Germany
Average retirement age continues to rise
Last year, people in Germany retired at an average age of 64.4. photo
© Christoph Schmidt/dpa/symbol image
In 2021, people in Germany will have retired at an average age of 64.1. In the past year they have been working longer. This is also related to the raising of the age limit.
In Germany, people retire on average at the age of 64.4. According to a spokesman for German pension insurance, the average age rose to this value last year. In 2021 it was 64.1 years. The main reason for the increase is an increase in the age limit for the original “pension at 63,” he told the German Press Agency on Tuesday. The limit was 64 years last year. It will be gradually raised to 65, similar to the normal retirement age, which is gradually being raised to 67.
The “pension at 63” was introduced by the black-red federal government at the time and is aimed at “particularly long-term insured persons” who have paid contributions for at least 45 years. Those born before 1953 were able to retire at the age of 63 without any deductions. For younger people, the age limit is increasing, from those born in 1964 there is a pension without deductions only from the age of 65. From this year of birth, the standard retirement age of 67 years should also apply.
In the long term, the so-called actual retirement age has risen significantly, according to pension insurance. It was therefore still 62.3 years in 2000.
Union parliamentary group leader Jens Spahn (CDU) had called for an end to “pension at 63”. Two million skilled workers who had retired earlier are now “bitterly missing,” he told the “Bild am Sonntag”. Other parties and unions had rejected the initiative.