The highest and lowest pensions in Poland. The difference is shocking.

Pension levels in Poland vary. Some seniors receive benefits comparable to those of senior executives, while others receive significantly lower amounts. Understanding how pension rates are set can help you earn a higher income after retirement.

According to data from the Social Insurance Institution (ZUS), there are currently approximately 6.35 million retirees in Poland. The average benefit paid is PLN 4,039.44 gross . It should be emphasized, however, that this average does not reflect the full scale of variation. Differences in pension amounts are significant.

The record holder has remained the same for several years. He's a senior citizen from Silesia who retired at the age of 86. He paid contributions for almost 63 years, so now, after the March indexation, he receives over PLN 51,000 gross per month (last year, it was almost PLN 49,000).

SEE: If your pension is low, ZUS may give you an extra 500 PLN each month.

As Bartosz Gaca, director of the Social Insurance Institution (ZUS) Pension and Disability Benefits Department, told Gazeta.pl, this individual held managerial and research positions for most of her career. Her ZUS account has accumulated PLN 2.4 million in contributions.

This isn't the only case of a high pension. In 2024, the Social Insurance Institution (ZUS) reported that one of the highest benefits was received by a man from Mazovia, who, after 60 years of work and retiring at almost 86, received PLN 40,800 gross . Among women, the highest benefit (PLN 37,900 gross) went to a woman from Bydgoszcz who retired after 61 years of work. After indexation in 2025, these amounts increased to PLN 45,300 and PLN 42,100 gross per month, respectively.

However, there are also seniors whose accounts receive an almost unnoticeable amount. According to the Social Insurance Institution (ZUS), in 2024 the lowest rate was two groszy . This was received by a senior woman from Biłgoraj who worked for one day. Another case involves a woman from the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship. While employed for three months on a contract of mandate, she saved enough to receive a benefit of six groszy .

SEE: Good news for seniors. More and more benefits and allowances for those over 65.

Such cases are not uncommon. Not everyone is entitled to the statutory minimum pension, currently amounting to nearly 1,710 PLN net. This is achieved by reaching retirement age (60 for women and 65 for men) and a contribution period of 20 years for women and 25 for men.

Interestingly, the number of people receiving less than the minimum wage is growing. By 2025, there will be 437,900 of them, an 8.4% increase. More than 25,000 of them receive no more than PLN 500 gross.

When planning to leave work, it's worth remembering the factors that influence the value of benefits. The longer the contribution period , the more funds are saved. Furthermore, a later retirement from work is associated with a shorter life expectancy.

SEE: Fuel Discounts for Seniors: An Easy Way to Fuel Up Cheaper

Even the specific time of year matters, as the payer's sub-account with the Social Insurance Institution (ZUS) is always indexed in June. In 2025, the indexation rate was 14.41%, and policyholder accounts were credited with a total of PLN 566.6 billion.