Greece pension duration exceeds EU average by 2.6 years

Data from the OECD and Eurostat for 2024 indicate that retirees in Greece spend significantly more time receiving pensions compared to the European Union average. Greek men are expected to receive pensions for approximately 21 years, while Greek women are expected to receive them for over 22 years.

These figures exceed the EU average by 2.6 years. In the EU, the average duration of pension receipt is 18.4 years for men and 21.8 years for women. While the OECD uses age 62 as a standard reference for international comparisons, Greek legislation allows for a full pension at age 67 with at least 15 years of insurance, or a reduced pension at age 62 under specific conditions.

According to the 2024 European Commission Ageing Report, the average age for starting pension benefits in Greece was 63.8 years in 2022. The duration of retirement varies widely across Europe; for instance, men in Luxembourg receive pensions for an average of 22 years, while those in Bulgaria and Hungary receive them for 14.7 years.