Rentenalter: Rentenalter 68: Griechenlands Beschäftigte müssen bald länger arbeiten

Griechenland's employees will have to prepare for a longer working life as the retirement age is set to rise to 68 by 2030, according to a new European Commission report. This would make Greece one of the EU countries with the longest working life, alongside Denmark. The report, "Ageing Report 2027," investigates the consequences of ageing for Europe's economy.

The mechanism linking the retirement age to life expectancy was introduced in Greece in 2021 and has remained unchanged since a rise to 67 years during the debt crisis in the 2010s. The last review in 2024 did not adjust the age because the remaining life expectancy of 65-year-olds had increased by less than a year compared to 2010.

The next review in 2027 will see the mechanism take effect. Early retirement will also move back: from 62 years to 63 years starting in 2030 and potentially up to 67 years by 2080. Those with at least 40 years of insurance contributions can still retire at 62. Fewer contributors are the main reason for the pressure to adjust. Greece has one of the lowest birth rates in Europe, currently averaging 1.2 children per woman.

Even if the rate rises to 1.45 by 2080, it will still be far below the 2.1 children needed to maintain population levels. Life expectancy is also increasing, with women born in 2025 expected to live on average to 84.5 years and men to 79.5 years. By 2080, life expectancy is forecast to reach 90.1 years for women and 86.4 years for men.

This means the period of receiving a pension will also lengthen. Greece's population is expected to shrink from 10.4 million in 2025 to 7.6 million by 2080, while the proportion of people over 65 will rise from 23.9% to 34.6%. There will be nearly 70 people over 65 for every 100 people aged 20 to 64. Currently, there are 41 people in the working age group for every 100 people in this age group.

The number of people in the working age group is expected to fall from 4.65 million to 3.07 million. The Commission also expects more people to remain in the workforce into older age. The average age of leaving the workforce is expected to rise from 64.9 years in 2025 to 65.7 years in 2030 and 68.6 years in 2080. Among those aged 65 to 69, the proportion in the workforce could increase from 17.9% to over 50% by 2080.

However, it remains to be seen whether all employees will be healthy enough to work longer and if companies will have enough suitable jobs available. Denmark, Italy, Estonia, and Slovakia have also linked the retirement age to life expectancy. Finland plans to introduce this mechanism in 2030. Experts see this as an advantage, as it removes the sensitive issue of pensions at least partially from partisan political debates and short-term election campaign interests.

Germany, too, must prepare for an aging society, with the retirement age due to rise to 67 by 2031. This automatic linkage to life expectancy does not yet exist in Germany, and any further increase would need to be decided and passed politically. Greece's experience, however, is not a simple model. During the debt crisis, the country had to make drastic pension cuts under pressure from international creditors.

Despite these cuts, the average net replacement rate, which measures the ratio of net pension to last net income, remains at 88.5% in Greece, according to the OECD. In comparison, Germany's rate is only 53.3%. The high rate in Greece is relative to its lower income level. The average full-time wage in Greece was €18,800 gross in 2025, compared to €41,500 in the EU average. The net pension was only €795 per month in Greece, compared to €1,195 in Germany.