How to position yourself within society? Do we see the glass half empty or the glass half full? More than one in two French people (55%) identify as belonging to the middle class, based on their income level, their socio-professional category or their level of diploma, according to a study by the statistical service of social ministries published Thursday .
In detail, 34% identify with the lower middle class and 21% with the upper middle class, according to the Drees. Barely 7% of French people surveyed identify with the wealthy categories, 8% with the very modest and 30% with the modest categories. For comparison, the usual approach – and not self-declaration – based on income generally shows 10% of French people are very modest, 20% modest, 30% belonging to the lower middle class, 20% to the upper middle class and 20% of wealthy categories, according to the study.
7% of French people identify with the wealthy categories, 20% are part of it
“The middle class, when it describes itself, would be made up of 60% of people with intermediate incomes”also writes Drees. This means that 50% of employees earn more and 50% earn less. But to consider yourself middle class you would therefore have to earn between €1,736 (3rd decile) and €3,159 (8th decile). A very wide range. In 2022, the median salary was €2,091 net, according to INSEE.
According to their feelings, members of the middle class “would be made up of 31% intermediate professions, 27% employees, 20% liberal or managerial professions and 13% workers. The upper middle class is clearly distinguished by a higher share of liberal professions or managers (37% compared to 9% among the lower middle class) and, conversely, a lower share of employees (18% compared to 33%) and workers (5% versus 18%). »
Owner of your home or not
Compared to the population as a whole, the self-designated middle class, particularly the upper middle class, brings together a larger share of owners, whether they are buyers or not, of higher education graduates as well as a lower share of people receiving social income (RSA, housing allowance, AAH, etc.).
Anything but a surprise. “The rich in income are also the rich in wealth”particularly real estate, explained Anne Brunner, co-author of the Observatory of Inequalities, in the spring. We are rich in assets from €531,000, or three times the median assets, according to the Observatory. The rich also live in an area 50% larger than average households. Owning your home also makes a significant difference when you retire since the pension received is lower than your final salary.
In terms of family configurations, the upper middle class is close to the wealthy categories and stands out from the general population with a higher proportion of people in couples with or without children.
A higher optimism
Being a higher education graduate “significantly increases the probability of self-positioning in a higher social category”. Conversely, continues Drees, receiving social income or being a tenant reduces the probability of declaring oneself in a higher social category.
The French “self-positioning” in the upper middle class thus judge their situation rather or much better than those in the lower middle class (57% versus 40%). In the same way, they more frequently say they are somewhat or very optimistic about their own future (59% versus 48%) or that of their children or future generations (42% versus 33%).
