Average pension in Ukraine — what has happened to payments over 30 years.

Most Ukrainian pensioners feel financially insecure, even after the recent increase in pension payments. These increases do not keep pace with the rising prices of food, medicine, and services.

Experts from the publication 'Na Pensii' explained why Ukrainian pensioners do not actually feel an increase in their payments.

How the average pension size in Ukraine has changed over the last 30 years

By the end of 2025, the average pension in Ukraine increased by 594 hryvnias (by 10.7%) and amounts to 6,410 hryvnias. However, pensioners are left with only 15 dollars more, which is insufficient for real improvement.

From 52 hryvnias in 1997 to 6,410 hryvnias in 2025, the size of pensions in hryvnias increased 124 times, but in dollars it increased only 5.6 times — from 27 to 153 dollars. This shows that the purchasing power of pensioners is growing much more slowly than it seems.

What the average pension in Ukraine should be

According to the chairman of the parliamentary committee on finance, tax and customs policy, Danilo Hetmantsev, the minimum pension should be 4,000 hryvnias, and the average — around 12,000–13,000 hryvnias. This is feasible in the country as there are sufficient resources.

Though pensioners have access to social benefits that allow them to save on everyday expenses, most currently receive only 3,000–4,000 hryvnias each month, which is not enough to cover even the most essential expenses.