Social insurance
Swiss state pension: AVS/AHV contributions and first-pillar benefits in 2026
The Swiss first pillar provides the foundation of retirement income. Your AVS/AHV pension depends on your contribution record, relevant earnings and personal circumstances—not simply your final salary.
By Sarah Prieur · Swiss certified accountant
At a glance
Key takeaways
- In 2026, a full ordinary monthly old-age pension ranges from CHF 1,260 to CHF 2,520; an incomplete record can produce a lower partial pension.
- Employee and employer each pay 5.3% for AVS/AI/APG combined.
- The first annual 13th old-age pension payment is due in December 2026.
AVS, AHV, OASI: understanding the Swiss first pillar
AVS is the French abbreviation for old-age and survivors’ insurance; AHV is the German equivalent. In English, it is often called OASI. These names refer to the same Swiss state insurance system.
The first pillar includes old-age and survivors’ insurance, disability insurance (AI/IV) and supplementary benefits (PC/EL) in their respective roles. The second pillar is occupational pension provision through pension funds. The third pillar is individual retirement provision.
AVS mainly operates on a pay-as-you-go basis: current contributions and other system resources finance current pensions. It is not an individual investment account from which you recover exactly what you paid in.
Your AVS number identifies you; it is not a contribution statement. Request an individual account statement to check recorded earnings. Records may be held by several compensation offices during your career and can be brought together. Changing employer does not reset your contribution years, but time abroad, career breaks and self-employment should be checked.
For the tied private pension component, check the pillar 3a contribution limits separately from AVS contributions.
AVS contributions in 2026
Swiss coverage depends on residence, work and international coordination rules. For an employee covered by the Swiss system, the main first-pillar payroll contributions are:
| Insurance | Employee | Employer |
|---|---|---|
| AVS/AHV: old age and survivors | 4.35% | 4.35% |
| AI/IV: disability | 0.70% | 0.70% |
| APG/EO: income compensation | 0.25% | 0.25% |
| Combined AVS/AI/APG | 5.30% | 5.30% |
These are not all payroll deductions. Unemployment insurance, occupational pensions and accident insurance follow their own rules. Unlike unemployment insurance, AVS contributions are not capped at annual pay of CHF 148,200.
Example: on CHF 6,000 of contributory gross salary, the employee’s combined AVS/AI/APG deduction is CHF 318. Paying contributions on high earnings does not remove the pension benefit ceiling.
Self-employed contributions have a maximum combined rate of 10%, with a declining scale for relevant lower incomes. There is no separate employer contribution. People without gainful employment may also owe contributions.
In qualifying circumstances, a non-working married partner’s contributions can be treated as paid through sufficient contributions by the working spouse. Ask the compensation office to confirm the conditions before stopping payments.
Reference retirement age and claiming your pension
The reference age is 65 for men. For women, the AVS 21 reform introduces the following schedule by year of birth:
| Woman’s birth year | Reference age |
|---|---|
| 1961 | 64 years and 3 months |
| 1962 | 64 years and 6 months |
| 1963 | 64 years and 9 months |
| 1964 or later | 65 years |
Use the year of birth and precise date on which reference age is reached. “Women retire at 64” is no longer a generally correct answer.
Early, deferred or partial pension payments are possible under the statutory conditions. Early payment generally reduces the pension; deferral can increase it. Special rules apply to women in the transitional generation, so use an individual calculation rather than one percentage for everyone.
Your pension does not necessarily start automatically when employment ends. The AVS/AI Information Centre recommends applying to the competent compensation office three to four months before the desired start. Coordinate this with your occupational pension fund.
How much Swiss state pension will you receive?
The main calculation factors are the contribution period and relevant average annual income. Child-raising or care credits and the splitting of spouses’ earnings can also matter. Your last salary alone cannot determine the pension.
In 2026, a full ordinary pension is between CHF 1,260 and CHF 2,520 per month. The combined pensions of a married couple are generally capped at 150% of the full maximum pension: CHF 3,780 per month where the full-cap conditions apply. Partial pensions and exceptions require separate assessment.
Two people with the same current salary may receive different pensions because one has an incomplete contribution history. Conversely, employees with very different earnings may both reach the statutory maximum.
Ask for a pension estimate to build your retirement budget alongside occupational and private pensions. It is useful for spotting gaps, but it does not replace the compensation office’s final decision.
The 13th AVS pension from December 2026
The first 13th old-age pension is paid in December 2026, as an annual addition to the December payment. It equals one twelfth of the qualifying monthly old-age pensions received during the year. You must be entitled to an old-age pension in December.
| Illustration | Qualifying pension during the year | Annual supplement |
|---|---|---|
| CHF 2,000 monthly, January–December | CHF 24,000 | CHF 2,000 |
| CHF 2,000 monthly, July–December | CHF 12,000 | CHF 1,000 |
These examples assume no other adjustments. Survivors’ pensions and disability pensions continue to be paid twelve times a year. Child pensions, supplementary pensions and the AVS 21 transitional supplement for women are excluded from the calculation base.
Budget this as an annual payment, not a uniform increase in every monthly pension. The office responsible for your December old-age pension handles the payment.
Checking and correcting contribution gaps
Request a free individual account statement and compare the recorded years and employers with your records. Report missing information promptly. A missing entry may need clarification and is not, by itself, proof of an irreversible contribution gap.
Contributions that were legally due can generally be paid retrospectively within five years. This is not a general right to buy any earlier year spent abroad or outside Swiss insurance. Youth contribution years and other calculation rules may also be relevant.
Keep salary certificates and evidence of deductions where an employer may not have reported earnings correctly. The compensation office assesses the case. Employers should reconcile payroll declarations with wages and contributions paid.
Under AVS 21, working after reference age can, subject to conditions, allow a pension recalculation. This requires a procedure and is not an automatic annual recalculation. Check your record before retirement rather than relying on later work to repair it.
For international careers, coordination rules apply. Swiss employment may create a Swiss pension entitlement, but Switzerland does not automatically pay a full pension for an entire career spent in different countries.
Frequently asked questions
Is the CHF 1,260 minimum pension guaranteed to everyone?
No. It is the 2026 minimum for a full ordinary pension. An incomplete contribution period can result in a lower partial pension.
Does a higher salary always produce a higher AVS pension?
No. The pension is capped. Once the maximum is reached, additional earnings do not produce an unlimited increase.
Are years without a job always contribution gaps?
No. A non-working person may have paid contributions or be covered by an applicable spouse rule. Check the individual account and the relevant circumstances.
Do I need a separate application for the 13th pension?
The office responsible for the December old-age pension organises the annual supplement. You must still apply for your old-age pension when first claiming it.
Can a cross-border worker receive a Swiss AVS pension?
Work covered by Swiss insurance can establish entitlement, subject to the applicable conditions. International careers require coordination and do not automatically qualify for a full Swiss pension.
Sources and further reading
About the author
Sarah Prieur
Sarah is a Swiss certified accountant, partner and head of operations at Karpeo. She supports SMEs and self-employed clients with accounting, tax, VAT and payroll, and oversees the quality of client files and year-end accounts. Before Karpeo, she spent eight years in audit at PwC Switzerland, progressing to manager.
Reliable Swiss payroll and social-insurance reporting
Karpeo supports employers with payroll and contribution declarations. Official pension calculations remain the responsibility of the compensation office.
