Germany has the oldest working population in the EU - Germany's workforce is now the oldest in the EU—here's why
Germany now has the oldest working population in the European Union. Nearly one in four employees is aged between 55 and 64, a higher share than in any other EU country. This shift comes as the statutory retirement age has steadily climbed from 65 to 67 over recent decades.
The rise in older workers stems from Germany's aging population and changes to pension rules. Since reunification in 1990, the statutory retirement age has moved upward, reaching 67 by 2031. A major step was the 2007 pension reform, which began lifting the retirement age from 65 to 67 by 2029—later extended to 2031. Adjustments now link the age to life expectancy through the Lebenserwartungsklausel (life expectancy clause).
Early retirement options have also been scaled back, pushing more people to work longer. Over the past 20 years, the average retirement age has increased from 63 to 64.7. Meanwhile, the share of workers aged 55 to 64 in Germany (24 percent) exceeds the EU average of 20 percent, as well as rates in Italy (23 percent) and Bulgaria (22.3 percent).
The trend toward an older workforce reflects both demographic pressures and policy decisions. With fewer early retirement routes and a higher statutory age, more Germans are working into their late 60s. This places the country at the top of the EU for older employees, reshaping its labour market.
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