Abstract: A variable-delivery external gear pump comprising a casing, at least one rotatively driven pair of gears comprising two intermeshing spur gears, which form with shell surface areas of the casing and axial sealing surface areas a delivery space comprising a low-pressure side connected to a pump inlet port and a high-pressure side connected to a pump outlet port, and a piston, serving to rotatively mount one spur gear of the pair of gears, said piston being shifted relative to the other spur gear of the pair of gears so as to vary the delivery of the pump together with the one spur gear by charging the high-pressure side with fluid against the force of a return element, wherein formed in at least one axial sealing surface area adjoining a sealing land of the sealing surface area is at least one pocket connecting a zone of deepest tooth engagement of the spur gears to either the pump outlet port or the pump inlet port.