On the 65th anniversary of the German-Turkish labour recruitment agreement, attention is turning not only to the contribution of the first generation but also to its financial circumstances in retirement. Data from Germany’s statutory pension insurance system, reported by Deutsche Welle based on a special analysis for Mediendienst Integration, show that pensioners holding Turkish citizenship receive an average of about €890 a month. The comparable figure for German citizens is around €1,250.
A monthly gap of about €360
The figures indicate an average difference of roughly €360 a month. In June 2026, 9.3% of retirees with Turkish citizenship received basic income support in old age, compared with 2.7% of German citizens.
Researchers point to several factors behind the gap. Many former guest workers arrived in Germany in the middle of their working lives and therefore paid into the pension system for fewer years. Low wages, periods out of work and employment in physically demanding sectors such as mining, manufacturing, construction and cleaning also affected pension entitlements. Health problems linked to strenuous work can contribute to earlier retirement or an earlier exit from employment.
The long-term social impact of labour migration
Germany’s Federal Statistical Office reported that around 2.6 million people with a Turkish migration background lived in Germany in 2025, including approximately 1.2 million born in the country. Many members of the first generation have now reached retirement age.
The agreement signed on 30 October 1961 was initially designed to recruit workers temporarily. Many, however, settled permanently, brought their families to Germany and helped shape the country’s economy and society. The pension gap shows that the social consequences of this history remain relevant today.
Illustrative photo: Unsplash / Malcolm Lightbody.
