In December 2026, AHV pension recipients will receive an average 13th AHV pension of approximately 1,580 francs. This can be deduced from the previous year’s figures.

Approximately 2.6 million people received an AHV old-age pension in 2025 (BSV 2026). Across all pensions, the average monthly pension at the end of the year was 1,576 francs. Just under 40% of AHV pension recipients received a monthly old-age pension between 1,500 and 2,000 francs. Due to the cap, this group includes a particularly high number of married individuals—whereas pensions for single individuals vary much more widely. Just under one-third of old-age pensions are paid abroad (14% of the total old-age pension amount), as reported in the publication “Social Security CHSS.”

The 13th AHV pension will be paid out for the first time in December 2026. It corresponds to one-twelfth of the old-age pension received that year. A look at the previous year’s pensions allows for an estimate of the average amount of the 13th AHV pension in the current year.

Contribution Period and Earnings Determine the Amount

The amount of the AHV old-age pension depends mainly on the contribution period and the average earned income. Anyone who has paid contributions for the entire insurance period (44 years) receives a full pension. Missing contribution years result in a partial pension.

To qualify for the maximum full pension, currently 2,520 francs per month, the relevant average annual income over the entire insurance period must have been at least 90,720 francs (as of 2026). If this amount is 15,120 francs or less, a person with a full contribution period will receive the minimum pension of 1,260 francs.

For married couples, the income earned during the marriage is divided between the two partners. In addition, pensions may be capped: If both spouses receive a pension, the total of their pensions may generally not exceed 150% of the maximum pension according to the applicable pension scale—that is, 3,780 francs per married couple with a full contribution period.

Those who defer receiving their AHV pension receive a bonus. In such cases, the pension may exceed the maximum full pension. If the AHV pension is taken early, the pension is reduced, so that it may fall below the minimum pension of the respective pension scale.

More than two-thirds of all pensions are below 2,000 francs

Of the approximately 2.6 million pension recipients, 39% received a monthly old-age pension between 1,500 and 2,000 francs. This group includes many married individuals whose spouses also receive a pension from the AHV or IV, as their pensions may be capped.

Slightly less than 30% of all pension recipients received a pension of more than 2,000 francs per month. However, fewer than 10% of all pensioners received more than 2,500 francs per month. This highest pension bracket includes, for example, unmarried individuals with full-scale pensions and high incomes.

Small pensions of less than 500 francs per month were paid to 18% of pension recipients. Such pensions are due to incomplete contribution periods: Anyone who pays the minimum contribution to the AHV for 44 years is generally entitled to the minimum pension of 1,260 francs.

Over 40% of pension recipients were married or in a registered partnership—with their spouse or partner also receiving an AHV or IV pension. The vast majority of this group received a pension between 1,500 and 2,000 francs. Due to the cap, their pensions exceed 2,000 francs significantly less often. At the same time, they also enjoy various benefits such as income sharing or the widow’s supplement.

For individual pensions, the range is wider: nearly one-third received a pension between 2,000 and 2,500 francs, and 17% even received a pension of over 2,500 francs. For 24%, the individual pension is less than 500 francs.

Significantly Lower AHV Pensions Abroad

About one-third of all pensions were paid abroad. These are significantly lower than pensions paid domestically, as many of these pension recipients were insured in Switzerland only for part of their working lives and therefore have fewer years of contributions. As a result, only 14% of the total pension amount is transferred to pension recipients abroad.

On average, the old-age pension paid abroad amounted to 702 francs. Over 60% of AHV old-age pensions for people residing abroad were paid to individuals in the neighboring countries of Italy, Germany, France, and Austria. Another 22% went to Spain or Portugal.

Looking only at pensions paid in Switzerland, the average pension amounted to 1,969 francs. Nearly 80% of all pension recipients in Switzerland received an old-age pension ranging from 1,500 to 2,500 francs per month.

Pensions of less than 1,000 francs, on the other hand, were paid to fewer than 4% of pension recipients in Switzerland. By comparison, about 70% of pensions paid abroad were less than 1,000 francs. And the share of pensions between 1,500 and 2,500 francs was 17%.

Women with Higher Pensions

A breakdown by gender shows that women received slightly higher AHV pensions overall—1,630 francs—than men, who received an average of 1,517 francs. This is due, in part, to the widow’s supplement, which increases the old-age pension of widowed individuals by up to 20%.

A total of 9% of all individuals received an old-age pension of 2,520 francs—or more.

13th AHV Pension: Special Provisions

Individuals who are entitled to an old-age pension in December are eligible for the 13th old-age pension. Anyone who begins receiving an AHV pension for the first time in 2026 will have the 13th pension credited in December on a pro-rata basis for the actual months of pension receipt in 2026.

No 13th AHV pension is paid for the children’s pension, the supplementary pension, or the pension supplement for women of the AHV 21 transitional generation. The 2026 AHV statistics will show the actual average amount of the 13th AHV pension.