Happy retirement! Pensions in Luxembourg

Who is entitled to a pension in Luxembourg?

In Luxembourg, employees, self-employed workers, residents and cross-border workers can claim an old-age pension if they meet the conditions related to age and years of contributions. As a general rule, you need to have been affiliated with the state pension system for at least ten years. Periods spent paying into the pension system in Luxembourg, and in some cases abroad, are taken into account when it comes to eligibility for a pension. The pension depends on both the number of years of contributions and the age of the claimant.

Pension conditions and rate

In Luxembourg, the statutory retirement age is 65. Early retirement can be taken in some cases, from the age of 57 or 60.

The rate of your pension depends primarily on the number of years worked and the income earned over the course of your working life. An end-of-year allowance may also be paid.

To guarantee pensioners a minimum level of income, the statutory minimum monthly pension is €2,436.04 for those having worked a full 40 years. The maximum monthly pension is €11,277.94. These rates have been in force since 1 June 2026, and pensions are regularly adjusted to reflect changes in the cost of living.

Most employees and self-employed workers are affiliated with the general pension scheme, funded by contributions from workers, employers and the government. There are specific schemes for public-sector workers, with rules that vary depending on their situation and the date they began working.

A pension system based on three pillars

The pension system in Luxembourg is mainly administered by the Caisse nationale d'assurance pension (CNAP) and is based on three complementary pillars:

• First pillar – the statutory public pillar: this is the compulsory state pension for private-sector employees, self-employed workers and public-sector employees, in accordance with their applicable pension scheme.
• Second pillar – the supplementary pillar: the second pillar is supplementary pension schemes offered by employers. Workplace pension schemes do exist in Luxembourg but not all companies offer them. The Centre commun de la sécurité sociale (CCSS) also enables individuals who take a career break or reduce their hours to continue or top up their pension contributions on a voluntary basis to avoid losing their pension entitlement, as long as they meet the required conditions.
• Third pillar – the individual pillar: the third pillar is retirement savings solutions taken out on an individual basis. Around 73,000 households contribute to a private pension scheme in preparation for retirement.

Caisse nationale d'assurance pension

The National Pension Insurance Office (CNAP – Caisse nationale d'assurance pension) manages the statutory pension scheme in Luxembourg. It calculates and pays pensions, manages pension claims and provides administrative support. It also offers various services: you can ask for an estimate of your future pension once you reach 55, consult your contribution history, request certificates and access forms and practical information.