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Pension Insurance Comparison 2026

The statutory pension increases in 2026 by 4.24 percent, the pension level stays at 48 percent. For most people, this is not enough. Here you compare Riester, Rürup, private pensions and life insurance with current values – no marketing promises, with sources cited.

Last updated: 20 May 2026 · meinetarife24 Editorial Team · Sources: Deutsche Rentenversicherung, Stiftung Warentest, Finanztip, BMF

Private retirement planning in Germany - Pension insurance comparison 2026

The essentials at a glance

  • Pension increase 2026: +4.24 percent from 1 July, new pension value EUR 42.52. The pension level remains by law at 48 percent until 2031.
  • Pension gap is real: If you earn average wages for 45 years, you receive about 48 percent of your last income. You must build the rest privately.
  • Taxes: Rürup 2026 deductible up to EUR 30,826 (single), Riester up to EUR 2,100 special expenses plus base and child allowances.
  • Guaranteed rate: 2026 remains at 1.0 percent. ETF policies without guarantee can deliver better returns depending on the market, but carry more risk.
  • Riester reform 2027: The retirement savings depot replaces the old system. Existing contracts continue, new ones start under the new regime.
  • For newcomers: Social security agreements with Turkey and EU Regulation 883/2004 credit your periods. Nothing is lost if you leave Germany.

Pension figures for 2026

All values come directly from Deutsche Rentenversicherung, the Federal Ministry of Finance and the German Actuarial Association. We verified them on 20 May 2026.

+4.24%
Pension increase 2026
from 1 July (DRV)
EUR 42.52
Current pension value
from 1 July 2026
48%
Pension level
holding line until 2031
EUR 30,826
Rürup maximum
single, 2026
1.0%
Guaranteed rate
maximum calculation rate 2026
17%
Taxable share at 67
German tax code § 22

How big is the pension gap really?

The security level before taxes is set by law at 48 percent until 2031. Someone earning average wages for 45 years (reference retiree) receives roughly half their last income before taxes. Those with fewer contribution years – for instance, if they arrived in Germany later – receive correspondingly less.

Concretely, in 2026 the statutory pension pays EUR 42.52 per earning point. Someone accumulating 30 earning points receives about EUR 1,275 per month before taxes. Health insurance, long-term care insurance and income tax reduce this further. What remains is often not enough for rent plus living expenses in many cities.

This gap is exactly what private pension insurance, Riester, Rürup and life insurance close. Which suits you depends on your profession, income, marital status and plans for the future. DRV announcement on 2026 pension increase

Bevor du loslegst

Was wird hier verglichen?

Here you compare pension insurance and retirement savings plans from the Tarifcheck network. We use official tariff data from our partner. Results depend on your age, profession and income.

Dieser Vergleich ist geeignet fur:

  • Newcomers and expats wanting to understand the German retirement system
  • Employees interested in Riester or building private insurance coverage
  • Self-employed exploring the Rürup pension option
  • Families thinking through profession, marital status and future plans together

Dieser Vergleich ist NICHT geeignet fur:

  • People needing individual fee-based advice with contract analysis
  • Clients with very complex retirement arrangements spanning multiple countries
  • Those nearing retirement looking for lump-sum contribution solutions

Wichtiger Hinweis

Pension insurance are long-term contracts with terms of 20 to 40 years. Review costs, guarantees and termination conditions before signing. If uncertain, independent advice from consumer centers or fee-based advisors can help.

Datenquelle & Transparenz

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Wir bieten redaktionelle Erklärungen und Entscheidungshilfen. Die eigentliche Tarifberechnung und Vermittlung erfolgt durch unsere Partner.

Was wir nicht abdecken:

Nicht alle Anbieter am Markt sind in diesem Vergleich enthalten. Regionale Anbieter oder spezialisierte Tarife können fehlen.

So funktioniert diese SeiteDatenquellenWie wir Geld verdienen

Which pension insurance suits you?

Six building blocks, six purposes. They do not exclude each other – many combine Riester for the allowances with a small private pension for inheritance. Choose the comparison that fits your profession.

For Employees

Riester Pension

State-subsidized for employees: base allowance EUR 175, child allowance up to EUR 300. From 2027, reformed as the new retirement savings depot.

  • Base allowance EUR 175/year
  • Child allowance up to EUR 300
  • Tax deduction EUR 2,100
  • Guaranteed contribution refund
Self-Employed

Rürup Pension / Basisrente

High tax deduction: 2026 you can deduct up to EUR 30,826 (EUR 61,652 for married couples) as special expenses. Popular with self-employed.

  • Up to EUR 30,826 deductible
  • Lifelong pension
  • Creditor protection
  • Also for high earners
Maximum Flexibility

Private Pension Insurance

Private provision without subsidy, but flexible: capital option, free contribution adjustment, classic or index-linked with ETF policies.

  • Flexible contributions
  • Capital or annuity option
  • Earnings-based taxation
  • Classic or ETF policy
Protect Your Family

Life Insurance

Capital-building life insurance as provision plus survivor protection. Guaranteed rate 2026: 1.0 percent.

  • Death benefit protection
  • Savings component
  • Guaranteed rate 1.0%
  • Final bonus
Affordable Protection

Term Life Insurance

Pure death benefit protection without savings component. Worthwhile for families, home purchase or business loans. Starting from just a few euros per month.

  • High coverage
  • Low premium
  • Flexible term
  • Survivor protection
Protect Your Income

Disability Insurance

Protects your income if you cannot work in your profession due to health reasons. The statutory disability pension is rarely sufficient.

  • Income replacement
  • Available for students
  • Cheaper before age 30
  • Tax-deductible

Tax benefits 2026 at a glance

Riester and Rürup differ mainly in their tax model. High earners often come out ahead with Rürup. Those with children get much back with Riester through allowances.

Pension typeMaximum deductible 2026Government supportTaxation of pension
Rürup / BasisrenteEUR 30,826 (single) / EUR 61,652 (married)100% special expense deductionCohort 2026: 84% taxable
Riester PensionEUR 2,100 special expensesBase allowance EUR 175 / Child born after 2008 EUR 300Fully taxed in retirement
Private Pension InsuranceNo direct deductibilityNo government supportEarnings share at 67 = 17% (German tax code § 22)
Occupational Pension (bAV)Up to 8% contribution base tax-freeEmployer contribution 15% on salary conversionFully taxed in retirement

Sources: Finanztip – Retirement savings expenses, BMF – FAQ Private retirement reform. As of: May 2026.

Riester reform 2027: What you need to know

The German government is converting the Riester subsidy into a new retirement savings depot. Those signing up in 2026 should understand the transition rules.

What remains for existing customers?

Existing Riester contracts continue. You can let them sit inactive, keep saving or cancel.

Allowances, tax benefits and guarantees apply under the old rules, as long as you pay contributions and fall within the eligible group.

What comes with the new retirement savings depot?

The new depot aims to enable ETF and fund investments without strict contribution guarantees. Government support will be restructured through allowances and tax benefits.

The exact draft law is pending. We will update this page once the Federal Ministry of Finance and Federal Council have approved the details. Finanztip update.

Newcomer perspective: Pensions when you were not born in Germany

Many of our readers come from Turkey, EU countries or arrive as Blue Card holders. For pensions, this means your contribution periods do not disappear, even if you change residence.

EU Regulation 883/2004

For EU/EEA citizens and Swiss nationals

Contribution years in each member state are combined; each country pays its share. You must fulfill minimum insurance time only once; the rest is divided.

In practice, account clarification with the DRV brings your foreign periods into the German record.

Germany-Turkey Social Security Agreement

Since 1965, updated multiple times

Insurance periods in Germany and Turkey count toward the waiting period for both countries. Both states pay their pension directly, even to foreign countries.

Those taking out private pensions can continue saving even after returning to Turkey or take the capital, depending on the plan.

How safe are private pension insurance companies?

BaFin supervision and Solvency II

Insurers in Germany need a BaFin license and comply with EU regulation Solvency II. They maintain capital reserves for emergencies.

Protektor AG as safety net

In case of insolvency, Protektor AG takes over the portfolio at agreed terms. Guarantee benefits are legally protected; adjustment is possible only in extreme cases.

Guaranteed rate 1.0 percent (2026)

The maximum calculation rate for life and pension insurance is 1.0 percent in 2026. Source: German Actuarial Association, BMF.

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Inputs in the comparison calculator run SSL-encrypted. We pass your data in compliance with GDPR to the Tarifcheck partner who shows you the rates.

Known German life insurers

The Tarifcheck comparison includes plans from major German providers. Which ranks well in tests depends yearly on ratings from Stiftung Warentest and Franke and Bornberg. There is no general best-list – suitability depends on your plan.

Allianz
AXA
Generali
ERGO
Alte Leipziger
LV 1871
Neue Leben
Württembergische

Current test reviews: Stiftung Warentest – Index-linked pension insurance.

Frequently asked questions about pension insurance 2026

Answers are based on current values from Deutsche Rentenversicherung, BMF and BaFin (as of: May 2026).

How much does the public pension increase in 2026?

The statutory pension rises 4.24 percent from 1 July 2026. The current pension value climbs from EUR 40.79 to EUR 42.52. Source: Deutsche Rentenversicherung and German Federal Government.

How much can I deduct for Rürup pension in 2026?

Single persons can deduct up to EUR 30,826 as special expenses in 2026, married couples up to EUR 61,652. Since 2023, 100 percent of contributions are deductible up to the maximum. Source: Finanztip and LV1871.

What is changing with the Riester reform 2027?

From 2027, the new retirement savings depot replaces the current Riester system. Existing contracts continue, new ones start under the new system. Those concluding in 2026 should keep the reform in mind. Source: Federal Ministry of Finance.

What is the guaranteed rate in 2026?

The maximum calculation rate for life and pension insurance is 1.0 percent in 2026. The German Actuarial Association has recommended this rate; the Federal Ministry of Finance and BaFin maintain it. Source: aktuar.de and BMF.

How is my private pension taxed?

When your pension begins at age 67, you only pay tax on the earnings share of 17 percent (German tax code § 22). Those entering statutory pension in 2026 pay tax on 84 percent of the pension. By 2058, it is 100 percent.

How safe are German pension insurance companies?

Life and pension insurers are supervised by BaFin and subject to Solvency II regulation. In case of insolvency, Protektor AG takes over the portfolio at agreed terms. Guarantee benefits can in extreme cases be adjusted.

Will my pension contributions from Turkey be credited in Germany?

Yes. Germany and Turkey have a social security agreement. Insurance periods count towards the waiting period for both countries, and each state pays its share. Requesting account clarification from the DRV makes your entitlements visible.

What happens to my German pension if I leave Germany?

Entitlements from mandatory contributions remain and are transferred abroad when pension begins. Within the EU, Regulation 883/2004 ensures coordination. For non-EU countries, the respective bilateral agreement applies.

Ready for your comparison?

Choose above the pension form that suits your situation. The comparison is free, takes just minutes and you have no obligation.

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Important German terms (DE / EN)

Gesetzliche Rente

Public pension (State-run system)

Rentenlücke

Pension gap (difference between salary and pension income)

Riester-Rente

State-subsidized pension for employees

Rürup-Rente / Basisrente

Pension with full tax deduction for self-employed

Private Rentenversicherung

Private pension insurance

Garantiezins

Guaranteed minimum interest rate

Ertragsanteil

Taxable share of private pension income

Protektor AG

Guarantee fund protecting life insurance policyholders

Specifically for expats and newcomers: Private Pension in Germany for Expats – DRV, Rürup and refund rules explained
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