Retirement
Fast-forward to 2050: 1 in 2 retirees will be ‘comfortable’
By 2050, half of all Australian retirees will be able to retire “comfortably”, thanks to the maturation of the compulsory superannuation system, a new report has indicated.
Fast-forward to 2050: 1 in 2 retirees will be ‘comfortable’
By 2050, half of all Australian retirees will be able to retire “comfortably”, thanks to the maturation of the compulsory superannuation system, a new report has indicated.
The Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA) has released new research that considered the legislated increase of the superannuation guarantee (SG) rate to 12 per cent “would see half of all Australians achieve a self-funded retirement by 2050”.
According to ASFA, as the system matures, a larger proportion of retirees will reach the ASFA comfortable retirement standard benchmark – which currently sits at around $44,200 per year for a single person and around $62,400 per year for couples.
It estimates that around 50 per cent of Australians will reach this result.
On a macroeconomic scale, this would mean national fiscal sustainability would be improved – through less reliance on the Age Pension despite Australia’s ageing population.
ASFA explained that over time, the proportion of retirees that will be eligible for either a full or part Age Pension “is expected to decline”.
In effect, this means that while more people will be drawing on a pension by virtue of the ageing population, they will be drawing on lesser amounts, thanks to superannuation.
“This will counter the pressure of an ageing population on future Age Pension expenditure by government,” it continued.
Assuming that the legislated increase to 12 per cent does occur, ASFA has projected that expenditure on the Age Pension will fall from 2.9 per cent to 2.6 per cent of GDP over the period to 2054-55.
This puts Australia in a much better position than many other advanced economies, the organisation noted.
OECD expenditure on public pensions averages 8.8 per cent of GDP in 2020.
This is projected to increase to 9.4 per cent by 2050.
According to ASFA, some European countries are already spending four times the amount Australia does on pension systems, with these numbers expected to increase even further.
Did you enjoy this article? You may also be interested in:
- How compulsory super champions low-income earners
- Industry super slams government over guarantee freeze
- How to rebuild your super balance after COVID-19
RELATED ARTICLES
About the author
About the author
Superannuation
Survey reveals Australians' reliance on superannuation for retirement
A new survey by AustralianSuper has found that only 32% of Australians believe they could save for retirement without compulsory superannuation. Read more
Superannuation
AMP launches national campaign to boost super engagement
AMP has unveiled a new national advertising campaign aimed at encouraging Australians to engage more actively with their superannuation. Read more
Superannuation
AustralianSuper urges action on gender pay gap for Equal Pay Day
AustralianSuper, Australia's largest superannuation fund, is calling for increased focus on the gender pay gap and its long-term impacts on women's retirement savings this Equal Pay Day, August 19. Read more
Superannuation
AMP advisers focus on super contributions and home ownership queries
Financial advisers are prioritizing assistance with superannuation contributions, transfer balance caps, death benefits, and home ownership issues, according to recent data from AMP Advice. Read more
Superannuation
Aware Super reports strong 11.02% return for flagship investment option
Aware Super, one of Australia's largest superannuation funds, has announced an 11.02% return for its High Growth accumulation option in the 2024 financial year. Read more
Superannuation
Retirement savings strategies: How to boost your superannuation
Superannuation is a pivotal part of retirement planning in Australia, offering a tax-effective way to save for your later years. As you navigate through your working life, enhancing your ...Read more
Superannuation
Aware Super takes on Australia's gender retirement gap, aiming for financial equality
Aware Super, one of Australia's largest superannuation funds with a 70 per cent female membership, is on a mission to close the gender gap that sees women retire with 30 per cent less super than men ...Read more
Superannuation
Age Pension increase prompts Australians to review their finances
The increase in the Age Pension, which takes effect today, should serve as a prompt for many older Australians to ensure they're maximizing their income as cost-of-living pressures persist, according ...Read more
Superannuation
Survey reveals Australians' reliance on superannuation for retirement
A new survey by AustralianSuper has found that only 32% of Australians believe they could save for retirement without compulsory superannuation. Read more
Superannuation
AMP launches national campaign to boost super engagement
AMP has unveiled a new national advertising campaign aimed at encouraging Australians to engage more actively with their superannuation. Read more
Superannuation
AustralianSuper urges action on gender pay gap for Equal Pay Day
AustralianSuper, Australia's largest superannuation fund, is calling for increased focus on the gender pay gap and its long-term impacts on women's retirement savings this Equal Pay Day, August 19. Read more
Superannuation
AMP advisers focus on super contributions and home ownership queries
Financial advisers are prioritizing assistance with superannuation contributions, transfer balance caps, death benefits, and home ownership issues, according to recent data from AMP Advice. Read more
Superannuation
Aware Super reports strong 11.02% return for flagship investment option
Aware Super, one of Australia's largest superannuation funds, has announced an 11.02% return for its High Growth accumulation option in the 2024 financial year. Read more
Superannuation
Retirement savings strategies: How to boost your superannuation
Superannuation is a pivotal part of retirement planning in Australia, offering a tax-effective way to save for your later years. As you navigate through your working life, enhancing your ...Read more
Superannuation
Aware Super takes on Australia's gender retirement gap, aiming for financial equality
Aware Super, one of Australia's largest superannuation funds with a 70 per cent female membership, is on a mission to close the gender gap that sees women retire with 30 per cent less super than men ...Read more
Superannuation
Age Pension increase prompts Australians to review their finances
The increase in the Age Pension, which takes effect today, should serve as a prompt for many older Australians to ensure they're maximizing their income as cost-of-living pressures persist, according ...Read more
