Women in Austria continue to receive significantly lower pensions than men – a disparity that spans decades. The Equal Pension Day serves as a stark reminder: the average gross monthly pension for women is currently 39.7 percent lower than that of men. While the gap has dropped below forty percent for the first time, it remains substantial. This year, Equal Pension Day falls on Thursday, August 7 – exactly 147 days before the end of the year. By that point, men will have received as much pension on average as women will receive by year’s end.
According to data from Vienna’s Municipal Departments for Statistics (MA 23) and Women’s Affairs (MA 57), the average gross pension for women is €1,527, while for men it’s €2,535. These figures are based on annual pension insurance statistics. When looking at newly granted pensions, the gap is smaller: women receive €1,826 and men €2,762 – a difference of 33.9 percent.
€204,000 Less Over a Lifetime
Over the course of a retirement, this gap results in a loss of approximately €204,000 in cumulative gross pension for women, according to the Momentum Institute. This discrepancy increases the risk of poverty in old age: one in five female pensioners is considered at risk of poverty. Women’s average net pension is €1,674 – only thirteen euros above the official poverty threshold. Men receive around €1,953 – roughly €300 above that line.
In comparison with other EU countries, Austria ranks among the worst performers. Among those aged 65 and over, the pension gap is 35.6 percent, according to Eurostat – only the Netherlands and Malta have higher disparities. The EU average is 24.7 percent.
Vienna Ahead, Vorarlberg Lagging
There are significant regional differences within Austria. Vienna shows the most progress – here, Equal Pension Day falls on September 19. Carinthia follows on August 10, and Lower Austria on August 6. The earliest Equal Pension Days are observed in Vorarlberg (July 13), Upper Austria (July 19), and Tyrol (July 24).
Calls for Political and Economic Reform
In light of the persistent gap, political and civil society actors are calling for reforms. Vienna’s Deputy Mayor Kathrin Gaál (SPÖ) points to high part-time employment rates, lower salaries, and unequal distribution of care responsibilities as key causes: “Changing this is a long process, but one we must pursue.” Thomas Weninger, Secretary General of the Association of Cities and Towns, is calling for pay transparency, increased paternity leave, and expanded childcare facilities.
The Momentum Institute argues for upgrading low-wage, system-relevant professions – many of which are held by women – and for better pension credits for time spent raising children or caring for relatives. It also calls for mandatory paternity leave and reduced working hours with full pay.
Diverging Political Positions
The FPÖ criticizes the slow pace of reform and calls for unpaid care work to be fully recognized in the pension system. The Green Party sees the pension gap as “a result of structural discrimination and decades of political failure,” according to spokeswoman Meri Disoski. The Greens are demanding a legal right to childcare, pay transparency, and a fairer distribution of unpaid labor.
Minister for Women’s Affairs Eva-Maria Holzleitner (SPÖ) acknowledges that much remains to be done. She points to plans in the government program, such as the implementation of the EU Pay Transparency Directive by mid-2026: “We are working at full speed,” she told ORF Radio. International examples show that pay transparency can lead to a narrowing of the pay gap.
Henrike Brandstötter of NEOS also calls for swift implementation of the measures set out in the government program. She describes the new pension sustainability mechanism as a “first important step,” but stresses that reducing the high rate of part-time work among women is key. Many women, she says, have “no other choice” but to withdraw from the labor market for extended periods due to a lack of childcare options.
