The number of pensioners fell to a minimum during the pension reform

Over the past six months, the number of pensioners in Russia has decreased by 404,200 people, according to the data of the Social Fund, cited by the newspaper Vedomosti. As of January 1, 2023, there were 41.78 million of them, and on July 1 – already 41.38 million. This is the minimum for the entire period of the pension reform (since 2019).

According to the results of the first half of the year, the number of working pensioners amounted to 7.8 million people. This is 82,500 less than in January. Working pensioners in July received an average of 16,114 rubles. (+717 rubles for six months). There were 33.5 million non-working pensioners, although on January 1 there were 322 thousand more. This category received an average pension of 20,260 rubles. (compared to 20,239).

The highest pensions are received by residents of Chukotka (31,683 rubles), the Nenets Autonomous Okrug (29,268 rubles), and the Kamchatka Territory (28,287 rubles). The smallest pensions are in Dagestan (14,473 rubles), Kabardino-Balkaria (14,792 rubles) and Ingushetia (15,454 rubles). The average size of the assigned pension throughout Russia for working and non-working pensioners increased from 19,322 to 19,475 rubles in six months.

In total, 33.8 million people received old-age pensions at the beginning of July. The average pension amounted to 20,822 rubles. The average disability pension is 12,763 rubles; 2.2 million Russians receive them. 1.4 million citizens are entitled to survivor’s pensions. The average size of such a pension was 13,867 rubles. The average social pension at the beginning of July is 12,541 rubles. They were issued 3.4 million times.

The reduction in pensioners in Russia may be due to the fact that citizens do not retire in old age, says David Krishtal, deputy chairman of the Federation of Independent Trade Unions. According to the transitional period of the pension reform, in 2023, 2025 and 2027, those who are entitled to early retirement will be able to retire – for long service or living in the Far North, as well as officials, artists and doctors.

Anastasia Larina