France had 16.9 million retirees at the end of 2020, who received an average pension of 1,341 euros net per month, according to a study published Thursday by the statistical service of social ministries (Drees).
Last score before the reform announced by re-elected President Emmanuel Macron: with 716,000 new “direct right” retirees in 2020, the various French schemes totaled just over 16.9 million pensioners, i.e. 195,000 more in one year .
By adding survivors (most often paid to widows), more than 17.9 million people received a retirement pension at the end of 2020.
“Purchasing power of pensions rebounded in 2020”
The average “direct right” amount was 1,444 euros gross, or 1,341 euros net, with a difference of 37.2% between men (1,667 euros) and women (1,050 euros).
Despite a modest increase (+0.8% net), “the purchasing power of pensions rebounded in 2020” thanks to almost zero inflation, underlines the DREES.
Reversions included, the pension paid rose to 1,583 euros gross, or 1,473 euros net, with a gap reduced to 28.4% between men (1,689 euros) and women (1,280 euros).
The real retirement age on the rise
Furthermore, the “cyclical” retirement age has continued to increase, reaching an average of 62 years and 4 months, with a difference of 7 months between men (62 years) and women (62 years and 7 months).
In continuous increase for ten years, under the effect of the postponement of the legal age voted in 2010, it progresses however “slower” since the objective of 62 years was reached in 2017.
Re-elected President Emmanuel Macron wants to push this threshold back to 64, or even 65, by 4 additional months per year from 2023.