The topic of many rural elderly in China receiving only around 200 yuan (RMB) in pension per month has recently sparked public attention. Commentators have pointed out that besides the meager pension making it difficult for the elderly to survive, they also face additional survival pressures.
According to data released by Baidu on February 13, 2025, the average pension for rural elderly aged 60 and above is 123 yuan per month in 2025, an increase of 20 yuan compared to 2024. The specific amounts vary by region, such as Beijing with 924 yuan per month; developed regions like Zhejiang and Jiangsu with over 200 yuan per month; and northeastern regions with 110-140 yuan per month.
Pension data for Chinese elderly from Baidu. (Screenshot)
In China, pensions consist of basic pension and individual account pension. The basic pension is a nationwide standard, while the individual account pension accumulates based on individual payment situations. Farmers can choose to pay monthly or in a lump sum. The more they contribute, the higher their future pension will be. For example, if someone pays 3000 yuan annually and completes 15 years of contributions, they can receive a monthly individual account pension of 324 yuan.
To increase the individual account pension portion for rural elderly, some provinces in China raised the upper limit of annual contributions to 8000 yuan in 2025.
In response, commentators like “Tons of Finance Chatter” in China’s financial sector have expressed that while it seems attractive to pay more to receive higher pensions in retirement, the question remains: how many farmers can afford such high contribution standards?
In Heilongjiang Province, “Insights on Salary Talks” revealed on February 11 that 73-year-old Grandma Li, living alone in the village while her children work in other places, can only receive a basic pension of 150 yuan per month. She leads a thrifty life and feels immense pressure when needing coal for winter heating or buying medicine when ill. Grandma Li remarked, “What can I do with 150 yuan? I can’t afford to get sick.” Many rural elderly rely on the basic pension to sustain their lives, but due to its low standard, their quality of life lacks effective guarantee. For families without stable income sources, pensions are their lifelines.
During the Chinese New Year, journalists from “Southern Weekend” visited a village in the southern part of Shaoxing City, Zhejiang Province, where a 73-year-old rural elderly receives a pension of 390.5 yuan per month.
This elderly person has been farming in the village, with limited income from farming now. Fortunately, he knows electrical work and takes on village electrical jobs, earning over 6000 yuan annually.
However, the combination of pension and electrical income still leaves him struggling. His son runs a less successful store in Hangzhou, incurring significant expenses, with a grandchild about to start elementary school, requiring money everywhere. As a father, he can only provide some support.
In the village, most elderly individuals have not retired and are still working. There are 88-year-olds still earning by digging bamboo shoots.
Reflecting on this situation, “Tons of Finance Chatter” lamented on February 12 that this is the current reality in rural areas. The saying used to be “raising children for old age,” but now it’s about continuing to support children when old. Young people from rural areas lack resources and backgrounds, making it extremely challenging to establish themselves in cities. High betrothal gifts, high housing costs, and high childbirth expenses leave young people breathless. Without parental support, many young people in rural areas can’t afford to marry or buy houses. Consequently, there are increasing numbers of single young men from rural areas.
“Tons of Finance Chatter” pointed out that apart from low pensions, farmers face a more significant crisis: the dilemma of “no work available.” In recent years, cities like Shanghai, Tianjin, Shenzhen in Guangdong, Taizhou in Jiangsu, Nanchang in Jiangxi, and Jingzhou in Hubei have required real name registration at construction sites, prohibiting the contracting of overaged rural workers. Those not under contract can’t enter construction sites, barring men over 60 and women over 50 from engaging in construction work. Moreover, men over 55 and women over 45 are restricted from performing underground, high-altitude, or high-temperature work at construction sites. Beyond construction sites, older rural workers are seldom hired for security, cleaning, factory work, and more.
“Tons of Finance Chatter” expressed that for farmer friends, the combination of extremely low pensions, a lack of job opportunities, and the need to financially support children makes life very difficult. Their contributions are no less than urban residents. Farmer friends have paid grain taxes and agricultural taxes for decades, later contributing to urban development. Retired elderly people have become the group with the largest wealth gap, with pensions differing by several tens of times between urban and rural workers.
After this news was released, more than five hundred netizens participated in discussions on Tencent’s website, with most expressing sorrow for rural elderly and dissatisfaction with current policies.
“Month of the Fifteenth” shared: “The author (‘Tons of Finance Chatter’) spoke the truth and spoke from the heart.”
“Yuan” disclosed: “Our 60 to 70-year-old elders receiving 125 yuan pension face a bleak situation.”