State pensions: what they actually pay.
European state pensions vary wildly. The same household relocating from Manchester to Lyon to Munich would receive substantially different state benefits in retirement. This page lays out the structures — with current figures — so you can subtract the right number from your target spending.
France — the régime général
The French state retirement system is a pay-as-you-go scheme administered by CNAV. The basic pension (50 % of average pay over the best 25 years, capped at the social security ceiling) is supplemented by mandatory complementary schemes (AGIRC-ARRCO for private-sector employees) that typically add another 25 % of replacement rate. Combined, a full-career private-sector employee earning around the median wage retires on roughly 50 % of net pre-retirement income.
Eligibility age (legal retirement) was raised to 64 in the 2023 reform; full-rate pension typically requires 43 years of contributions. Cross-border workers aggregate contribution periods across EU member states under the EU Coordination Regulation.
Germany — Deutsche Rentenversicherung
The German state pension (gesetzliche Rentenversicherung) is calculated in Entgeltpunkte (earnings points). One point per year for an employee earning the national average salary; partial points for lower earners and points capped at the contribution ceiling for higher earners. The current point value (May 2026) is approximately €39.32 /month.
A full-career average earner accumulates approximately 45 points over 45 years and retires on roughly €1,770 /month gross — about 48 % replacement rate at the median wage. Standard retirement age is 67, with reductions for early retirement.
United Kingdom — New State Pension
The new state pension (introduced 2016) pays a flat amount to anyone with 35 qualifying years of National Insurance contributions. The full rate from April 2026 is approximately £230.25 /week, or roughly £11,975 /year. State pension age is currently 66, rising to 67 by 2028.
The flat-rate structure means UK higher earners receive a smaller replacement rate than median earners — roughly 25 % replacement at median income and falling to 12 % at £100,000 /year. This is why UK retirement planning leans heavily on workplace and personal pension provision (via auto-enrolment and SIPPs).
Netherlands — AOW plus second pillar
The Dutch state pension (AOW) is a flat residency-based pension of approximately €1,500 /month for a single retiree. By itself it produces a low replacement rate — the structure assumes a strong second-pillar workplace pension, which is near-universal in the Netherlands and frequently delivers another 50 % replacement rate. Combined first and second pillars produce one of the highest retirement replacement rates in Europe (~70 %).
AOW age is linked to life expectancy and currently stands at 67 years and 3 months, rising further over time.
Switzerland — the three-pillar system
Switzerland's first pillar (AHV/AVS) is a flat pay-as-you-go pension. Maximum monthly benefit is approximately CHF 2,520 for a single retiree with full contribution history. The second pillar is mandatory occupational pension (BVG/LPP); the third pillar is voluntary tax-advantaged savings (3a/3b accounts).
First-pillar replacement rate alone is roughly 40 % at median income. The Swiss system relies on the second pillar to bring total replacement rate to ~60 %.
How to use these in the calculator
Convert your expected state benefit to a monthly figure. Subtract it from your target monthly retirement spending. Enter the net figure as the spending input on the main calculator. Example: target spending €3,500 /month, expected German state pension €1,770. Net spending from savings: €1,730 /month. The calculator's drawdown projection then accurately reflects what your savings actually need to cover.