The Pension Fund of Ukraine has released updated average salary figures that directly affect the calculation of future payments. In March 2026, the official average salary from which insurance premiums were paid reached UAH 23,218. This was reported by the publication Na Pensioni.
Briefly about the main points
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The average salary in Ukraine increased to UAH 23,218 in March 2026.
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Compared to January last year, the average salary increased by more than UAH 4,500.
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The new data will increase the «starting» amount of payments for those who are just retiring.
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In Ukraine, there is a significant gap between the benefits of «new» and «old» pensioners.
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Citizens who have taken out a pension within the last three years are not subject to scheduled indexation.
How will an increase in average wages change future pensions?
The national average salary is the basic element in the calculation formula. The higher this figure is, the higher the starting amount will be for Ukrainians who will be taking a well-deserved rest in the coming years.
The dynamics of growth of the Pension Fund's base is as follows:
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January 2025: UAH 18,660
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January 2026: UAH 21,876
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March 2026: UAH 23,218
The new data has already become the official basis for calculations in accordance with the Law on Compulsory State Pension Insurance.
Reference: In Ukraine, the amount of a pension is calculated using the formula: Pension = Pp × Ikz × Ks, where NW - the average salary in the country over the past 3 years; Ickz - individual earnings ratio (comparing a person's income with the national average); X - coefficient of insurance experience.
Why do «new» pensioners get more than «old» ones?
Economists point to a systemic problem with the Ukrainian pension system. People who retire later automatically receive higher payments. This happens even if they have exactly the same length of service and level of income as those who retired earlier.
The reason is constant increase in the average salary (NW in the formula). As market wages are rising, «fresh» pensions are significantly ahead of those paid to people who retired several years ago.
Why does indexation not solve the problem of the pay gap?
The state tries to compensate for this difference by indexing (modernising) pensions annually. However, the system has a severe limitation: under planned promotion Ukrainians who retired within the last three years are not eligible.
The Pension Fund explains that such restrictions are logical. Since the «new» pensioners immediately receive a calculation based on the most recent and highest economic indicators of the country when they apply for their pensions, their amounts do not need to be updated.
