Do you live or work in Germany and wonder how your state pension will work?
How much will you receive? How will your years of contributions in France be taken into account? And what if you have paid contributions in both countries?
This article provides a simple, practical explanation of how the German pension system works, the major differences with France, and the implications for French expatriates.
Whether you're at the beginning of your career or close to retirement, this guide will help you anticipate your rights and better prepare for your future. Get an initial estimate by by filling in this form (2min).
How much will I get from my German public pension?
Germany's public pension system is based on a points model.
Each year, the contributions paid earn a certain number of pension points. The calculation depends on the gross annual salary in relation to the national average reference salary (Durchschnittsentgelt), re-evaluated each year.
- If your salary is equal to the reference salary, you obtain 1 point for the year.
- If your salary is 50 % higher, you earn 1.5 points, etc.
⚠️ Attention There is an annual ceiling. In 2025, an employee cannot obtain more than 1.91 points, even in the case of very high salaries. This means that very high earners only contribute up to a certain threshold (Beitragsbemessungsgrenze), unlike France where the ceilings are much higher.
Once retired, all accumulated points are added together and multiplied by the current point value (Rentenwert), to calculate the monthly pension amount.
⏳ A discount is applied if the pension is requested before the legal age of 67.
Deutsche Rentenversicherung offers simulation tools
If you have received your information statement (Rentenbescheid), take a look at the information it contains here
Why are German public pensions often lower than those in France?
There are several structural differences between the two systems:
- 📊 In France, pension contributions are higher (≈ 27 % of gross salary vs. 18.6 % in Germany), which finances a more generous pension level.
- 📈 The contribution ceiling is much higher in France: you can contribute up to 8 times the annual social security ceiling, 350,000 per year in supplementary schemes.
📉 As a result, public pensions are often lower in Germany. This is why many Germans (and expatriates) set up a private supplementary pension to hope to maintain their standard of living.
A concrete example
Let's take a person who has worked for 40 years, with the following income :
- 10 years at €60,000
- 10 years to €100,000
- 10 years at €140,000
- 10 years at €180,000
📉 Estimated public pension in Germany : ≈ €2,400 gross/month,
compared to a final salary of 15,000 gross/month.
💡 And that's not all: we still have to deduct social security contributions and taxes.
👉 Hence the the need to anticipate and supplement retirement !
I've paid contributions in both countries: how do I accumulate my pension?
On the French side: a system based on quarters (and points for the supplementary pension)
The basic plan still operates with a quarter system.
To retire at the full rate (without discount) :
- ✅ Have validated 172 quarters (if you were born in 1973 or later)
- ✅ Or wait 67 years old, even without all the quarters
Calculation of the basic pension :
50 % × average salary over the best 25 years × (quarters spent in France/ 172)
ℹ️ Quarters contributed abroad count to avoid a discount,
but are not included in the calculation of the amount of the French pension.
The Agirc-Arrco supplementary scheme works on the basis of points, but also applies the same discount as the basic pension if you are under 67 or do not have the required 172 quarters.
And what about Germany? A minimum eligibility requirement
To receive a public pension in Germany:
You must have contributed at least 5 years (60 months). This is called Wartezeit.
But with the community calculation «European», your French years can be taken into account.
This allows open your rights, even with less than 5 years of local contributions.
How is my pension paid out if I've worked in several countries?
If you have paid contributions in several European countries:
- Each country calculates its own pension
- Each country pays its share
🗂 But demand is centralized :
If you live in Germany a single request to the Deutsche Rentenversicherung,
which then contacts the French caisses.
Conclusion
The German pension system is based on specific rules that are very different from the French system.
Understanding it means better anticipate your pension - and avoid unpleasant surprises.
➡️ We can help you estimate your future pension and build a personalized strategy.
