Romania's pension system sees widening gap between regular and special retirees

Data from the National House of Public Pensions (CNPP) show that the average pension in Argeș County reached 3,012 lei in June 2026, placing it among the highest‑paying counties in Romania, while the national average stood at 2,821 lei.

In the first half of 2026 the number of beneficiaries of special pensions rose from 11,858 in January to 11,970 in June, an increase of 112 people. At the same time the total number of regular pensioners fell from 4,698,070 to 4,678,792 – a reduction of 19,278, equivalent to an average daily loss of about 106 retirees.

The growth of special pensions, which include judges, magistrates and other senior officials, is putting additional pressure on the state budget; for example, judges’ average special pension rose to 25,613 lei, of which only 3,130 lei comes from contributions. Regular pension payments for August 2026 were delayed by two days because the month began on a Saturday, with postal deliveries starting on Monday, 3 August, and electronic transfers scheduled for 12–13 August.

These trends illustrate a widening disparity between the expanding, heavily state‑financed special pension system and a contracting general pension pool, raising concerns about long‑term fiscal sustainability.