Green party leader
Lang: “I actually don’t know the average pension”
“I would assume that we are around 2000 euros”: Ricarda Lang (archive photo). photo
© Marco Rauch/dpa
Because of a gap in knowledge about the average pension in Germany, Ricarda Lang receives mocking comments. The head of the social association understands – and offers Lang an offer of information.
When Lanz asked whether Lang had an idea, she replied: “No, actually not a concrete one.” When asked by the moderator about the approximate amount, Lang replied: “I would assume that we are around 2,000 euros.”
Lanz then put the average pension at 1,543 euros, to which Lang replied: “That’s a bit lower.” When Lanz asked, “After 45 years of work. Is that fair?”, the Green Party leader replied “No.” Lang’s statement received many mocking comments on the X platform (formerly Twitter).
Social Association Germany shows understanding
The chairwoman of the German Social Association, Michaela Engelmeier, showed understanding for Lang. “I can empathize with Ricarda Lang, I was once a member of the Bundestag: Politicians are expected to be knowledgeable in all, or at least many, fields,” Engelmeier told the German Press Agency. They usually do this because it is part of their work, said the former SPD MP.
“There are experts in the parliamentary offices, ministries, authorities and parties for the in-depth technical work.” At the same time, however, the head of the social association demanded “in the interests of our members that the decision-makers deal with the important issue of pensions in depth.” The challenges in this area are complex – both for politicians and especially for the people affected. Engelmeier referred to her association’s collection of information about pensions on the Internet. “Maybe Ricarda Lang will click in too.”
Average pension and senior income
In fact, pensioners with at least 45 years of insurance in Germany received an average pension of 1,543 euros per month at the end of 2022. Men received an average of 1,637 euros and women 1,323 euros. This was shown last year in an answer from the federal government to a question from the left-wing faction in the Bundestag.
According to the Pension Atlas 2023 from the German Pension Insurance, the average gross pension in 2022 in Germany was 1,728 euros for men and 1,316 euros for women. This is the average gross amount of old-age pensions after at least 35 years of insurance.
The pension is not the only income in old age. According to the government’s 2023 pension insurance report, married couples with one person aged 65 or over in retirement in 2019 in the old federal states had a monthly net income of 2,910 euros, single men had 1,796 euros and single women had 1,606 euros. 61 percent of all income flowing into senior households comes from statutory pension insurance, the rest comes primarily from private provision and earned income.
As a member of the Bundestag, Lang is a member of the Family Committee and a deputy member of the Labor and Social Affairs Committee. One of her political priorities is social policy.