2d ago
🇪🇺 Ranked: Highest and Lowest Pensions in Europe

Key Takeaways
- Rich Western economies like Iceland, Luxembourg, and Norway can afford annual pensions north of €30,000 per retiree.
- Poland and Hungary spend a big slice of GDP on pensions, yet smaller tax bases keep payouts below €7,000.
- The seven-fold gap between Iceland and Hungary proves pension size tracks economic heft, not political will.
⚠️ Data Note
Eurostat no longer publishes comparative figures for the UK.
Southern Europe's Challenge
Mediterranean countries present a mixed picture.
Italy and Greece spend substantial portions of their GDP on pensions (10.6% and 11.6% respectively), yet their per-beneficiary amounts are moderate.
This suggests these systems support large retiree populations relative to their working-age demographics—a classic challenge of aging societies.