The employee pension contribution is being standardised
In 2026, earnings-related pension contributions will change: in the future, all employees will pay the same amount in pension contribution, regardless of age.
Currently and in previous years, employees aged 53 to 62 have paid a higher pension contribution than other age groups. Similarly, their pension has accrued at a higher rate. As of next year, age will no longer affect the size of the pension contribution.
As of the beginning of 2026, all employees aged 17 to 69 will pay the same contribution. In 2026, the employee’s basic contribution is 7.3 per cent of their wage.
Changes to pension contributions in different age groups in 2025–2026:
- Under 53-year-olds: the contribution rises from 7.15% to 7.3%
- 53–62-year-olds: the contribution reduced from 8.65% to 7.3%
- Over 62-year-olds: the contribution rises from 7.15% to 7.3%
The rate at which pension accrues will also become uniform across all age groups, set at 1.5% of the wage. Previously, employees aged between 53 and 62 years accrued pension at a higher rate of 1.7% of the wage.
This change stems from the 2017 pension reform, which stipulated that age-based contributions would be abolished by the end of 2025.
The abolishment of age-based contributions will also affect the pension contributions of the self-employed. In 2026, the YEL contribution for the self-employed will be 24.4%. This year, the rates were 24.1% and 25.6% (for those aged 53–62). Since newly self-employed persons receive a discount, the average YEL contribution is estimated at 23.1%.
