Average Pension in Ukraine Reaches ₴ 5,789 in 2024 Amid Inflation Struggles

At the end of 2024, the average pension in Ukraine increased to UAH 5,789, but there was no real growth as inflation ate up the increase. At the same time, more than a quarter of pensioners live on less than UAH 3,000, and in some regions, pensions have even fallen.

This is evidenced by data from the monitoring service Opendatabot.

As of the end of 2024, the average pension in Ukraine amounted to 5,789 hryvnias (approximately 132 euros at the exchange rate at the time), according to the Pension Fund. Over the year, the amount of payments increased by 7.5%, but this increase was effectively offset by inflation, which, according to the NBU, amounted to 12%.

There are currently 10.34 million pensioners in the country. During the three years of full-scale war, their number has decreased by almost half a million, which is about the same as during the two years of the pandemic.

The highest pensions are paid in Kyiv - over 8,000 hryvnias, which is a third higher than the average. The lowest are in Ternopil region, where the average payment is UAH 4,484, or 23% less than the national level.

Two regions - Rivne and Zhytomyr - recorded a significant drop in average pensions at the end of 2024: by 24% and 10%, respectively.

In the south of the country, in particular, in Odesa, Mykolaiv, and Kherson regions, pensions also remain almost at the same level. Thus, in Odesa region, the pension is UAH 5,628, in Mykolaiv region - UAH 5,547, and in Kherson region - UAH 4,968.

More than a quarter of pensioners - 2.68 million - receive less than 3,000 hryvnias per month. Another 1.26 million people receive more than 10 thousand hryvnias, but in this category the number of recipients has decreased by more than 51 thousand over the past three months.

At the same time, about 27% of pensioners continue to work. Their average pension is UAH 6,303.

By the end of 2024, the average pension in Ukraine will reach UAH 5,789, up 7.5% from a year earlier. However, due to inflation of 12%, this increase did not provide pensioners with a real improvement - the additional funds depreciated. The lowest pensions are paid in Kherson region, where the average amount of payments is 14% lower than the national average.

Meanwhile, Ukrainians have accumulated more than 100,000 new debts over the past year, mostly for fines for traffic violations and other administrative offenses. Among the southern regions, the largest number of debtors was found in Odesa region, followed by Mykolaiv and Kherson regions. About 75% of these debts are owed by men.

Анна Бальчінос