There are significant differences between the minimum old-age pension amounts among European Union member countries with figures ranging from as little as €250 to up to €2,350 per month.
This is one of the main findings of a study conducted by the House of Representatives' Research, Studies and Publications Service, under the supervision of Anthi Tofari, at the request of AKEL MP, Nicos Kettiros.
As the study specifically states, the amount making up the minimum pension in Europe is directly related to the social security system of each country and the cost of living.
However, it is added that some countries (Germany, Lithuania) do not have a statutory minimum pension amount, but provide some form of protection for low-income pensioners, such as the provision of "basic guarantee in old age" (Grundversicherung im Alter), as a supplement to pensioners whose pension is very low in Germany.
It is noted that in Cyprus the minimum pension amount increased to €450.35 from 1 January for beneficiaries without dependents.
What is the situation in the rest of Europe?
As for the other EU member states, according to the study's findings, in Austria from 2025 the basic pension amount hasbeen €1,273.99 for single people and €2,009.85 for couples.
However, to ensure a minimum income for pensioners who have their legal habitual residence in Austria, the "equalisation allowances" (Ausgleichszulage) were designed, which are social benefits financed by tax revenues and equal to the difference between a person's total income and the applicable "basic pension amount."
Belgium
In Belgium, from the beginning of 2024 the minimum monthly pension for a full 45 years of work has been approximately €1,619 gross (or approximately €1,500 net) for employees and the self-employed.
For employees with a shorter period of working life, it is calculated proportionally, provided that the retiree has completed at least 30 years of working life.
It is noted that pensioners with a dependent spouse may receive a higher pension.
Under the system in Belgium, moreover, the minimum pension applies to employees and self-employed people who have low pension rights, provided that they meet specific working life length requirements.
Minimum pensions are adjusted regularly to reflect the cost of living and meet basic living needs.
Those who do not meet the minimum working life period requirements or individuals whose total income is still below the poverty line have the right to apply for the Guaranteed Income for the Elderly (GRAPA/IGA).
Bulgaria
In Bulgaria, the minimum pension amount for insurance service and old age is determined annually by the relevant law for the respective year and currently amounts to 630.50 leva (€322.38).
The additional lifelong old-age pension is a monthly payment of an amount specified in the pension contract, the amount of which cannot be less than 15% of the minimum pension amount on the date of its determination. When the funds in the insured person's individual account are not sufficient to grant an additional lifelong old-age pension in the specified amount, the insured person has the right to receive it in a lump sum or in installments.
It is noted that the social old-age pension has a fixed amount, which is approved annually by the Council of Ministers.
France
In France, according to the study, there is no single "minimum pension", but a system of minimum guaranteed pension, related to years of insurance and whether the person meets the conditions for a full pension.
The minimum guaranteed pension in 2025 amounted to €747.69 per month, which could rise to €800-€850 per month for those who meet the conditions for full insurance.
In addition, there is another aid for elderly people with very low incomes that functions as a minimum guaranteed income, as well as automatic indexation of pensions to cover inflation.
Germany
In Germany, there is also no single, institutionalised minimum monthly pension (Mindestrente) in the sense that exists in other countries, but the amount of the pension depends directly on the years of insurance, the amount of earnings and the contributions paid during working life.
However, there are important points of reference: If the pension is too low, pensioners can receive the basic guarantee in old age (Grundsicherung im Alter) from the state, the amount of which is calculated based on living needs and, depending on the case, can correspond to the amount of approximately €900-€1000+ (gross) per month.
Greece
In Greece, while the full amount of the national pension currently amounts to €436.40, in the case of reduced pensions the amount is reduced as follows:
- By 2% for each year less than 20 years of insurance, with a minimum limit of 15 years of insurance.
- By 1/40 for each year less than 40 years of permanent and legal residence in Greece before submitting a retirement application for the granting of an old-age pension.
- In cases of granting a reduced old-age pension, it is reduced by 6% for each year less than the legal retirement age for full pension up to a maximum limit of 30%.
Excluded are the main pensions granted to those who retire on an old-age pension due to disability and are entitled to the full amount of the national pension.
In the case of reduced old-age pensions, however, the amount of the national pension is reduced by one two hundredth (1/200) for each month remaining until the statutory retirement age required for a full old-age pension. The amount of the contributory pension is not reduced.
Estonia
In Estonia, when a person does not have sufficient pensionable service (less than 15 years), they receive a national pension. In 2025, the national pension was €393.26. If a person has completed 15 years of pensionable service, but with a low income, the pension may be lower than the average, but not lower than the national pension.
Italy
In Italy, the minimum amount provided to a pension beneficiary is evaluated each year and may change depending on the beneficiary's personal situation.
If the pension calculated on the basis of the contributions paid is lower than this minimum amount, INPS provides a supplement to reach the minimum amount.
Croatia
In Croatia, the minimum pension is determined for each year of pensionable service at 106% of the current value of the pension on the date of determination. An insured person who receives a pension only on the basis of the provisions of the "Pension Insurance Act" and whose pension amount is calculated to be lower than the minimum pension receives the minimum pension.
Latvia
At the same time, in Latvia the minimum amount of old-age pension is determined on the day the pension is granted or revised. From 1 January 2025, the median income of 2022, which amounts to €754.74, has been applied for this purpose.
If the calculated old-age pension is less than the minimum old-age pension amount, the difference is paid as a benefit from the Basic State Budget Fund. The calculation basis for the minimum old-age pension is set at 25% of the average minimum income per equivalent consumer per month (median income), as published by the Central Statistical Office.
For people with disabilities since childhood, the calculation basis is 30% of the average income. The minimum amount of the old-age pension is determined by applying a coefficient of 1.2 to this calculation basis.
In addition, for each year exceeding the required insurance period, the amount increases by 2% of the minimum old-age pension calculation base.
Lithuania
In Lithuania, as in Germany and France, there is no minimum pension. All those receiving low pensions are automatically paid pension benefits, the amount of which is linked to the minimum consumption needs (MVPD), which in 2025 was estimated at €450.
If the required length of service has been accumulated, but the pension is lower than the MVPD, a supplement is added to it, to bring it up to the MVPD amount.
If only the minimum service period of 15 years has been accumulated, the minimum pension must not be lower than the amount of the basic pension, which in 2025 was €298.45.
However, a supplement of €66.68 is added to this amount.
It is worth mentioning that the government program provides for a gradual increase in the amount of the basic pension to the amount of the MVPD.
Luxembourg
In Luxembourg, from May 2025, the minimum monthly old-age pension is €2,350.89 gross, provided that the beneficiary has completed 40 years of insurance. This amount is adjusted based on inflation and wage developments and is adjusted periodically.
If the beneficiary has accumulated between 20 and 39 years of insurance, the minimum pension is reduced proportionally. Specifically, it is reduced by 1/40 of the full amount for each year short of the required 40 years. For example, a worker with 30 years of insurance will receive 75% of the minimum full pension.
The Netherlands
In the Netherlands, the amount of the old-age pension depends on whether the beneficiary lives alone or with another adult and the years during which he or she has lived or worked in the country.
The minimum monthly old-age pension amount paid to single individuals from July 1, 2025 is €1,527.63 (net) and to married individuals or individuals living with another adult €1,045.91 (net).
Additionally, an annual supplement is paid annually in the month of May, which is not a percentage of the old-age pension, but a fixed gross monthly amount based on the minimum wage.
The amount of this annual amount in 2025 amounted to €100.39 per month for single individuals and €71.71 per month for married or cohabiting individuals.
Hungary
In Hungary, according to Article 11 of Government Decree 168/1997, the mandatory minimum amount of full old-age benefit is HUF 28,500 (approximately €74.10) per month. There is no minimum amount when the insurance period is less than 20 years.
Poland
In Poland, from March 1, 2025 the minimum old-age pension is equal to PLN 1,878.91 (approximately €440) gross.
Portugal
In Portugal, according to Decree No. 372-B/2024/1, beneficiaries of disability and old-age pensions of the general system with a contribution history of less than 15 years are guaranteed a minimum pension of €331.79.
Beneficiaries of disability and old-age pensions of the general system with a contribution history of 15 years or more are guaranteed the following minimum pension amounts:
- 15 to 20 years: €348.05
- 21 to 30 years: €384.07
- 31 years and over: €480.08
Romania
In Romania, the minimum guaranteed pension (or "social allowance for pensioners") is a supplement granted by the state to individuals who, although they have reached retirement age, have not accumulated sufficient contribution periods or have pensions below a certain minimum threshold.
As of January 1, 2025, the minimum guaranteed pension was set at RON 1,281 per month, or approximately €253.
Slovakia
In Slovakia, moreover, the minimum pension is calculated after 30 years of employment and increases with each additional year as a certain multiple of the minimum subsistence level.
According to the study, the minimum pension in 2025 amounted to €397.30 per month. For comparison, the average amount of the old-age pension in 2025 was approximately €701 per month.
Slovenia
In Slovenia, the minimum pension base is determined on 1 January of each calendar year at the amount of 76.5% of the average monthly earnings in the country in the previous calendar year, minus taxes and contributions paid on wages at an average rate and increased by the percentage by which pensions have been adjusted since January 1 of the current calendar year.
The amount of the minimum pension base varies in size and the deadline within which the pension adjustment is made in the current calendar year.
For the year 2025, the minimum monthly pension base amounted to €774.67.
Sweden
In Sweden, the amount of earnings-related pensions is proportional to the amount of contributions paid. There is therefore no minimum amount for these pensions. However, basic protection benefits are intended to provide a basic level of protection, so there is a minimum amount to ensure that pensioners have a fair standard of living.
However, according to the study's findings, the amount of the minimum guaranteed pension amounts (2025) to 11,907 SEK (1,095 euros) per month for a single person and 10,780 SEK (992 euros) per month for a married person.
The highest guaranteed pension amount, which applies to those who have lived in Sweden for at least 40 years since they turned 16 and have no or very low income-based pension, is 18,118 SEK (1,667 euros) per month for a married person and 16,407 SEK (1,509 euros) per month for a single person.
In addition, guaranteed pension beneficiaries can apply for housing allowance and receive up to 7,290 SEK (671 euros) per month.
At the same time, the elderly financial support allowance amounts to 7,525 SEK (692 euros) per month for single people and 6,053 SEK (557 euros) per month for married people.
Additionally, beneficiaries of this benefit can apply for housing allowance, which amounts to SEK 7,500 (€690) per month for single people and SEK 3,750 (€345) per month for married people.
Czech Republic
In the Czech Republic, moreover, the minimum pension amount is the sum of the basic amount and the minimum percentage of the average monthly gross income. In 2025, this amounted to 5,430 CZK (€223) per month [4,660 CZK (€191) plus 770 CZK (€32)].
Finland
Finally, in Finland, and based on the pension system, the guaranteed pension has been institutionalized, which ensures a minimum pension level for all those permanently residing in Finland.
In 2025, the full amount of the guaranteed pension amounted to €986.30 per month.
(Source: InBusinessNews)
