Throwing pensioners. There are not the same number of them every year

In 2026, women born in 1966 (turning 60 years old) and men born in 1961 (turning 65 years old) will retire. It’s just started.

People from the first half of the year, to whom ZUS grants a pension for the first time and starts payment of benefits, most often submit their application in July. This is due to the fact that in June each year, the annual capital indexation is carried out, which allows for the calculation of a higher benefit than in other months. However, this does not change the overall situation worth discussing.

Cost of living makes a difference. ZUS calculations cool down the enthusiasm for retirement

ZUS reported that at the end of 2025 it paid pensions of PLN 6,423,000. people. Last year was the weakest in this respect. Statistics show that only 279.6 thousand people retired in 2025.

The year 2023 was a record year in this respect – 323.6 thousand people applied for benefits from ZUS.

Almost the same number of people ended their professional careers in 2020 and 2021: 293.1 thousand and 293.9 thousand, respectively. In this respect, the years 2022 and 2024 are also similar: 302.3 thousand new retirees and 302.2 thousand, respectively.

A very convincing argument explaining the small number of retirees in 2025 is the thesis that many eligible seniors simply decided to continue working after reaching retirement age. This is mainly due to the desire to obtain a higher benefit (the accumulated capital is divided over a smaller number of months), and worse – from the need to cope with the rising costs of living.

Many women in particular were surprised by the reality. The first calculations from the capital system often turned out to be insufficient. However, additional months or years of work allow you to significantly increase the basis for your future pension. There is another explanation.

Convincing demographics. Are more boys or girls born in Poland?

In Poland, demography is as important as the cost of living. The year was 1960 the beginning of a clear demographic decline. The decline in the number of births was due to the fact that only a small number of people born during World War II reached childbearing age. For men, the difference was dramatic due to the effects of the war.

In 1959, 277,000 boys were born, and a year later – only 244,000, i.e. 33,000 boys less.

Women born in 1965 also hit a demographic low. In 1965 it was born 547.4 thousand kids – about 16.5 thousand births less than in 1964. Moreover, in Poland – as in the entire documented history of humanity – There are always more boys than girls born biologically.