All typical Swedish pensioner groups have seen an increase in disposable income since 2017, despite inflation, with pensioners receiving the basic pension seeing the strongest growth, research from the Swedish Pensions Agency (SPA) has revealed.

Since 2017, several reforms have been implemented, which have strengthened pensioners' incomes. This has resulted in the typical pensioner's disposable income having developed better than the average income growth of the population.

SPA analyst, Philip Berlin Jarhamn, commented: “Typical pensioners have seen strong income growth over the past 10 years, with increases of between 12 and 23 per cent. This can be compared to the average income growth for the population, which was 9 per cent over the same period.”

Jarhamn noted that the average woman has seen the highest increase in their pension through the guaranteed pension. The average woman, he explained, has seen the strongest income growth since 2017, both in percentage terms and in terms of SEK per month.

The report specifically showed that the average single woman has had the best income development during the period since 2017, with their disposable income increasing by 23 per cent, corresponding to an increase of approximately SEK 3,750 per month expressed at the 2025 price level.

However, cohabiting couples have had the worst income development during the same period, with disposable income increasing by 12 per cent in real terms.

The SPA explained that the factors that have led to higher income are increases to the basic allowance for older people, increases to the guaranteed pension and higher housing allowance.

The introduction of the income pension supplement in 2021 has also contributed to a rise in disposable income.

In addition to this, the report showed that increased guaranteed pensions, declining real wages and high inflation between 2020 and 2024 led to the income-based pension falling below the threshold that entitles the average woman and man to a guaranteed pension.

This resulted in the average woman and man becoming eligible for a guaranteed pension, which offset a reduction in their total income.

The report showed that in the forecast for 2027–2029, the disposable income of all typical cases will decrease, as inflation is expected to exceed both the indexation of the income-based pension and the growth of the price base amount.

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