Mean pension paid by ZUS increased by over PLN 300 in the period January-August 2025 – according to the bulletin “Monthly information on selected cash benefits”.
At the end of January 2025, ZUS served 6.357 million retirees. In August, this number decreased to 6.354 million, a decrease of approximately 3,000 people.
ZUS data shows that the average amount of the pension paid in August 2025 was PLN 4,255.66. This is a significant increase compared to the beginning of the year, when the average pension was PLN 3,948.91. Within eight months, the average benefit increased by PLN 307.
Average pension and annuity paid by ZUS. Source: “Monthly information on selected cash benefits”.
See also: Marta Nawrocka with her second pension. The state pays for her benefits
Average pension in Poland 2025
The increase in the amount of pensions was influenced, among others, by: March indexation, which increased the average pension by PLN 250 compared to February. Below we present the average pension amounts in the following months of 2025:
— January: PLN 3,948.91,
— February: PLN 3,958.67,
— March: PLN 4,210.99,
— April: PLN 4,198.58,
— May: PLN 4,189.54,
— June: PLN 4,190.19,
— July: PLN 4,212.20,
— August: PLN 4,255.66.
See also: “15th retirement” in December. Who will get it?
ZUS increases spending on pensions
The increase in the average pension translates into an increasing burden on the state budget. In August 2025, ZUS paid out over PLN 27 billion for pensions in one month for the first time (PLN 27.041 billion). For comparison, in December 2023, monthly pension expenses amounted to PLN 21.75 billion, and in December 2024 – PLN 25.07 billion.
Throughout 2024, ZUS allocated PLN 292.290 billion for pensions. Meanwhile, PLN 210.805 billion has already been spent in the first eight months of 2025. This means that pension spending in 2025 could be record high.
Retirement in 2026 in Poland. How much will the indexation be?
From March 1, 2026 retirees can count on further indexation of their benefits. Forecasts indicate that the increase will be smaller than in previous years, which is due to lower inflation and slower wage growth.
The final indexation rate will be known in February 2026. Then the Central Statistical Office will announce data on inflation and wage growth for 2025.
Pension indexation – the president's proposal
President Karol Nawrocki signed the draft “Dignified Retirement” bill. It assumes the introduction of an increase in the minimum pension by PLN 150 in 2026.
According to the project, the amount of PLN 150 is to be indexed every year by the value of the indexation index, so as to maintain the right to a decent increase in pensions in the years after 2026.
What does the president of ZUS say about this? — Sometimes I wonder how excited people get about whether the valuation is high or not. And then they forget about the simple story – that indexation is a derivative of inflation – said the president of ZUS Zbigniew Derdziuk in the “Onet Rano. Finansowo” program.
And he added: – If there is a high indexation, it means that there was high inflation. We don't want high inflation.
