Britons happy in retirement, survey shows

Tue, 14 Feb 2006

Britons who have passed retirement age are healthy and happy, according to the latest AXA Retirement Scope report.

In a global survey of almost 9,000 people in 14 countries, AXA found that older people in the UK are just as happy as retired people in Australia and even happier than those spending their retirement in sunny Spain.

Despite the fact that almost three-quarters of those surveyed admit they have a lower income in retirement than while they were still working, seven in ten say their standard of living was the same or better than before.

"It seems like there's never been a better time to be retired in the UK," comments Steve Folkard, head of pensions at AXA.

He says higher life expectancy means there are "literally decades between leaving work and getting old", so people use this time to travel and do things they enjoy.

Half of Britons said they would like to work past retirement age. However, presently only nine per cent of those beyond retirement age are in paid employment.

Those older than retirement age who are not working are enjoying travelling, as the survey found nearly two-thirds of retired Britons holiday at least once a year.

In an AXA study earlier this month the financial protection company found that the average Briton starts saving money towards their retirement pension when they are 28 years old.

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