How France works
Retirement age, by age band
How employment at 60 to 64 moved as the minimum retirement age rose under the 2023 reform, now suspended.
Old-age pensions are the largest line of public money: in 2024. Both recent reforms raised the minimum retirement age, and this page asks whether people worked longer. Since the 2023 reform, the employment gap between 60-64 and 55-59 has grown by in 2025 compared with 2019-2022. This is a descriptive change: Insee attributes most of it to the reform, without a causal design, and this page's comparison cannot separate the reform from other trends.
Evidence
Old-age pensions are the largest line of public money: in 2024. Both recent reforms raised the minimum retirement age: from 60 to 62 in 2011-2017, then towards 64 from September 2023. The social security financing act for 2026 partly suspends that rise: for pensions from 1 September 2026, the minimum age is 62 years and 9 months for people born from January 1963 to March 1965, and 64 only for those born from 1969 (Légifrance, loi n° 2025-1403 du 30 décembre 2025 de financement de la sécurité sociale pour 2026, art. 105). The question is whether people worked longer. The unit is the age band: 60-64, the ages the reforms target, against 55-59 and against other European countries.
- France
- Synthetic France
Why believe these series: ·
Show the data as a table
| Year | France | Synthetic France |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 11.5% | 11.6% |
| 2003 | 12.6% | 12.5% |
| 2004 | – | – |
| 2005 | 13.8% | 14.1% |
| 2006 | 14.4% | 14.1% |
| 2007 | 15.7% | 15.6% |
| 2008 | 16.2% | 16.4% |
| 2009 | 16.9% | 16.9% |
| 2010 | 17.8% | 17.8% |
| 2011 | 18.6% | 17.1% |
| 2012 | 21.5% | 17.5% |
| 2013 | 23.4% | 19.9% |
| 2014 | 25.3% | 22.5% |
| 2015 | 27.7% | 24.1% |
| 2016 | 28.3% | 28.2% |
| 2017 | 29.6% | 30.0% |
| 2018 | 31.2% | 33.0% |
| 2019 | 32.7% | 34.1% |
After the 2010 reform, France's employment rate at 60-64 rose from under 20% to over 30%. Its synthetic counterpart, built from European countries that were also raising their pension ages, rose almost as much: France was above it on average in 2011-2019, and the same method with a fake start in 2005 finds . France's rise is close to that of the other reforming countries.
Since the 2023 reform, the employment rate at 60-64 has risen faster than at 55-59. Against its 2019-2022 level, the gap between the two grew by in 2024 and in 2025, the first two years in which people born from September 1961 could no longer retire at 62. This is a descriptive change. It does not estimate the reform's effect: the gap moved by up to two points in 2005-2010 without any reform, the 2014 reform was still raising the contribution period required for a full pension for the same cohorts, and nothing here shows that the two age bands would otherwise have moved alike. Insee attributes most of the 2024 rise to the 2023 reform, but descriptively; no causal estimate of that reform has been found. For the 2010 reform, Dubois and Koubi (2017) find the activity rate of employees it reached 19 to 22 points higher than that of comparable employees it did not. At 61, of people are neither employed nor retired, most often for reasons of health.
Eurostat publishes employment by five-year age band, so the cohorts the reforms reached cannot be followed year by year; a single-age series would allow a sharper comparison of the cohorts born just before and just after each threshold. The code is analysis/pensions.ml and the results are in results.csv and within.csv.
Its own aims
Measured against what it was meant to do
Each aim as the scheme's own texts state it, quoted, then every outcome this site measured against it, with the same design as above: the matched comparison, or the synthetic control. Positive, negative and null results are listed alike. Where no open dataset covers an aim, the dataset it would need is named, with why it is not open. Before them, the article of law that founds the scheme, quoted from Légifrance or the parliamentary record with the dates its wording was in force; after them, the indicators the State set for the programme, as the State reports them, with their source: this site shows them but has not checked them.
In the law, or the nearest official text
Each aim as the founding text states it, with the article and the dates that wording was in force. Where an article states no aim, a line says so, and the aim is quoted from the nearest official text that states one: the bill's explanatory memorandum or impact study, a government instruction, or the programme's performance report.
Retirees' living standards, financial sustainability, employment of people over 55, smaller gender pension gap, among others
« Le système de retraite par répartition poursuit les objectifs de maintien d'un niveau de vie satisfaisant des retraités, de lisibilité, de transparence, d'équité intergénérationnelle, de solidarité intragénérationnelle, de pérennité financière, de progression du taux d'emploi des personnes de plus de cinquante-cinq ans et de réduction des écarts de pension entre les hommes et les femmes. »LOI n° 2010-1330 du 9 novembre 2010 portant réforme des retraites (NOR MTSX1016256L), art. 1 (creating CSS art. L161-17 A), version initiale, JORF n° 0261 du 10 novembre 2010; L161-17 A in force 11/11/2010 to 22/01/2014 (LEGIARTI000023024888), then rewritten into CSS art. L111-2-1 II by loi n° 2014-40, art. 1
LOI n° 2010-1330 du 9 novembre 2010 portant réforme des retraites (NOR MTSX1016256L), art. 18 (creating CSS art. L161-17-2), version initiale, JORF n° 0261 du 10 novembre 2010; L161-17-2 in force from 01/07/2011 (LEGIARTI000023030935) states no aim: the rule itself (legal age 62). The age article states no aim; the aims of the 2010 law are in its art. 1, which created CSS art. L161-17 A.
The pension objectives in force
« La Nation réaffirme solennellement le choix de la retraite par répartition au cœur du pacte social qui unit les générations. »Code de la sécurité sociale, art. L111-2-1, II, first paragraph, first sentence, in force since 01/09/2023 (LEGIARTI000047452779); II written by loi n° 2014-40, art. 1 (from 22/01/2014)
The rest of II sets the system's objectives: pensions in line with earnings, equal treatment whatever the sex, career, scheme or generation, solidarity between and within generations, a satisfactory living standard for every retiree, the gender pension gap removed by 2050 and halved by 2037, and financial sustainability, which « suppose de rechercher le plein emploi ».
LOI n° 2023-270 du 14 avril 2023 de financement rectificative de la sécurité sociale pour 2023 (NOR ECOX2300575L), art. 10, I, 2°, a (amending CSS art. L161-17-2), version initiale, JORF n° 0089 du 15 avril 2023, for pensions from 01/09/2023 (art. 10 XXX B); art. 10 amended by loi n° 2025-1403, art. 105 (consolidated version LEGIARTI000053280920 in force since 31/12/2025) states no aim: the rule itself (legal age 64). The age provision states no aim; the bill's exposé des motifs and étude d'impact do. Art. 10 I 1° does add a pension objective to CSS L111-2-1 II (gender gap removed by 2050, halved by 2037).
Financial sustainability of the pension system by longer working lives
« Afin d’assurer la pérennité financière du système de retraite le Gouvernement propose d’allonger la durée d’activité, par un relèvement de l’âge légal de deux ans pour atteindre la cible de 64 ans, ainsi qu’une accélération du calendrier de relèvement de la durée d’assurance sans changer la cible actuellement prévue de 43 annuités. »Projet de loi de financement rectificative de la sécurité sociale pour 2023, Assemblée nationale, XVIe législature, n° 760, article 7, exposé des motifs, bill as tabled, 23 janvier 2023 (article 7 of the bill became art. 10 of the law)
Law art. 10 states no aim for the age increase; this is the government's stated aim.
Improve the pension system's balance and raise the employment of older workers
« Il s’agit au travers de ces mesures d’améliorer l’équilibre financier du régime de retraite de renforcer progressivement l’activité des seniors. »Projet de loi de financement rectificative de la sécurité sociale pour 2023, Assemblée nationale, XVIe législature, n° 760, article 7, exposé des motifs, last paragraph, bill as tabled, 23 janvier 2023
Quoted as printed (no « et » between the two aims).
Full employment of older workers and a balanced pay-as-you-go system
« L’augmentation de l’âge de départ à la retraite conjuguée à l’accélération du calendrier d’augmentation de la durée d’assurance requise s’inscrivent dans les objectifs de plein emploi des séniors et de rééquilibrage de notre système de retraite par répartition poursuivis par le Gouvernement »Projet de loi de financement rectificative de la sécurité sociale pour 2023, Assemblée nationale, XVIe législature, n° 760, étude d'impact, étude d'impact, article 7, I.1 a) « Mesure proposée », bill as tabled, 23 janvier 2023
The étude d'impact states the objectives; the law does not.
Not an aim: the law orders its own evaluation, including employment of older workers, by 1 October 2027
« Avant le 1er octobre 2027, le comité mentionné à l'article L. 114-4 du code de la sécurité sociale remet au Parlement un rapport d'évaluation de la présente loi ainsi que des mesures légales et réglementaires en matière d'emploi des seniors prises après sa publication. »LOI n° 2023-270 du 14 avril 2023 de financement rectificative de la sécurité sociale pour 2023 (NOR ECOX2300575L), art. 10, XXVII, version initiale, JORF n° 0089 du 15 avril 2023
Shows what the legislator expected to be measured: the reform and seniors' employment, and the finances of the base schemes to 2040.
LOI n° 2025-1403 du 30 décembre 2025 de financement de la sécurité sociale pour 2026 (NOR CPPX2521641L), art. 105, VI, version initiale, JORF du 31 décembre 2025; CSS L161-17-2 in this wording in force since 31/12/2025 (LEGIARTI000053280889), for pensions from 01/09/2026 states no aim: holds the legal age at 62 and 9 months for people born 1 January 1963 to 31 March 1965, then resumes the rise to 64 for those born from 1969. Art. 105 I rewrites CSS L161-17-2: « 3° Soixante-deux ans et neuf mois, pour les assurés nés entre le 1er janvier 1963 et le 31 mars 1965 » and 64 for those born from 1 January 1969 (was 1968). The suspension's stated aim would be in the exposé of the lettre rectificative to the PLFSS 2026 (October 2025), which this site has not read.
Preserve the financial balance of the pension system
« Les réformes successives de 2003, 2010, 2014 et 2023 visent à préserver l’équilibre financier du système de retraite. »Rapport d'évaluation des politiques de sécurité sociale (REPSS) Retraites, PLACSS 2025, annexe 1, édition 2026, indicateur 2.7, Finalité, édition 2026
The State's performance report for the pension branch states the shared aim of the age reforms in the indicator on the effective retirement age; it agrees with the exposé des motifs of the 2023 bill.
In the programme's texts
Lengthen working lives and raise the employment of older workers
« Objectif n°3 : Augmenter progressivement la durée d’activité et accroître l’emploi des travailleurs âgés »Direction de la Sécurité sociale, Rapport d'évaluation des politiques de sécurité sociale (REPSS) Retraites, PLACSS 2025, annexe 1, Objectif n° 3, 2026
- Employment rate at 60-64 against 55-59: .
Improve the finances of the pension branch
« Objectif n°5 : Améliorer progressivement la situation financière de la branche »Direction de la Sécurité sociale, Rapport d'évaluation des politiques de sécurité sociale (REPSS) Retraites, PLACSS 2025, annexe 1, Objectif n° 5, 2026
Not covered: The branch's balance is one national account, with no group of people or places the reform left aside to compare it with; the Conseil d'orientation des retraites projects the reform's effect with its models, which estimate it rather than measure it.
The State's own indicators
The indicators the State reports for the programme, with the latest value and the target as it prints them, the report and page they come from, and the open data that could measure each at this site's unit.
| Indicator | Latest value | Target | This site's measure | Source | Open data that could measure it |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.7, REPSS RetraitesAccroître l’âge effectif au départ à la retraite (âge moyen de départ à la retraite au régime général, anciens salariés et indépendants) | 63,5 ans2024 | Accroissementno date stated | not measured | REPSS Retraites, PLACSS 2025, édition 2026p. 116 (PDF p. 118), objectif n° 3; corrigé des retraites anticipées: 64 ans en 2024 (copy: data/literature/law/repss-retraites-2026.txt) | Only approximately: the OECD's average effective age of labour-market exit, by country (Pensions at a Glance), is open; the age at which a pension is claimed is not published on a comparable basis across countries.Approximate only: the open counterpart is the OECD's average effective age of labour-market exit, which is not the age a pension is claimed and is not among this site's data; the age at claiming is Cnav administrative data. |
| 2.8, REPSS RetraitesAugmenter la durée cotisée et validée lors du départ à la retraite (durée moyenne cotisée, en part de la durée d’assurance requise) | 81 %génération 1956 | Augmentationno date stated | not measured | REPSS Retraites, PLACSS 2025, édition 2026p. 121 (PDF p. 123), objectif n° 3 (copy: data/literature/law/repss-retraites-2026.txt) | No open data measures it: contribution periods by cohort are national administrative data (Cnav, EIR of the Drees) with no comparable cross-country series. |
| 2.9, REPSS RetraitesAméliorer le taux d’emploi des 55-64 ans | 61,7 %2025 | Augmentationno date stated | % of people aged 55-642025 | REPSS Retraites, PLACSS 2025, édition 2026p. 123 (PDF p. 125), objectif n° 3, tableau 1: 55-59 ans 78,8 %, 60-64 ans 44,4 % en 2025 (copy: data/literature/law/repss-retraites-2026.txt) | Eurostat Labour Force Survey employment rates by age and country (lfsa_ergan), which this site already reads (data/pensions/employment.csv). |
| 2.10, REPSS RetraitesAugmenter la proportion d’assurés en situation d’emploi au cours de l’année précédant la liquidation de leur retraite | 65 %2024 | Accroître la part des assurés en situation d'emploino date stated | not measured | REPSS Retraites, PLACSS 2025, édition 2026p. 126 (PDF p. 128), objectif n° 3 (copy: data/literature/law/repss-retraites-2026.txt) | No open data measures it: it needs pension-claim records linked to the previous year's employment (Cnav), which have no cross-country counterpart. |
| 2.14, REPSS RetraitesViser l’équilibre financier à moyen terme (solde des ROBSS vieillesse et du FSV) | -6,8 Md€2025 | Rééquilibrage financier (trajectoire LFSS 2026: -7,0 Md€ en 2029)2029 | not measured | REPSS Retraites, PLACSS 2025, édition 2026p. 135 (PDF p. 137), objectif n° 5, tableaux 1 et 2 (copy: data/literature/law/repss-retraites-2026.txt) | No open data measures it: the balance of the French basic pension schemes is one national account; Eurostat's government accounts (gov_10a_exp, COFOG 10.2) give old-age spending by country, not the balance of a pension branch. |
| 2.15, REPSS RetraitesViser l’équilibre financier à long terme (solde du système de retraite en projection, COR) | -0,2 point de PIB en 2030; -1,4 point de PIB en 2070 (projection)2025 | No figure stated: the REPSS draws the objective as a line on its chartno date stated | not measured | REPSS Retraites, PLACSS 2025, édition 2026p. 138 (PDF p. 140), objectif n° 5, projections COR de juin 2025 (copy: data/literature/law/repss-retraites-2026.txt) | No open data measures it: a projection by the Conseil d'orientation des retraites, not a measurement. |
| MTB-1-1, Mission Travail, emploi et administration des ministères sociauxTaux d'emploi en France et dans l'Union européenne par tranches d'âge : Taux d'emploi au sein des 55-64 ans | 60,42024 | none set | % of people aged 55-642025 | RAP 2025 (PLRG 2025), data.economie.gouv.fr, indicateur de missionRAP 2025 dataset, mission record MTB-1-1, sous-indicateur « Taux d'emploi au sein des 55-64 ans »; exec 2023: 58,4; exec 2025: Non déterminé; no target; cible 2026 (PAP 2026, carried in the RAP 2025 dataset): none set | Eurostat Labour Force Survey employment rates by age and country (lfsa_ergan), which this site already reads. |
The census outcomes compare 2021 with 2015, so they serve only designs that start in 2015-2017, and no placebo can be run on them; land taken comes from CEREMA's land-registry series, 2011-2024. The aims and their sources are in aims.csv, the texts of law in law.csv, the State's indicators in indicators.csv, and this site's measures of them in measured.csv and, year by year, measured_series.csv.