Based on data from the German Pension Insurance, nearly one in every two applicants receiving the early retirement option-known as “Rente mit 63” (Pension with 63)-is a woman. This finding comes from the federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs in response to a written inquiry by the parliamentary group Die Linke, as reported by the “Rheinische Post”.
The Ministry stated that between 2015 and 2025, roughly 44.4 percent of those accessing pensions as particularly long-term contributors were women. In the most recent year, approximately 262,000 people retired early after having 45 years of contributions. Of this total, men accounted for around 145,000 individuals (55.3 percent), while women totaled approximately 117,000 (44.7 percent). Notably, in 2019, the proportion of women benefiting from the “Pension with 63” was even higher, reaching 45.8 percent-the highest figure in the analysis.
In light of these statistics, Sarah Vollath of Die Linke sharply criticized the governing CDU/SPD parties for proposing to eliminate the former pension entry age after 45 years of contributions. She argued that this would unfairly affect workers who have often spent more than 45 years contributing to the pension system. “It is simply impossible that the government would cut benefits from these very people during retirement and force them to accept even lower pensions due to deductions,” she said. She added that for many women with 45 years of contributions, their existing pensions are already “just above the poverty line.”
Furthermore, the German Social Welfare Association (SoVD) warned that abolishing the penalty-free pension for particularly long-term contributors would significantly increase the risk of old-age poverty. Michaela Engelmeier, the chairwoman of the SoVD, stressed that this measure would disproportionately harm women. “Anyone who entered the workforce after completing a middle school education and worked for more than 45 years should not be punished with deductions during their retirement,” Engelmeier stated.
