On 11 November, a Facebook user known for frequently spreading disinformation, Irma Khakhutaishvili, published an identical post on her two accounts regarding pension amounts in EU countries. Specifically, she writes that in the Baltic States and Romania the pension amounts to $350, while in Bulgaria it is $300, which is roughly equivalent to GEL 800-900. She claims that these states have already been in the EU for 20 years, which, according to her, proves that EU membership does not automatically mean high pensions.
Irma Khakhutaishvili’s claim that pensions in the countries she mentions amount to only $350 is manipulative. In reality, the pension systems in these countries are complex and consist of several components, resulting in an average pension received by most pensioners exceeding the figures given in the post.
The Facebook user does not specify which sources she relies on when discussing pensions in these countries. It should be emphasized that pension systems in these states are quite complex, and the pension amount for each person is calculated based on the years they have worked, the income tax they have paid, and other relevant bonuses. Therefore, there is no single universal number that applies to everyone. However, according to Euronews, even back in 2022, except for Bulgaria, the average pension amount in all the states mentioned exceeded the figure cited in the post. According to the data, three years ago the average pension in Estonia was €611, in Latvia €474, in Lithuania €444, in Romania €424, and in Bulgaria €301 (approximately $350).
- Estonia
In Estonia, the statutory retirement age from 2026 will be 65. Anyone who has reached retirement age and has at least 15 years of pensionable service will receive an old-age pension. This service includes activities accumulated over a lifetime, such as studying and working. If a person meets these criteria, their pension amount is calculated from several components: a basic amount of €377, plus bonuses based on work years, income tax paid, and other contributions. According to official 2025 data, the average old-age pension increased by 5.7% compared to the previous year and amounts to €817. Pension amounts in the country rise annually. For example, compared to 2024, the increase was €43.
It should be noted that in Estonia, a person who has reached retirement age can receive a pension even without 15 years of pensionable service. If such a person has lived in Estonia for the last five years before submitting their application, they are granted a “national pension,” which amounts to €393.
- Lithuania
Just like Estonia, from 2026 Lithuania’s retirement age will also be 65. To receive a pension, one must meet the age requirement and have at least 15 years of pensionable service, which includes periods during which the person paid income tax and contributed to the state budget. It is important to note that to receive the full pension, one must have 34 years of social insurance status, which results in a higher pension. In Lithuania as well, the pension consists of several components and takes into account years worked and contributions made. According to the Ministry of Finance, in 2024 the average pension for older citizens with the minimum employment duration was €640, rising to €721 in 2025. For those who meet the 15-year minimum but have not reached the 34-year threshold, the average pension increased from €600 to €673.
In addition to these pensions, Lithuania provides several other types of pensions for individuals who have reached retirement age. These include pensions for people with disabilities, single parents, etc. These amounts vary and are generally much lower than the standard pension, intended primarily to help cover essential needs. Among them is the social assistance pension, available to several categories, including people who have reached retirement age but do not meet the required 15-year contribution minimum. They make up 6.5% of all pensioners and received €197 per month from this system in 2024.
- Latvia
Unlike the other Baltic states, Latvia already has a retirement age of 65. To be eligible for a pension, at least 20 years of work/tax contribution is required. As in the other Baltic countries, the pension in Latvia is calculated from several components and assigns significant importance to the number of years worked. A person who reaches retirement age but does not meet the required 20 years can receive a state social security allowance, currently set at €166. As of June 2025, the average pension in the country amounted to €624. It is noteworthy that this month the average pension differed significantly among municipalities, ranging from €515 to €780.
- Romania
In Romania, the retirement age is also 65. To receive a pension, citizens or permanent residents must be part of the pension system for at least 15 years, though the full contribution period is defined as 35 years. The pension system is more complex than those of the Baltic states and is calculated based on points accumulated monthly. According to Romania’s National Institute of Statistics, in the first quarter of 2025, 3,931,000 people of retirement age received pensions, with an average amount of 3,239 Romanian lei, which is approximately €637. Notably, in the first quarter of 2024, this figure was 2,683 lei, i.e., around €527. Of these 3,931,000 individuals, 3,204,000 met the full 35-year contribution requirement and received an average pension of 3,407 lei (€670), while the 727,000 people who did not meet the requirement received an average of 2,502 lei (€492).
- ბულგარეთი
In Bulgaria, the retirement age has been gradually increasing in recent years – by two months for women and by one month for men annually. The government aims to equalize this at 65 for both genders by 2037. The requirements for receiving a full pension also increase continuously. This year, men need 39 years and 8 months of pensionable service, while women need 36 years and 8 months. If a person does not meet these requirements but is at least 70 years old and has a very low or no income, they are granted a state social pension, which in 2025 amounts to 333 leva (about €170). This option is currently used by only around 6,000 people. The number of those who meet all the criteria exceeds 1,200,000, and as of 1 July, the minimum pension amount they receive is set at 630 leva, which is around €322. However, it is important to highlight that the average pension at the beginning of the year was 929 leva (€475), and according to next year’s budget, it will increase to €541, with the minimum pension rising to €346. The amount of the social pension is also increasing by about 7.5%.
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