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The Drees 2024 Panorama “Retirees and pensions” reveals the differences in the level of retirement pensions between generations, between men and women, and according to professional status.
Retirement pensions in France, although governed by basic and supplementary schemes, reveal significant disparities depending on the gender, professional status and, increasingly, the age of the beneficiaries. In 2022, the average gross direct pension of retirees residing in France amounted to 1,626 euros per month, or approximately 1,512 euros net after social security contributions. However, this average masks notable differences. The 2024 Panorama “Retirees and retirements” from the Drees (Directorate of Research, Studies, Evaluation and Statistics) reveals the differences in the level of retirement pensions between generations, between men and women, and according to the professional status.
Disparities between men and women that persist
The pension gap between men and women remains one of the most visible aspects of retirement disparities in France. In 2022, retired men received on average 2,050 euros gross per month, while women received on average 1,268 euros, a difference of almost 40%. This difference is explained by careers more often in partial employment or interrupted for women, as well as by salary gaps. The survivor’s pension reduces this gap, but the difference remains 26% between men and women, including derived rights.
Generational gaps: recent retirees penalized
The issue of pension inequalities also concerns generations of retirees. Retirees who have liquidated their rights more recently often receive lower amounts due to reforms which have modified the calculation of rights and reduced the return on contributions. Thus, between 2012 and 2022, the pensions of new retirees have become progressively lower than those of their elders, despite often longer careers and constant contributions. In particular, rule changes in the annual revaluation have limited the adaptation of pensions to inflation, leading to a relative drop in purchasing power for younger retirees.
In 2023, for example, the average pension for all plans combined fell by 1.9% in constant euros, despite an increase of 4.9% for supplementary pensions in November 2022. This drop in purchasing power hits those hardest. recent generations, whose pensions are more impacted by uncompensated inflation.
Executives and non-executives: unequal pensions depending on professional status
Professional status remains a key factor in pension disparity. Former executives benefit from higher pensions thanks to the higher contributions paid during their career and the Agirc-Arrco supplementary pension share. However, retired executives see their purchasing power deteriorate more quickly due to the often lower revaluation of supplementary pensions compared to basic pensions. Over a period of twenty-five years, former executives have seen their gross pension fall by 8.8% in constant euros, while for non-executives, this reduction is 8.4%. This difference is largely explained by the lower revaluation of Agirc-Arrco pensions, which constitute a larger share of executive retirement.
Basic pensions better protected but insufficient
For retirees mainly dependent on the basic pension, the increases, although insufficient, make it possible to somewhat limit the loss of purchasing power in the face of inflation. In 2022, a 5.1% increase in basic pensions was applied, but it remained below inflation of 5.9%. However, this compensation often remains too low for recent retirees who, unlike previous generations, no longer benefit from the same levels of replacement rates for their final salaries.
