{"id":429628,"date":"2025-09-16T20:07:30","date_gmt":"2025-09-16T20:07:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/429628\/"},"modified":"2025-09-16T20:07:30","modified_gmt":"2025-09-16T20:07:30","slug":"65-year-old-retirees-in-france-now-have-higher-incomes-than-working-age-adults-meanwhile-american-boomers-cant-even-afford-to-retire","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/429628\/","title":{"rendered":"65-year-old retirees in France now have higher incomes than working-age adults\u2014meanwhile, American boomers can\u2019t even afford to retire"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<ul class=\"yf-1woyvo2\">\n<li class=\"yf-1woyvo2\">\n<p class=\"yf-1090901\"><strong>French retirees officially bring in more income than their working-aged counterparts<\/strong>, as Americans are struggling to find the funds to retire and support their post-employment lifestyle. Due to France\u2019s relatively young retirement age, lofty governmental spending on pensions, and high wage replacement rate, they\u2019re now out-earning citizens with jobs as the country\u2019s officials try and make unpopular changes.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"yf-1090901\">While <a href=\"https:\/\/fortune.com\/article\/what-is-phased-retirement\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:boomers in the;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">boomers in the<\/a> U.S. and UK are <a href=\"https:\/\/fortune.com\/2025\/06\/02\/boomers-forced-to-work-unretire-affordability-not-gen-alpha-6-year-olds-germany-retirement-accounts\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:being forced to go back;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">being forced to go back<\/a> to work because <a href=\"https:\/\/fortune.com\/2025\/08\/06\/only-5-of-retirees-say-theyre-living-the-dream-and-19-are-living-the-nightmare-here-are-3-lessons-to-protect-your-future\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:they can\u2019t afford;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">they can\u2019t afford<\/a> to retire in the current climate, pensioners in France are <a href=\"https:\/\/fortune.com\/2025\/09\/15\/albert-edwards-gen-z-boomers-generational-tension-france-uk\/?utm_source=flipboard&amp;utm_content=fortune%2Fmagazine%2FGen+Z\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:not just kicking up their feet;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">not just kicking up their feet<\/a>\u2014they\u2019re even out-earning those with jobs.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1090901\">French retirees over the age of 65 now make more money relative to the average salary of working-age adults in the country, according to a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ft.com\/content\/d419bd2d-a6ba-44a5-a93a-1276f3e5d2d7\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Financial Times analysis;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Financial Times analysis<\/a> of a recent <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lisdatacenter.org\/newsletter\/nl-2025-35-im-3\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Luxembourg Income Study;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Luxembourg Income Study<\/a>. The average pensioner <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ccomptes.fr\/en\/documents\/75146?utm_source=chatgpt.com\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:earned about;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">earned about<\/a> \u20ac1,626 gross per month ($1,926) at the end of 2022, and currently earn around 2% more than working adults.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1090901\">Although it\u2019s a marginal gain, it\u2019s the total opposite of retirees in most other nations; American pensioners earn about a sixth less in relative income compared to employed adults, U.K. retirees bring in about a fifth less, and retired Australians face the largest disparity, with a third less in income.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1090901\">However, the report notes that this is no new fad. In the five decades between 1970 and 2020, the cumulative increase in median income for working-aged French citizens between the ages of 18 and 64 rose by about 100%, while it increased by more than 160% for the nation\u2019s retirees.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1090901\">While French retirees are enjoying the fruits of their labor and an envy-inducing pension plan, retirees across the world <a href=\"https:\/\/fortune.com\/article\/how-much-does-gen-x-have-saved-retirement-savings-average-age-account-crisis\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:are working longer;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">are working longer<\/a> to simply make ends meet.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1090901\">Alongside more temperate living costs, French retirees enjoy more going back into their pockets because the government has prioritized retirement benefits. The country\u2019s pension plan entitles them to reap a maximum of 50% of their annual average earnings, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cleiss.fr\/docs\/regimes\/regime_france\/an_3.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:according to;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">according to<\/a> the Centre of European and International Liaisons for Social Security (Cleiss).<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1090901\">Pensioners\u2019 average yearly income is the gross earnings on which contributions have been paid, which is calculated based on the person\u2019s 25 top-earning years. However, it should be noted that retirees must work for at least 42 years to receive the country\u2019s full state pension.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1090901\">And the country has continued to spend more on its pensioners; France has increased its share of GDP spent on old-age benefits and health\/care by about 2.9% since 2001, according to the FT analysis. By comparison, its peer average rested at just over 1.5%.<\/p>\n<p> Story Continues  <\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1090901\">Meanwhile, retirees in other countries aren\u2019t so lucky. As of 2023, France <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/news\/world\/2023\/06\/06\/retirement-age-france-strikes-is-us-better\/70267693007\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:spends about;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">spends about<\/a> 14% of its GDP on public pensions, while the U.S. spends about 7% comparatively. French retirees also get more bang for their buck compared to Americans\u2014in the U.S., the average net pension replacement rate is 50%, while in France the replacement rate is about 74%. U.S. professionals at the end of their working lives simply earn less back.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1090901\">Plus, it takes longer to get the cash; Americans can\u2019t access their Social Security retirement benefits until around 66 or 67, years later than their French counterparts.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1090901\">The U.S.\u2019s relatively undesirable pension plans and sky-high living costs have forced Americans to work longer out of fear of running out of their savings.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1090901\">Over two in five retired Americans, representing about 20 million people, worry that their funds <a href=\"https:\/\/fortune.com\/article\/gen-x-boomer-retirees-side-gigs-income-social-mental-stimulation-like-gen-z\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:won\u2019t be able to;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">won\u2019t be able to<\/a> support their ideal retirement lifestyle according to an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dadavidson.com\/About-Us\/News\/ArticleID\/7003\/Nearly-Two-Thirds-Retired-Americans-Wish-They-Had-Side-Gig-to-Support-Ideal-Retirement-Lifestyle\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:April survey;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">April survey<\/a> from investment banking firm D.A. Davidson. And their lack of money has guilted many about kicking back after decades of employment, as around 60% of retired Americans wish they had a side gig to supplement their savings.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1090901\">Nearly 20% <a href=\"https:\/\/fortune.com\/2025\/08\/06\/only-5-of-retirees-say-theyre-living-the-dream-and-19-are-living-the-nightmare-here-are-3-lessons-to-protect-your-future\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:of retirees are;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">of retirees are<\/a> \u201cstruggling\u201d or \u201cliving the nightmare,\u201d while only 5% said they were \u201cliving the dream,\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/fortune.com\/2025\/08\/06\/only-5-of-retirees-say-theyre-living-the-dream-and-19-are-living-the-nightmare-here-are-3-lessons-to-protect-your-future\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:according to;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">according to<\/a> Schroders\u2019 2025 US Retirement Survey.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1090901\">While France\u2019s retirees enjoy extra years of post-professional downtime compared to Americans working <a href=\"https:\/\/fortune.com\/2025\/07\/21\/benefits-of-not-retiring\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:into their 70s;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">into their 70s<\/a>, it may not be for much longer. To the behest of pensioners, that may change in the next five years, as in 2023 former Prime Minister \u00c9lisabeth Borne first <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/economy\/french-prime-minister-borne-unveils-plan-to-raise-retirement-age-from-62-to-64-by-2030\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:revealed a plan;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">revealed a plan<\/a> to raise the nation\u2019s retirement age from 62 to 64 by 2030. When the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ft.com\/content\/93ab1203-88ef-4ffe-9cc3-1107e3ce4982\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:also proposed;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">also proposed<\/a> edging up the retirement age towards the norms of other Western countries, he was met with swift resistance. Funding the lives of pensioners has grown so great that these costs accounted for a sixth of the ministry of defense\u2019s budget in 2024.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1090901\">This story was originally featured on <a href=\"https:\/\/fortune.com\/2025\/09\/16\/france-retirees-higher-income-workers-american-pensioners-cost-of-living-crisis\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Fortune.com;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Fortune.com<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"French retirees officially bring in more income than their working-aged counterparts, as Americans are struggling to find the&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":429629,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5309],"tags":[9643,2000,299,36,59045,146393,38104],"class_list":{"0":"post-429628","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-france","8":"tag-americans","9":"tag-eu","10":"tag-europe","11":"tag-france","12":"tag-french-citizens","13":"tag-replacement-rate","14":"tag-retirees"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/115215783855053996","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/429628","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=429628"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/429628\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/429629"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=429628"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=429628"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=429628"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}