Germany gender gaps persist in pensions and unpaid labor

Statistical data from Germany highlights persistent gender disparities in income and unpaid labor, while revealing regional exceptions in earnings.

In terms of retirement, women in Germany receive significantly lower pensions than men. As of late 2024, the average monthly net pension for men was 1,405 euros compared to 955 euros for women. This gap is driven by structural factors such as part-time work, career interruptions for caregiving, and lower wages in female-dominated sectors.

Regarding current earnings, while the national unadjusted gender pay gap remains around 16 percent, data from the Federal Employment Agency shows that women in several East German states earn higher median monthly gross salaries than men. The most notable difference is in Brandenburg, where women earn a median of 210 euros more per month than men. Similar trends are observed in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Saxony-Anhalt.

Unpaid labor also shows a significant imbalance, known as the gender care gap. In 2022, women performed approximately nine hours more unpaid work per week than men, averaging nearly 30 hours compared to 20 hours for men. Although this gap has decreased from over 52 percent in 2012, women still perform the majority of household tasks.