According to a survey conducted by the opinion research institute Insa for “Bild am Sonntag,” nearly half of people in Germany do not currently save any private money for retirement. Specifically, 42 percent stated they do not save supplementary funds for their retirement, such as in savings accounts or stocks, while 49 percent do save money for their future. Nine percent did not provide an answer.
Regarding the future of the state pension, many citizens desire greater funding supported by tax revenue. Of those surveyed, 28 percent believe increasing the tax subsidy to the pension fund is the best way to stabilize the system. Conversely, 18 percent support higher pension contributions from employees, and 15 percent prefer slower pension growth.
Opinions are divided on linking the retirement age directly to life expectancy. A majority (58 percent) reject this model, although 28 percent favor it. In contrast, there is more support for the proposal to tie the retirement age to the number of working years. This system would mean individuals who start their professional lives later, perhaps after completing their studies, would also retire later. This concept is supported by 51 percent of respondents, while 35 percent oppose it.
Insa polled 1,004 people for “Bild am Sonntag” on June 18th and 19th, 2026.
