Retirement age Benin: 60, CNSS rules and 2026 pension

The retirement age Benin sets for employees covered by the CNSS (Caisse nationale de sécurité sociale, the national social security fund) is 60, provided they have at least 180 months of effective insurance, i.e. 15 years, and have stopped all paid work. Early retirement is possible up to five years earlier, from 55, with a 5% reduction per year of anticipation that is removed at 60. The pension equals 30% of average pay over the last five years, plus 2% for each year beyond 15 years. Below are the Social Security Code rules, the calculation, the steps and the employer's role. Updated 9 November 2026.

Key points

• Normal retirement age: 60 (Social Security Code, Law No. 98-019 of 21 March 2003, Article 93 as amended in 2010).
• Minimum period: 180 months of effective CNSS insurance (15 years), and all paid work stopped.
• Early retirement: at most 5 years early, with a 5% reduction per year of anticipation, removed at 60.
• Pension: 30% of average monthly pay over the last 5 years, + 2% per 12-month period beyond 180 months.
• Limits: at least 60% of the SMIG (minimum wage), at most 80% of average monthly pay.
• Under 15 years but at least 12 months of insurance: a one-off old-age allowance.
• Pension contribution: 10% of gross pay (6.4% employer, 3.6% employee), no ceiling.

Retirement age Benin: what the Social Security Code says

Private-sector pensions are governed by the Social Security Code (Law No. 98-019 of 21 March 2003). In its 2003 version, Article 93 set the pension age at 55. Law No. 2007-02 of 26 March 2007 raised it to 60 and revised the calculation; Law No. 2010-10 of 22 March 2010 added early retirement. State employees have a separate scheme, not covered here.

The current Article 93 opens the right to an old-age pension at 60 if the insured person meets two conditions:

1. at least 180 months of effective CNSS insurance;
2. all paid employment has stopped.

A "month of insurance" is a calendar month in which the employee worked at least 18 days or 120 hours in a covered job (Article 101). Periods counted for the calculation are those between ages 18 and 60. If the employee keeps working between 60 and 65, their personal old-age contributions are refunded; beyond 65, no refund is possible.

As of 9 November 2026, we found no text changing the retirement age Benin applies to private-sector employees: 60 remains the CNSS rule.

Leaving before the retirement age Benin sets

Since Law No. 2010-10, any insured person who meets the 180-month condition can claim the pension up to five years before the legal age, i.e. from 55. The pension is then reduced by 5% per year of anticipation. A Beninese specificity: at 60, the reduction is removed and the insured person receives the full pension. The reduction is therefore temporary, unlike in countries where it applies for life.

According to CLEISS (2024 fact sheet), an insured person with premature physical wear may also retire at 55. Before applying for early retirement, compare the reduced amount and the amount at 60 with the CNSS: the difference can add up over five years.

Invalidity before 60

An insured person who becomes invalid before the retirement age Benin sets is entitled to an invalidity pension with at least 60 months of insurance, including 6 in the last 12 months (Article 94). At 60 it is replaced by an old-age pension of the same amount.

Retirement age Benin and the CNSS pension calculation

Reference pay is average monthly pay: one sixtieth of pay subject to contributions over the last five years of insurance (Article 95). The pension is:

30% of average monthly pay + 2% per 12-month period of insurance beyond 180 months

• Minimum: 60% of the SMIG. With a SMIG of 52,000 FCFA, in force since 1 January 2023, that is 31,200 FCFA a month; see our guide to the Benin minimum wage.
• Maximum: 80% of average monthly pay, reached with 40 years of insurance.
• Revaluation: according to CLEISS, Decree No. 2023-455 of 13 September 2023 raised CNSS pensions by 1% to 20% from 1 January 2023.
• Survivors: 40% of the pension to the surviving spouse; for orphans, 40% if there are at least two, 20% for an only child who has lost one parent, 30% if they have lost both (Article 96).

As an illustration, take an employee whose average monthly pay over the last five years is 300,000 FCFA, with 25 years of insurance (300 months). That is 10 periods of 12 months beyond 180: a rate of 30% + 20% = 50%, a pension of 150,000 FCFA a month at 60. Leaving at 57 with the same career, three years of anticipation cut the pension by 15%: about 127,500 FCFA until 60, then 150,000 FCFA. During the career, at this pay, the pension contribution is 10,800 FCFA for the employee and 19,200 FCFA for the employer each month. Other branches and the single return form are covered in our guide to CNSS contributions in Benin.

Under 15 years of insurance: the old-age allowance

An insured person who reaches the retirement age Benin sets with at least 12 months of insurance, without meeting the 180-month condition, receives a one-off old-age allowance. It equals average monthly pay multiplied by the number of 12-month insurance periods (Article 95). Example: 8 years of insurance with average pay of 200,000 FCFA gives 1,600,000 FCFA.

Approaching the retirement age Benin sets: the employer's role

The pension depends on pay declared over the last five years: a filing error at that stage costs the employee for life. Employers should take particular care with those years.

• Each year, identify employees nearing the retirement age Benin sets, or 55 if they are considering early retirement.
• Check with them that every month was declared to the CNSS and that pay matches the payslips.
• Calculate the retirement allowance under the general collective labour agreement (CCGT, Article 82), which cannot be less than three months' pay.
• Issue the employment certificate and settle the final pay.

The retirement allowance is detailed in our guide to severance pay in Benin. To estimate net pay or employer cost, use our payroll simulators.

Pension payment in 2026

Since 20 March 2026, according to the Beninese press, pensioners who contributed to both the CNSS and the FNRB (Fonds national des retraites du Bénin, the State employees' scheme) receive a single monthly payment from the body where they ended their career. Proof-of-life checks remain compulsory to keep pension rights.

Comparing with other countries

The retirement age Benin applies is the same as in Senegal and Morocco, but Benin stands out with an early-retirement reduction that ends at 60. See our guides to the retirement age in Senegal and the retirement age in Morocco.

Frequently asked questions

What is the retirement age Benin sets for the private sector?

60, with at least 180 months of effective CNSS insurance and all paid work stopped.

Can you leave before the retirement age Benin sets?

Yes, up to five years early, i.e. from 55, with a 5% reduction per year of anticipation, removed at 60.

How many years of contributions are needed to retire at the retirement age Benin sets?

180 months, i.e. 15 years. With less, but at least 12 months, the insured person receives a one-off old-age allowance.

How is the CNSS pension calculated in Benin?

30% of average monthly pay over the last 5 years, plus 2% per year of insurance beyond 15 years, between 60% of the SMIG and 80% of that pay.

Was the retirement age Benin set once 55?

Yes, in the 2003 version of the Social Security Code. Law No. 2007-02 raised it to 60.

What happens to contributions paid after 60?

Personal old-age contributions paid between 60 and 65 are refunded; beyond 65, no refund is possible.

Which contribution funds the pension?

10% of gross pay, of which 6.4% is paid by the employer and 3.6% by the employee, with no ceiling.

Is the employee entitled to a retirement allowance?

Yes, in companies covered by the CCGT: a retirement allowance of at least three months' pay (Article 82).

Key takeaways

• The retirement age Benin sets is 60 under the CNSS, with 15 years of insurance.
• Early retirement from 55, with a 5% reduction per year, removed at 60.
• Pension = 30% of average pay over the last 5 years + 2% per year beyond 15 years, capped at 80%.
• Pay over the last five years sets the pension: declare it without errors.
• Sources: Law No. 2010-10 of 22 March 2010, Law No. 2007-02 of 26 March 2007 and the CLEISS fact sheet on the Beninese scheme.

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