The average monthly Finnish pension, 2021

A total of EUR 32.8 billion of earnings-related and Kela pensions was paid in 2021. In Finland, there are 1.5 million people receive their own pensions. In ten years, the number of pension recipients has increased by 170 000, or 12 %.

Last year the average monthly pension was EUR 1 784 , just over EUR 20 more than in 2020. The median pension was EUR 1 559 per month.

• 70 % of all Finnish pensions were less than EUR 2 000 and one third - less than EUR 1 250 per month.
• 9 % of pensioners had a monthly pension in amount of more than EUR 3 000.
• The largest pensions were paid in Uusimaa, where pension recipients received an average monthly pension of EUR 2 110.
• The lowest pensions were paid in Southern Ostrobothnia around EUR 1 551.
• The province with the highest number of pension recipients is South Savo (45%). Next are Kainuu (43%) and Kymenlaakso (41%). And only in Uusimaa (26%) there are less than 30% of pensioners.
• There are about 186 000 people receive disability pensions, this is less than 6 % of the working-age population. In ten years, the number of disability pensioners has fallen by a quarter (25%). The average disability pension was EUR 1 169 per month. The average monthly pension of old-age pensioners was EUR 1 867.

The gender differences or gender gap in pensions

According to statistics manager of Finnish Centre for Pensions Tiina Palotie-Heino, the gender differences in pensions is particularly pronounced among those receiving the highest pensions. Nearly 15 % of men received a monthly pension higher than EUR 3 000, compared with 5 % of women.

The average pension for women was EUR 1 601 and for men EUR 2 006 per month, i.e., the average pension for women was one-fifth lower than for men. Only in the northernmost municipality of Finland, Utsjoki, men and women receive nearly the same amount of an average monthly pension EUR 1 670.

The gender gap remained unchanged from the previous year. The pension is accrued on the basis of earnings, so the differences in wages are strongly reflected in pension gaps.

The pension income mentioned in this article is the gross one. The data are based on the joint statistics of the Finnish Center for Pensions and Kela.

The full information and the source text can be found at Finnish Centre for Pensions, Eläketurvakeskus website.