Retirement nutrition in 2025: A quarter lives on less than 1,500 euros!

Retirement nutrition in 2025: A quarter lives on less than 1,500 euros!

Almost a quarter of all pensioners in Germany live on less than 1,500 euros a month. According to an evaluation by the Federal Statistical Office, which was commissioned by the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance, there are 4.4 million pensioners who are affected by this low income, which corresponds to a rate of 23.8 percent. The data illustrates the precarious living conditions of many older people in the Federal Republic, which is becoming increasingly important in the public discussion.

At the same time, the analysis shows that over half of pensioners - specifically 9.5 million people or 51.8 percent - have over 2,000 euros available per month. This suggests a clear income gap within the pensioner generation. A look back at previous years shows a worrying increase in those living below the poverty line. In 2024, 1.35 million pensioners lived on less than 1,100 euros, while in 2022 1.79 million were still affected by this amount.

Poverty line and political reactions

The majority of statutory pensions in Germany are below the poverty line of 1,250 euros per month. The data shows that 10.1 million Germans receive less than 1,100 euros from their statutory pension. 12.4 million pensioners, which corresponds to 66.6 percent, receive less than 1,300 euros per month, while 15.1 million pensioners receive less than 1,600 euros, which makes up 81.1 percent of all pensioners. These worrying figures have led the Sahra Wagenknecht alliance to call for political intervention to improve the living conditions of pensioners.

The new pension package II, which was announced by Federal Labor Minister Hubertus Heil (SPD) and Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP), is already under criticism. While the traffic light coalition is trying to stabilize pension levels and use capital market income for financing, the Greens say that the package does not provide the necessary relief.

Older generation and wealth distribution

A drastic contradiction to the assumption of increasing poverty in old age comes from Professor Bernd Raffelhüschen from the University of Freiburg. He pointed out that older people in Germany have the highest wealth compared to other age groups. This puts the shared perception of the reality of life of pensioners in a new context and shows that the financial situation of seniors needs to be viewed in a more differentiated manner.

Sahra Wagenknecht herself described the current situation as a “demonstration of poverty for our country”. The growing gap between income levels points to the need for comprehensive reform. The Traffic Light coalition is therefore in increasing conflict over pensions, posing a significant challenge to the country's political agenda.

The problem is also exacerbated by the current economic situation, which prevents many citizens from making provisions for old age. A survey by Axa reveals that 32 percent of Germans have been saving less since the Ukraine war. Of those aged 18 to 24, 47 percent make private provisions for their old age, while 63 percent of those aged 25 to 34 do the same. But despite seemingly positive approaches, 59 percent want to save more, but often cannot afford to do so.

With the 2025 federal election, a referendum on the pension system will take place, which could potentially provide new impetus for the discussion about pension provision and social security. This detailed discussion shows that the population has a strong interest in setting the course for better pension provision and in being actively involved in the design of the pension system.