euros per year in Germany. Men in the same age group had gross retirement income of 25,407 euros. Retirement income comprises old-age and surviving dependant's pensions as well as pensions from private old-age provision. The income reference year is the year preceding the survey. To mark the International Women's Day, the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) reports that the gender gap in retirement income, referred to as gender pension gap, amounted to 29.9%. As a result, the average retirement income of women was nearly one third lower than that of men. There are various reasons for this gap. On average, women accumulate lower pension entitlements during their working life because more women than men work in lower paid industries. In addition, more women work part-time, they take time off from work more frequently and for longer periods to do care work, and there are fewer women in executive positions.

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