Table (ad hoc): Pensions and average monthly pension payment in the statutory pension insurance

Pensions (number) and average monthly pension payment (in Euro) in the statutory pension insurance on the reference day 31 December. Classification: years, place of residence, pension fund institution, type of pension/sex

Shown values refer to:
Pensions: Number of pensions, Place of residence: All places of residence, Pension fund organizations: Statutory pension insurance

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Type of pension/Sex	Year (descending)
Type of pension/Sex	1992	2000	2005	2010	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020
Pensions in terms of SGB VI	19,272,927	23,144,467	24,483,745	25,012,987	25,645,679	25,661,680	25,695,222	25,814,872	25,836,009
Pensions because of diminution of ability to work by sex
Male	1,139,499	1,072,700	891,749	827,494	881,478	879,193	870,342	858,416	852,466
Female	712,643	821,333	758,018	761,835	932,056	945,720	954,477	956,842	967,821
Pensions because of old age subdivided by sex
Male	4,607,592	6,564,673	7,411,974	7,782,010	8,072,376	8,089,114	8,109,643	8,142,156	8,173,137
Female	7,234,944	8,773,307	9,518,744	9,836,778	10,057,755	10,091,137	10,137,451	10,213,522	10,282,696
Pensions because of death	5,578,249	5,912,454	5,903,260	5,804,870	5,702,014	5,656,516	5,623,309	5,643,936	5,559,889
Including: Pensions for widows	5,045,310	5,140,001	5,021,671	4,872,089	4,704,339	4,661,012	4,623,602	4,605,868	4,548,440
Including: Pensions for widowers	144,661	357,750	469,907	559,631	665,913	675,652	687,771	712,097	713,499
Including: Pensions for orphans	385,536	404,892	400,774	363,389	323,131	311,561	303,920	317,359	290,388
Informative: Pensions in terms of Art. 2 RÜG	1,820	25,424	. ¹⁾	. ¹⁾	. ¹⁾	. ¹⁾	. ¹⁾	. ¹⁾	. ¹⁾

Table was compiled on 21. May 2025 6:20 under www.gbe-bund.de

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Pensions	Number of pensions
Place of residence	All places of residence
Pension fund organizations	Statutory pension insurance

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Source(s)/Contact

Statistics on the number of retired people, German Annuity Insurance Federation (more information on

, more information on

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Data owner: German Annuity Insurance Federation

Statistics on the number of retired people

1. Basics and content of the statistics

Basics of the statistics are only the administrative processes for the current pensions and for pensions which do not come to payment because of coincidence of pensions and income (zero pensions - "Nullrenten") of all pension insurance organizations (regional organizations, the German Annuity Insurance Federation and the German pension insurance miners-railway-sea ("Deutsche Rentenversicherung Knappschaft-Bahn-See").

Because of the legal basis in effect since 1 January 1992 in the Statistics on the number of retired people two case groups must be distinguished:

pensions, which are calculated according to the regulations of Book Six of the Code of Social Law (SGB VI)

pensions, which were converted into the regulations of Book Six of the Code of Social Law (SGB VI) taking effect on 1 January 1992.

The statistical characteristics for the two case groups are different. While in case of the converted (evaluated) pensions especially the characteristics for the pension calculation are not available, these characteristics must be statistically collected in case of pension calculation according to SGB VI.

2. Realization of the statistics

All data have been taken from the insurance accounts of the pension insurance organizations.

2.1 Data collection

All data can be taken from the insurance accounts of the pension insurance organizations. In the practical realization of the data collection two types of data must be distinguished. Nearly all characteristics of the data collection are not stored for statistical purposes only, but for the purposes of pension determination and pension payment. Only a small number of figures, such as the professional group, are only collected and coded for statistical purposes.

2.2 Error checking and data transfer

The insurance organizations submit the records created to a standardized plausibility program. This - fully mechanical - program can identify any inadequacies, which can occur in manual coding.
For all records a pseudonymisation takes place at the insurance organizations. The insurance policy number of the respective insurance account is replaced by a random number. The insurance organizations transfer the pseudonymised records to the statistical reporting (Statistischem Berichtswesen) of the German Annuity Insurance Federation in Würzburg for further analysis.

2.3 Evaluation

In the specific statistics data about

pensions because of diminution of ability to work

pensions because of old age respectively

pensions because of death

are only recorded, if the pension amount is greater than zero.

Records where the pension amount has the value zero, but where personal earning points ("Entgeltpunkte") and a marking of coincidence of pensions and income or an income to be considered when calculating the pension ("Einkommensanrechnungsbetrag") are included, are reported as zero pensions ("Nullrente"). Records, which do not satisfy these requirements, are not included in the tables. Zero pensions are principally not included in the specific types of pension.

3. Specific Characteristics of the evaluation

3.1 Effects of the law change on 1 January 2001

The law on the reform of pensions because of diminution of ability to work came into effect on 1 January 2001. With the new regulations the previous pensions because of occupational disability and inability to work were no longer applicable. But if an entitlement to a pension because of occupational disability or inability to work existed on 31 December 2000, the respective claim further exists until the 65th year of life, as long as the requirements which were decisive for the grant of the benefit are met. Within this statistics the pensions because of diminution of ability to work with a start before 1 January 2001, which are paid as pensions because of occupational disability, are reported under pensions because of partial diminution of ability to work ("teilweise Erwerbsunfähigkeit"). Pensions because of diminution of ability to work with a start before 1 January 2001, which are paid as pensions because of inability to work, are included in the pensions because of full diminution of ability to work.

3.2 Pensions according to Art. 2 RÜG

The transitional law ("Übergangsrecht") according to Art. 2 RÜG expired by 31 December 1996. Thus, for cases after this date no pension claims according to Art. 2 RÜG can arise any more.

Extract from:
Deutsche Rentenversicherung Bund (DRV) (Hrsg.),
Statistik der Deutschen Rentenversicherung Rente, Berlin. ISSN 1862-9962. (only in German).
Rente, ISSN 2509-453X.

Update status: April 14, 2025

)

Definition(s)

Manual Wage Earners' Pension Insurance

X

further information on document

In terms of the statistics on those actively insured, on the rehabilitation services, on the number of retired people and on people entering retirement of the German Annuity Insurance Federation:
On 1 January 2005 the statutory pension insurances for manual workers and for salaried employees have been combined to form the general pension insurance. Starting from then no difference has been made between manual workers and salaried employees in the statutory pension insurance.
Responsible for the fulfilment of the tasks of the statutory pension insurance in the general pension insurance are the regional supporting organizations, the German Annuity Insurance Federation and German Pension Insurance miners-railway-sea.
Up to 31 December 2004 the manual wage earners' pension insurance was the statutory pension insurance of the industrial employees and of the skilled craftsmen liable to the compulsory insurance. Insurance organizations were the 22 state insurance institutions for employees as well as the railway insurance institution and the Seamen's Accident Prevention and Insurance Association (Seekasse) (for both: their field manual wage earners' pension insurance).

Miners' Pension Insurance

X

further information on document

In terms of the Statistics on those actively insured, on the rehabilitation services, on the number of retired people and on people entering retirement of the German Annuity Insurance Federation:
The miners' pension insurance is a field of the statutory pension insurance. Supporting organization of the miners' pension insurance is the German pension insurance miners-railway-sea (until 30 September 2005: federal miners' insurance (Bundesknappschaft). The miners' pension insurance is in charge of employees in mining companies and other employees according to § 133 SGB VI.
On 1 October 2005 due to an organization reform of the statutory pension insurance a consolidation of the former federal miners' insurance (Bundesknappschaft), the railway insurance institution and Seamen's Accident Prevention and Insurance Association (Seekasse) to the German pension insurance miners-railway-sea was put into effect.
The German pension insurance miners-railway-sea has also further tasks. It is also a supporting organization of the general pension insurance and as supporting organization of the center for minijobs it is responsible for the insurance of people who are insignificantly employed.

Monthly pension payment

X

further information on document

In terms of the Statistics on the number of retired people respectively of the Statistics on people entering retirement of the German Annuity Insurance Federation:
For the calculation of a monthly pension payment it is necessary to reduce the amount which is subject to health insurance/nursing care insurance contributions by the contribution share of the pension beneficiary (co-payment of the pensioner) for health insurance and starting from 1 April 2004 by the complete contribution for nursing care insurance. For compulsorily insured persons these amounts are to be paid to the health insurance/nursing care insurance together with the contribution share of the annuity insurance organization for health insurance.
Old-age pension (pension because of age)
X

further information on document

According to the statistics on the number of retired people respectively statistics on people entering retirement of the German Annunity Insurance Federation:
Upon entering a specific retirement age, persons insured can receive upon application old-age pensions (pension because of age).

Conditions of entitlement:

Standard old-age pension: it is received by persons, who have reached the normal pension age and have completed the minimum insurance period of five years. The normal pension age for persons insured, who were born after 31 December 1946, will be gradually increased from 65 to 67.

Old-age pension for persons with an exceptionally long insurance record: it is received by persons, who have reached the normal pension age and who have completed the qualifying period of 45 years. Persons insured, who were born before 1 January 1964, can utilize an old-age pension at the earliest starting from the completion of the 63rd year of life. For persons insured, who were born after 31 December 1952, the normal pension age will gradually increase from 63 to 65 years.

Old-age pension for persons with a long insurance record: it is received, without deduction, by persons who have reached the normal pension age and who have completed the qualifying period of 35 years. Between 2000 and 2001 the normal pension age was gradually increased from 63 to 65 years. At present there is a further gradual increase of the normal pension age for persons insured, who were born after 31 December 1948.

Old-age pension for severely disabled persons: it is received, without deduction, by persons who have reached the normal pension age and who are recognized as severely disabled persons under the regulations of the German Social Code (disability degree of at least 50%) or who are occupationally disabled or incapable of employment according to the law enacted on 31 December 2000 (takes effect only for insured persons born before 1 January 1951) and who fulfill the qualifying period of 35 years. From 2001 to 2003 the normal pension age gradually increased from 60 to 63 years. At present there is a further gradual increase of the normal pension age from 63 to 65 years for persons insured, who were born after 31 December 1951.

Pension for the unemployed or under a progressive retirement plan: it is received, without deduction, by persons who have completed the 65th year of life, and who are either unemployed at the beginning of the pension and who have been unemployed for a total of 52 weeks within the last year and a half before the start of the pension after completion of a life age of 58 years and 6 months, or who have received adaptation money for mine-workers laid off, or who have practised part-time work for older employees for 24 calendar months, and who have paid for eight years compulsory contributions within the last 10 years and who fulfill the qualifying period of 15 years. From 1997 to 2001 the normal pension age increased from 60 to 65 years. These old-age pension can be obtained only by persons insured, who were born before 1 January 1952.

Old-age pension for women: it is received, without deduction, by persons who have completed the 65th year of life, and who have paid after the completion of the 40th year of life for more than 10 years (at least 121 months) compulsory contributions and who have completed the qualifying period of 15 years. From 2000 to 2004 the normal pension age was gradually raised from 60 to 65 years. This old-age pension can be obtained only by insured women, who were born before 1 January 1952.

Old-age pension payable after long-term employment underground: it is received by persons who have reached the normal pension age and have completed the qualifying period of 25 years. For insured persons born after 31 December 1951, the pension age will be gradually increased from 60 to 62 years.
Pension for orphans

X

further information on document

In terms of the Statistics on the number of retired people respectively of the Statistics on people entering retirement of the German Annuity Insurance Federation:
After the death of the person or persons insured their children will receive a pension for orphans until the completion of the 18th year of age, if the general waiting time is fulfilled. In case of school or vocational training, during a transitional period not exceeding four calendar months, when completing a voluntary social or ecological year or when the orphan is unable to subsist himself because of physical, mental or psychological disability payment of the pension for orphans is possible until the completion of the 27th year of age. If applicable own income has to be taken into account when the pension for orphans is assessed. In case of interruption or delay in school or vocational training because of the military, civilian service or a similar service due to legal German rules the age limit will be increased in principle by the time of this service. The pension for orphans is paid either as a pension for orphans who lost one parent (§ 48 Abs. 1 SGB VI) or as a pension for orphans who lost both parents (§ 48 Abs. 2 SGB VI).

Pension for widowers

X

further information on document

In terms of the Statistics on the number of retired people respectively of the Statistics on people entering retirement of the German Annuity Insurance Federation:
Entitled to a pension for widowers is the widower respectively the life partner who survives after the death of the insured wife respectively life partner, if the general waiting time is fulfilled. There is a so-called small and a big pension for widowers (§ 46 Abs. 1 und Abs. 2 SGB VI).

Pension for widows

X

further information on document

In terms of the Statistics on the number of retired people respectively of the Statistics on people entering retirement of the German Annuity Insurance Federation:
Entitled to a pension for widows is the widow respectively the life partner who survives after the death of the insured husband respectively life partner, if the general waiting time is fulfilled. There is a so-called small and a big pension for widows ( § 46 Abs. 1 und Abs. 2 SGB VI).

Pensions according to SGB VI

X

further information on document

In terms of the Statistics on the number of retired people respectively of the Statistics on people entering retirement of the German Annuity Insurance Federation:
According to Code of Social Law VI (SGB VI) pensions are payed as pensions because of old age, pensions because of diminution of ability to work or pensions because of death.

Pensions because of death

X

further information on document

In terms of the Statistics on the number of retired people respectively of the Statistics on people entering retirement of the German Annuity Insurance Federation:
Pensions because of death (surviving dependants' pensions) are the small pension for widows or widowers, the big pension for widows or widowers, the pension for parenting as well as the pension for orphans (§ 33 Abs. 4 SGB).
Pensions because of diminution of ability to work
X

further information on document

In terms of the Statistics on the number of retired people respectively of the Statistics on people entering retirement of the German Annuity Insurance Federation:
The law effective 1 January 2001 replaces the previous differentiation between vocational disability pension and employment disability pension by means of a two-level pension because of reduced earning capacity. Pensions because of diminution of ability to work are paid

as pension because of partly reduced earning capacity,

as pension because of fully reduced earning capacity and

as pension for miners' as well as

according to the regulations of the fifth chapter of the SGB VI as pension because of vocational disability and as pension because of employment disability. Pensions because of diminution of ability to work are granted at the longest up bis zum Erreichen der Regelaltersgrenze. After that only the payment of old-age pension is possible.
Salaried Employees' Pension Insurance

X

further information on document

In terms of the Statistics on those actively insured, on the rehabilitation services, on the number of retired people and on people entering retirement of the German Annuity Insurance Federation:
On 1 January 2005 the statutory pension insurances for manual workers and for salaried employees have been combined to form the general pension insurance. Starting from then no difference has been made between manual workers and salaried employees in the statutory pension insurance.
Responsible for the fulfilment of the tasks of the statutory pension insurance in the general pension insurance are the regional supporting organizations, the German Annuity Insurance Federation and German pension insurance miners-railway-sea.
Up to 31 December 2004 the Salaried Employees' Pension Insurance was the statutory pension insurance for employees and special groups of self-employed (for example artists). Supporting organizations of the Salaried Employees' Pension Insurance were the Federal Insurance Institutions for Employees as well as the railway insurance institution and Seamen's Accident Prevention and Insurance Association (Seekasse) (for both: their field salaried employees' pension insurance).
Statutory pension insurance
X

further information on document

In terms of the Statistics on those actively insured, on the rehabilitation services, on the number of retired people and on people entering retirement of the German Annuity Insurance Federation:
The statutory pension insurance is a branch of the social insurance. It protects the persons insured in case of danger or loss of earning capacity, old age as well as their surviving dependants in case of death.
The responsibilities of the statutory pension insurance are:

Erbringungen von Leistungen zur Teilhabe,

calculation and payment of pensions and additional benefits,

the payment of contributions to the health insurance of the pensioners as well as

counseling and advise of the persons insured and the pensioners.

Effective from 2005 the organization of the statutory pension insurance was fundamentally restructured by the "Gesetz zur Organisationsreform in der gesetzlichen Rentenversicherung". By combination of the statutory pension insurance for manual workers and the statutory pension insurance for salaried employees to the general pension insurance the statutory pension insurance is today divided into only two insurance organizations: the general pension insurance and the miners' pension insurance. Starting from 1 October 2005 the responsibilities of the statutory pension insurance have been fulfilled by two federal supporting organizations as well as regional supporting organizations under the umbrella of the statutory pension insurance. The federal supporting organizations are on the one hand the German Annuity Insurance Federation, which results from the fusion of the Federal Insurance Institutions for Employees and the Association of German Annuity Insurance Institutions and on the other hand the German pension insurance miners-railway-sea, which results from the fusion of the until then independent insurance organizations railway insurance institution, federal miners' insurance (Bundesknappschaft) and Seamen's Accident Prevention and Insurance Association (Seekasse). For the support of the persons insured in the general pension insurance also the regional supporting organizations (former state insurance Institutions for employees) are responsible. With the new organization the traditional separation between manual workers and salaried employees is abandoned.
Before that time the statutory pension insurance was organizationally divided into:

the statutory pension insurance for manual workers,

the statutory pension insurance for salaried employees and

the miners' pension insurance.

The Law of the statutory pension insurance is basically regulated in the Sixth Book of the Code of Social Law (SGB). Regulations about measures to ensure participation that are applicable to the pension insurance are since 1 July 2001 also in the Code of Social Law ¿ book 9.
Types of pensions
X

further information on document

In terms of the Statistics on the number of retired people respectively of the Statistics on people entering retirement of the German Annuity Insurance Federation:
Pensions are paid as:

pensions because of age,

pensions because of diminution of ability to work and

pensions because of death (pensions for widows, widowers and orphans and pensions for parenting).

Comment(s)

Data from the reference date (December, 31) of the respective year.
Since January, 1, 2005 the statutory pension insurances for manual workers and for salaried employees have been combined to form the general pension insurance. Starting from then there has been no difference between manual workers and salaried employees in the statutory pension insurance. Also from 2005 there are no data available for single pension fund organizations.
Data from the reference date (December, 31) of the respective year.
¹⁾Since 2001 pensions according to Art. 2 of the law regarding pension transfer (Rentenüberleitungsgesetz) are no longer reported.

Refresh period of data

The table was extended by the year 2020 on 18 Oct 2021.
Information for a new reporting period will be added as soon as it is available.

Links

Information concerning Pensions due to disability in the statutory pension insurance .
Information concerning Pensions due to age in the statutory pension insurance .

Signs and symbols

. = Data unknown or confidential

The Federal Health Monitoring System 21. May 2025

Change dimension:	Dimension	Row	Column	Page
	Pensions
	Year
	Place of residence
	Type of pension/Sex
	Pension fund organizations
The table has 12 cells (12 rows and 1 columns).

Data Source:	Statistics on the number of retired people
Contact:
- Contact Person:	Mr. Jürgen Hofmann
- Department:	Referat 0512
- Telephone:	+49 931 6002-73213
- Fax:	+49 931 6002-73203
- E-Mail / Contact:	juergen.hofmann@drv-bund.de
Data Owner:	German Annuity Insurance Federation / Deutsche Rentenversicherung Bund [DRV]
- Street:	Berner Straße 1
- Post Code/Town:	97084 Würzburg
- Telephone:	+49 931 6002-0
- Fax:	+49 931 6002-73203
- E-Mail / Contact:	statistik-wbg@drv-bund.de
- Internet:	http://www.deutsche-rentenversicherung-bund.de
Purpose of Data Collection:	-
Legal Base:	§ 7 RSVwV (Allgemeine Verwaltungsvorschrift über die Statistik in der Rentenversicherung).
Data Collector:	Annuity insurance institutions.
Reporting Stations:	-
Object under Review:	Annuity payments take place on the appointed day in accordance with the relevant demographic aspects and insurance law (nature of the annuity, amount of annuity due etc.).
Interviewees:	Recipients of pensions from the statutory annuity insurance.
Collection:
- Instruments:	Mainly data produced in the course of processing.
- Periodicity:	Annually (deadline: December 31).
- First:	1984
- Last:	-
Processing:
- Periodicity:	Annually.
Publication:
- Regular:	Deutsche Rentenversicherung Bund, Statistik der Deutschen Rentenversicherung "Rente"; Deutsche Rentenversicherung Bund, Rentenversicherung in Zeitreihen; Deutsche Rentenversicherung Bund, Rentenversicherung in Zahlen; Deutsche Rentenversicherung Bund, Deutsche Rentenversicherung Bund-Info; Statistikportal der Rentenversicherung (http://statistik-rente.de).
- Irregular:	-
Completeness, Sample Proportion and Representativity:	Full survey.
Conceivable Modifications:	-
Comparable Data Sources:	-
Remarks:	-
Last Update:	April 14, 2025