The average standard of living of retirees in France is higher than that of the rest of the population according to a study

Retirees have a better standard of living on average than the working population. This is the conclusion of a study by the economic consultancy firm Asterès, which reveals France Info this Monday, October 7.

Based on figures from INSEE and the Retirement Orientation Council, this study explains that if the disposable income of retirees is lower than that of workers (2,188 euros per month on average compared to 2,489 euros), it is wealth which works in favor of retirees since if we remove the average of their imputed rents from the standard of living of working people, retirees then have a better standard of living on average.

More assets among retirees

INSEE defines imputed rent, also called “fictitious rent” as follows: “the rental service that the owners of their accommodation provide to themselves: namely, the rents that the owners would have to pay if they were tenants of the accommodation in which they live”.

The study, cited by France Infoindicates that this “is explained by the fact that retirees own more assets than the rest of the population. On average, households where the reference person is over 60 years old have assets greater than 300,000 euros, while it is on average less than 300,000 euros for younger households.

The firm specifies that overall, households over 64 are “less affected by poverty”. “The poverty rate for those aged 65-74 is 10.7%, and 11.4% for those over 75. These are the lowest rates, whatever the age groups considered, under 18s being the most affected by poverty (20.4%). specifies the Asterès firm.

This study comes shortly after the government confirmed that the increase in retirement pensions would be postponed for six months. A measure which arises from the road map of Michel Barnier who, in his general policy declaration, declared that the economic “sword of Damocles” which weighed on France required efforts.