State Pension (Gesetzliche Rente)
The German state pension (Gesetzliche Rentenversicherung, GRV) is the mandatory system for employees. You pay 9.3% of salary, employer adds another 9.3%. For each year worked, you earn pension points (Entgeltpunkte). At retirement, points convert to monthly payments. Working at average salary (€50,493 in 2025) earns 1 point per year. Each point pays €40.79/month pension (from July 2025) [1].
How It Works
The state pension operates on three principles [2]:
- Contributions → points: Each month, 9.3% is deducted from salary, employer adds another 9.3%. Working one year at average salary earns 1 pension point (Entgeltpunkt).
- Points → pension: At retirement, Deutsche Rentenversicherung multiplies your points by the current point value — this determines monthly payments.
- Generational solidarity (Generationenvertrag): Your contributions today pay current retirees' pensions. Your pension will be paid by the next generation of workers. This is not a savings system — it's redistribution between generations.
Contribution System
Contributions (Rentenbeiträge) are automatically deducted from salary up to the statutory ceiling — Beitragsbemessungsgrenze (BBG) [3].
| Parameter | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Total rate | 18.6% | 18.6% |
| Employee pays | 9.3% | 9.3% |
| Employer pays | 9.3% | 9.3% |
| Annual ceiling (BBG) | €96,600 | €101,400 |
| Monthly ceiling | €8,050 | €8,450 |
What the ceiling means: If your salary exceeds the ceiling, contributions are only calculated on income up to the ceiling. Example: with €120,000 annual salary, contributions are only paid on €96,600 (2025).
As of 2025, the historic East/West distinction in contribution ceilings (alte/neue Bundesländer) is eliminated [4].
Retirement Age
Standard retirement age (Regelaltersgrenze) is gradually increasing to 67 for those born from 1964 onwards [5].
| Year of Birth | Retirement Age |
|---|---|
| 1958 | 66 years |
| 1960 | 66 years 4 months |
| 1962 | 66 years 8 months |
| 1964 and later | 67 years |
Early retirement (vorzeitige Rente): You can retire earlier than standard age, but pension is reduced by 0.3% for each month of early retirement. Example: retiring at 65 instead of 67 (24 months early) reduces pension by 7.2% for life [6]. This is not a temporary reduction — it applies until death.
How It's Calculated
Monthly Pension = Entgeltpunkte × Zugangsfaktor × Rentenartfaktor × Aktueller Rentenwert
| Factor | Meaning | Typical Value |
|---|---|---|
| Entgeltpunkte | Total career points | Sum of annual points |
| Zugangsfaktor | Early/late retirement modifier | 1.0 (standard); -0.3%/month early; +0.5%/month late |
| Rentenartfaktor | Pension type | 1.0 (old-age); 0.55 (widow's) |
| Aktueller Rentenwert | Point value | €40.79 (July 2025) |
Key parameters for 2025:
- 1 point (Entgeltpunkt) = earning at average salary level for one year (€50,493 in 2025)
- Point value (Rentenwert) = €40.79/month pension (from July 1, 2025)
Calculation example: Worker with 40 points receives pension: 40 × €40.79 = €1,632/month (gross, before taxes and health insurance contributions)
Example: High-Earner with 5 Years in Germany
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual salary | €100,000 (above ceiling) |
| Annual points | ~1.91 (capped at ceiling) |
| Total points (5 years) | 9.55 |
| Monthly pension | 9.55 × €40.79 = ~€390 |
2025 Reform: Rentenpaket II
Key legislative changes affecting long-term pension security:
| Element | Description |
|---|---|
| 48% Haltelinie | Legally guaranteed minimum pension level (ratio of standard pension to average wage) until 2039 |
| Generationenkapital | New sovereign wealth fund investing in global equities; €12B initial funding, scaling to €200B by mid-2030s |
| Contribution rate outlook | Projected to exceed 20% in the 2030s to maintain the 48% guarantee |
The Generationenkapital is system-level infrastructure — it doesn't create a personal account you can take with you. The benefit is systemic stability, reducing the risk that your future German pension entitlements erode through inflation or cuts.
Renteninformation
You receive an annual letter with pension forecast showing:
- How many points accumulated
- Pension forecast at current contributions
- Forecast if working until 67
This is an important document. Verify all work periods are accounted for. Errors can be corrected.
Minimum Contribution Period
Minimum contribution period (Wartezeit) requirements for different pension types [7]:
- 5 years — minimum for old-age pension eligibility
- 35 years — for early pension (Altersrente für langjährig Versicherte) from age 63 with reductions
- 45 years — for early pension without reductions (Altersrente für besonders langjährig Versicherte)
Real Purchasing Power
Average pension in Germany is €1,543/month (gross) for men and €1,120/month for women (2024) [8]. After deducting health insurance contributions (10.95%) and taxes, net pension is around €1,300–1,400/month for an average pension.
For an immigrant with 5 years of work and €100,000 salary (example above): pension ~€390/month does not even cover rent. State pension is only one source of retirement income. Additional savings are mandatory.
FAQ
Not legal or financial advice.
I worked 3 years in Germany, then moved away. Are my pension rights lost?
No. Accumulated Entgeltpunkte (pension points) are preserved indefinitely, even after leaving Germany. To receive a pension, you need the minimum qualifying period (Wartezeit) of 5 years of contributions [7]. If you haven't reached 5 years, two options exist: (1) voluntary contributions (freiwillige Beiträge) — payable from abroad, minimum ~€96/month (2025), to accumulate the remaining years; (2) Sozialversicherungsabkommen (social security agreements) — qualifying periods in certain countries are combined with German periods to reach the minimum. Russia, Ukraine, and Kazakhstan have such agreements with Germany. Pensions can be paid to a bank account in any country worldwide.
Does my work experience from Russia/Ukraine count toward the 5-year minimum?
It depends on the agreement. Germany and Russia have a Sozialversicherungsabkommen (1991): qualifying periods in both countries are combined to reach the minimum threshold (Wartezeit), but each country pays pension only for its own periods. Example: 3 years in Germany + 25 years in Russia = 28 years total → 5-year minimum met, Germany pays for 3 years. A similar agreement exists with Ukraine (1998). For countries without an agreement (e.g., Georgia), periods cannot be combined — then you need the full 5 years in Germany or voluntary contributions.
I earn above the Beitragsbemessungsgrenze. Am I overpaying?
No. Contributions are calculated only on income up to the ceiling (Beitragsbemessungsgrenze — €96,600 in 2025, €101,400 in 2026) [3]. Income above the ceiling is not subject to pension contributions and does not generate additional points. Maximum points per year: approximately 2.0 (at ceiling-level income). This means: at a salary of €120,000, you pay contributions and earn points the same as at €96,600. For high earners, the state pension covers a smaller share of previous income — private savings (ETFs, Depot) are critically important.
I'm self-employed. Can I make voluntary contributions?
Yes. Any adult residing in Germany (or who previously had mandatory insurance) can make voluntary contributions (freiwillige Beiträge) to Deutsche Rentenversicherung. Range: €96.72 to €1,404.30 per month (2025). Voluntary contributions count toward Wartezeit (minimum qualifying period) and generate Entgeltpunkte. For freelancers in listed professions (§ 2 SGB VI — teachers, artists, media workers), insurance may be mandatory. Application: at a local Deutsche Rentenversicherung office or online. Contributions are tax-deductible as Sonderausgaben (special expenses).
The Renteninformation letter says €800/month. Is that before or after taxes?
The amount in Renteninformation is gross pension. Deductions include: (1) health insurance contributions (Krankenversicherung) — ~7.3% + additional contribution ~1.7% = ~9%; (2) long-term care insurance (Pflegeversicherung) — 3.4%; (3) income tax — depends on total pension amount and year of retirement (Besteuerungsanteil — taxable share of pension). For retirees starting in 2025, 83.5% of the pension is taxable. At gross €800/month with no other income, tax is minimal or zero (Grundfreibetrag/tax-free basic allowance — €11,784 in 2025). Net from €800 gross: approximately €700–720 after all deductions.
Sources
- Deutsche Rentenversicherung (2025). Rentenwerte aktuell. Available at: https://www.deutsche-rentenversicherung.de/DRV/DE/Rente/Allgemeine-Informationen/Wissenswertes-zur-Rente/Rentenwerte/rentenwerte.html
- Deutsche Rentenversicherung (2024). Die gesetzliche Rentenversicherung im Überblick. Available at: https://www.deutsche-rentenversicherung.de/DRV/DE/Rente/Allgemeine-Informationen/Rentenarten-und-Leistungen/Altersrente/altersrente_node.html
- Bundesministerium für Arbeit und Soziales (2025). Sozialversicherungsrechengrößen 2025. Available at: https://www.bmas.de/DE/Soziales/Sozialversicherung/Rechengroessen-der-Sozialversicherung/rechengroessen-der-sozialversicherung.html
- Deutsche Rentenversicherung (2024). Vereinheitlichung Ost-West ab 2025. Available at: https://www.deutsche-rentenversicherung.de/DRV/DE/Rente/Allgemeine-Informationen/Wissenswertes-zur-Rente/Ost-West-Angleichung/ost_west_angleichung.html
- Deutsche Rentenversicherung (2024). Anhebung Regelaltersgrenze. Available at: https://www.deutsche-rentenversicherung.de/DRV/DE/Rente/Allgemeine-Informationen/Wissenswertes-zur-Rente/Renteneintrittsalter/renteneintrittsalter_node.html
- Deutsche Rentenversicherung (2024). Abschläge bei vorzeitiger Rente. Available at: https://www.deutsche-rentenversicherung.de/DRV/DE/Rente/Allgemeine-Informationen/Wissenswertes-zur-Rente/Abschlaege-bei-vorzeitiger-Rente/abschlaege.html
- Deutsche Rentenversicherung (2024). Wartezeiten. Available at: https://www.deutsche-rentenversicherung.de/DRV/DE/Rente/Allgemeine-Informationen/Versicherte-und-Rentner/Versicherungspflicht-und-Freiwillige-Versicherung/Wartezeiten/wartezeiten_node.html
- Deutsche Rentenversicherung (2024). Statistik Rentenzahlbeträge. Available at: https://www.deutsche-rentenversicherung.de/DRV/DE/Statistiken-und-Berichte/Statistiken/Rentenzugang/rentenzugang_node.html
- Bundesministerium für Arbeit und Soziales (2024). Rentenpaket II. Available at: https://www.bmas.de/DE/Soziales/Rente-und-Altersvorsorge/Rentenpaket/rentenpaket.html