More and more Austrians are having doubts about a sufficiently high state pension: this is the mood of the new “Pension Study 2026”, conducted by IMAS International for Erste Bank/Sparkassen and Wiener Städtische. The topics of housing in old age, care and support are highly relevant – even if care itself is surprisingly low on the list of priorities. 1,000 people in Austria aged between 16 and 65 were surveyed.
Why we find this study so important:
It reveals a precautionary logic in which health, housing and financial security are at the top of the list – and at the same time it shows that many people are more concerned with this “in principle” than in concrete terms. People often only become aware of long-term care as a pension issue when it suddenly arises. Until then, people tend to avoid the topic – out of uncertainty, shyness and sometimes simply because there is no room for it in everyday life.
It is precisely in this gap that orientation can make a difference. Care needs can rarely be planned, but the conditions for how well you can deal with them can be influenced: by dealing with the housing situation in good time (e.g. accessibility and safety), by providing clear information at an early stage, by providing greater support for family caregivers – and by providing solutions that are suitable for everyday use and that do not have to be laboriously sought out at the moment of crisis, but can be found quickly.
Financial provision “very” or “rather” important
First of all, the broad basic consensus is striking: financial provision is “very” or “fairly” important for 90% – a record high in recent years. At the same time, the study describes a growing uncertainty: three quarters of respondents do not believe they will receive a sufficiently high state pension later on. This is a significant increase compared to 2024, when 62% responded accordingly. This is explained by demographic pressure and geopolitical uncertainties. It is also pointed out that discussions about the financial viability of the pension system are noticeably eroding confidence.
This mood is also reflected in the fact that many respondents take a rather gloomy view of their future: 61% expect the economy and quality of life to deteriorate in the coming months. In this climate, provision is perceived less as a “luxury” and more as an attempt to create stability.
In terms of content, two topics clearly dominate: health and pensions. According to the press release, 67% are prepared to make private provisions for health and 61% for their pension. There is also a strong desire for a financial reserve in the event of a crisis (60%), followed by housing (55%) and family (50%). The topic of care ranks a distant second with only 27%.
Old-age poverty: major concern, classic countermeasures
The study shows how great the concern about poverty in old age is – and how unequally this concern is distributed between the sexes. As many as 39% rate their personal risk of being affected by poverty in old age as high. The proportion is higher for women than for men. On average, the 1,000 survey participants estimate the amount of their future gross pension at 2,023 euros per month. Men expect an average of 2,254 euros, women 1,748 euros. The pension gap in Austria remains as high as ever: On average, women receive almost 40 percent less pension than men. Financial security is a particular issue for the younger population group between the ages of 16 and 29, who think about their future financial security more often than they did 5 years ago.
Respondents see two main levers as plausible countermeasures to the threat of poverty in old age: making private provision as early as possible and providing more state support for private provision. 86% see early private provision as effective, while 77% would like to see greater state support for this. A high 63% of respondents assume that they will have to work in retirement in order to maintain their desired standard of living in old age.
Those who take precautionary measures often remain traditional: on average, EUR 225 per month is spent on private pension provision – despite the economic strain, this figure remains at a high level. At EUR 265, men invest significantly more than women at EUR 179. The most frequently used instrument is the savings account (51%), followed by life insurance (38%) and securities and fund savings plans (25%). For the first time in years, savings accounts are less in demand, while life insurance policies and securities & fund savings plans are becoming more popular. Just under half of Austrians in the age range surveyed have not yet taken out a pension or life insurance policy.
Another finding fits in well with the everyday lives of many people: planning security is lacking not only because of “system debates”, but also on a small scale. Only around half (51%) are aware of the current balance in their personal pension account; within this group, only around half are satisfied with their balance. This is an indication that although many people talk about pensions and are concerned, they are only partially aware of their own starting position.
You can find out more about the study here: https://www.wienerstaedtische.at
Author: Anja Herberth
Chefredakteurin
