# Gender pension gap in Austria and Germany

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/gender-pension-gap-in-austria-and-germany
> Updated: 2026-08-07T07:29:03.000Z. Sources: 18. Developments: 3.

In early August 2026 officials in Austria’s Styria region highlighted that women’s pensions were roughly 40 % lower than men’s, prompting Deputy Governor Manuela Khom to propose a mandatory pension‑splitting system with an opt‑out clause and to designate an Equal Pension Day.

A DGB report for Germany’s Ostwestfalen‑Lippe (OWL) region showed a similar disparity: average new‑retiree pensions in 2024 were €1,399.92 for men and €936.23 for women, a gap of about €460, linked to part‑time work and interrupted careers.

Later that month data from North Rhine‑Westphalia confirmed pronounced regional differences: the average statutory pension for 65‑plus retirees in 2025 was €1,640 per month, with men in Baden‑Württemberg earning €1,605 and women in Brandenburg €1,328. Municipalities such as Raesfeld (€1,675) and Märkischer Kreis (€1,826) exceeded the state average.

In Austria the Workers’ Chamber reported a 39.4 % gender gap – the EU’s second‑largest – and noted that single women face a 28 % poverty risk versus 14 % for men. The Austrian Labour Chamber and the Pensionists’ Association (PVÖ) called for stronger credit for caregiving periods, equal pay and better employment prospects for older workers.

By 7 August the gap remained around 40 %: women earned €1,614 monthly versus €2,664 for men. “Equal Pension Day” on 9 August marks when a man’s annual pension equals a woman’s monthly amount. At the current convergence rate, full parity would require roughly 95 years. Regional gaps vary widely, from 27 % less in Vienna to over 46 % in Vorarlberg, underscoring the need for targeted reforms.

## Claims

- The average pension for people aged 65+ in North Rhine‑Westphalia in 2025 was €1,640 per month. (disputed by 3 sources)
- In Germany, men’s average pension varies by state, with Baden‑Württemberg highest at €1,605 per month. (disputed)
- The Austrian Workers’ Chamber and Labour Chamber call for measures to close the pension gender gap. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- Raesfeld and the Märkischer Kreis report average pensions above the NRW average, at €1,675 and €1,826 per month respectively. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- German women’s average pension is over €500 less than men’s, though women in eastern states earn higher pensions than those in the west. (single source)
- In Austria, women receive on average 39.4 % less pension than men, the second‑largest gender gap in the EU. (single source)
- 28 % of single women pensioners in Austria are at risk of poverty, compared with 14 % of men. (single source)
- In Ostwestfalen‑Lippe, 2024 average new‑retiree pensions were €1,399.92 for men and €936.23 for women. (single source)

## Timeline

### 2026-08-07: Austria’s gender pension gap stays around 40% despite modest gains

Austrian women earn about 40% less pension than men; parity would take 95 years at current rates. Regional gaps vary, and a 45‑year insurance rule is deemed unrealistic.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/austrias-gender-pension-gap-stays-around-40-despite-modest-gains

### 2026-08-04: Pension gaps and regional disparities highlighted in Germany and Austria

German pensions average €1,640/month in 2025 with strong regional gaps; Austrian women earn 39% less than men, prompting calls for reforms.

12 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/womens-pension-gap-exposed-in-germanys-owl-region-and-austria

### 2026-08-01: Styria women earn about 40% less pension than men

Styria women face a 41 % pension gap versus men; Deputy Governor Manuela Khom proposes mandatory pension‑splitting with opt‑out and calls for better financial education ahead of Equal Pension Day on 2 August.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/styria-women-earn-about-40-less-pension-than-men

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Cite as: Gender pension gap in Austria and Germany. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/gender-pension-gap-in-austria-and-germany