More than 30 years after reunification, pensions in eastern Germany for long-term employees are still well below the level in western Germany. In 2021, for example, pensioners in eastern Germany received an average of EUR 1,329 after 45 years of contributions, compared to EUR 1,527 in western Germany. This emerges from a response from the Federal Ministry of Labor to a written request from Left Party member of the Bundestag Sören Pellmann on the Day of German Unity, which was submitted to the editorial network Germany (RND) and the German Press Agency. In 2019, pensioners in eastern Germany received 1,287 euros and in western Germany 1,487 euros.
Insurance years are the entire time that you were in the statutory pension insurance system – i.e. also years in which insured persons do not pay any contributions, for example due to unemployment. Such times might explain some of the differences between East and West. Lower wages also play a role. However, it should be noted that the figures only refer to a direct comparison based on 45 years of insurance. However, many in the east have more working years than in the west and more women work.
There can be no question of a pension unit in Germany, said the Leipzig MP to the RND. He spoke of a “disregard for the lifetime achievements of the East Germans”. Lower Eastern wages would result in lower Eastern pensions. “We must finally break out of this vicious circle, in which many more years will be trapped.”
