People in the North Draw Pensions for Longer - Schleswig-Holstein sees later retirements but longer pension payouts by 2024
Pension trends in Schleswig-Holstein reveal residents are retiring later but drawing benefits for longer periods. By late 2024, around 638,000 residents in the state were receiving a statutory old-age pension, with the nationwide figure standing at approximately 18.9 million recipients.
The average retirement age in Schleswig-Holstein has risen over the past five years. In 2019, residents typically retired at 64.4 years, but by 2024, this had increased to 64.8 years. Despite retiring later, people are collecting pensions for a greater portion of their lives.
Life expectancy improvements have extended the average pension duration. In 2019, recipients collected pensions for 20.8 years on average, but this grew to 21.3 years by 2024. The gap between genders remains noticeable: women receive pensions for 22.7 years, while men receive them for 19.7 years. For women, the average pension period increased from 22.4 years in 2019 to 22.7 years in 2024. Men saw a smaller rise, from 19.0 years to 19.7 years over the same period. These shifts reflect broader demographic changes in the region.
The data highlights two clear patterns in Schleswig-Holstein’s pension system. Retirement is happening slightly later, yet longer lifespans mean people receive benefits for more years. This trend affects both men and women, though women continue to collect pensions for a significantly longer time.
