Poland's ZUS pension data show stark gaps and upcoming 14th pension boost

The Social Insurance Institution (ZUS) reported that the average pension in Poland for the first five months of 2026 was 4,480.74 zł gross, well below the current minimum wage of 4,666 zł gross. Warsaw’s average is higher than the national figure, while the Silesian region tops the country with averages over 5,500 zł.

Pension amounts vary dramatically. The highest pension recorded in the Łódź region reaches 38,200 zł per month – almost nine times the national average – whereas the lowest payouts are only a few grosz, reflecting very short contribution periods. The minimum pension is 1,978.49 zł gross, and about 460 000 people receive state top‑ups because their contributions are insufficient.

A government regulation will raise the 14th pension in September 2026. Full entitlement (≈1,978 zł gross) applies to retirees earning up to 2,900 zł; the amount tapers off for higher earners and falls to a minimum of 50 zł.

A proposal to equalise the retirement age for childless women with men (65) sparked public debate; a poll showed 62 % of Poles oppose the change. The Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy rejected ZUS’s plan to eliminate cash pension payments, keeping the option of postal delivery.

The KRUS farmers’ pension system records a maximum of 4,772.11 zł gross, far lower than the ZUS record of over 51,000 zł. A 2027 pension index increase of at least 3.48 % is planned, based on a 20 % real wage growth assumption.