Equal Opportunities for Older Women


Socio-demographic Data                  [France]    [Austria]                [back]

Germany

1. Population and Percentage of Women over the age of 50

Total population: 82,037,011

of which
total women: 42,032,869
total men: 40,004,142
Population 50 and over 28,611,652 – 34.3% of the overall population
Women 50 and over 15,991,977 – 19.2% of the over population – 54.4% of the population of 50 and over

(Source: Micro census 1998, Statistisches Bundesamt)

2. Women aged 50 and over according to age groups

Status: 31.12.1998

Age groups n %
50 - 54 2.250.101 14,1
55 - 59 2.858.099 17,9
60 - 64 2.707.117 16,9
65 - 69 2.087.037 13,0
70 - 74 2.078.387 13,0
75 - 79 1.863.361 11,7
80 - 84 943.427 5,9
85 and older 1.204.448 7,5
Total 15.991.977 100

Source: Micro census 1998, Statistisches Bundesamt

3. Women over 50 years of age according to family status

Status: 31.12.1998

Age groups

Population

Family status (in %)

single

married

widowed

devorced

50-54

2.250.101

12,5

71,2

5,5

10,7

55-59

2.858.099

11,6

69,9

9,3

9,2

60-64

2.707.117

11,9

65,1

15,9

7,2

65-69

2.087.037

12,9

55,3

26,2

5,6

70-74

2.078.387

14,8

42,1

38

5,1

75-79

1.863.361

15,5

26,4

53,3

4,7

80-84

943.427

14,5

12,6

69

3,9

85 and older

1.204.448

14,7

4,6

78,6

2,1

Total

15.991.977

13,2

50,4

29,7

6,6

Source: Micro census 1998, Statistisches Bundesamt

4. Life Expectancy of Men and Women

Average life expectancy according to mortality table

 

1988/90
(
Former Federal territory)

 

1993/95

 

1996/98

Women

78,98

79,81

80,46

Men

72,55

73,53

74,42

Source: Statistisches Bundesamt

5. Net Income Distribution between Men and Women over 50 Years of Age (in %)

Income in DM
(Euro)

50 – 54 years

55 – 59 years

60 – 64 years

65 and older

Men

Women

Men

Women

Men

Women

Men

Women

Up to 1,400
(715)

11.9

55.7

14.7

62.5

11.6

64.9

10.9

47

1,400-2,500
(715 – 1278)

26.5

26.6

32.4

25.1

47.3

26.4

50.3

38.9

2,500-4,000
(1,278-2,045)

34.2

13

31

9.6

27.3

6.4

27.9

10.4

4,000-6,000
(2,045-3,068)

16.9

3.7

13.4

2.4

9.1

1.3

7.7

2.7

6,000 (3,068) and more

10.5

0.8

8.5

0.4

4.6

0.2

2.9

0.4

Source: Micro census 1998, Statistisches Bundesamt

6. Employment Status according to Gender and Age Group

Women:

Age

Resident
population
(in 1000s)

Employed
(in %)

Unemployed
(in %)

Pensioner
(in %)

Others
(in %)

50-54

2,365

61.1

9

10

19.9

55-59

3,053

43.6

12.4

19.2

24.8

60-64

2,692

11.3

0.9

64.3

23.5

65 and older

8,438

1.6

-

92.7

5.7

Total 50+

16,548

19.4

3.7

62.7

14.2

Men:

Age

Resident
population
(in 1000s)

Employed
(in %)

Unemployed
(in %)

Pensioner
(in %)

Others
(in %)

50-54

2,389

82.1

9.1

8.4

0.4

55-59

3,124

64.1

15.1

18.8

2

60-64

2,618

27

3

69.7

0.3

65 and older

5,200

4.4

-

97.2

-

Total 50+

13,331

36.9

5.8

57.5

-

Source: Micro census 1998, Statistisches Bundesamt

7. Legal Retirement Age Limit for Men and Women

Normal retirement age: entry at 65 with a minimum insurance period of five years.

Retirement age for long-term insured: entry at 63 with a minimum insurance duration of 35 years.

Retirement due to unemployment or gradual retirement: entry at 60 with a minimum insurance period of 15 years and eight years of compulsory contributions in the last ten years before entry to retirement. For unemployed persons who were unemployed for 52 weeks within the last 18 months before entry to retirement, or insured persons involved in a minimum 24-month gradual retirement scheme in keeping with the respective retirement law.

Retirement age for women: entry at 60 with a minimum insurance period of 15 years and more than ten years of compulsory contributions after their 40 birthday.

There are special arrangements for the seriously disabled, the occupationally disabled and persons unable to work, as well as for miners who have worked for many years underground.

Status: February 1998

In according with the law related to growth and employment promotion, as of 1.1.1997 changes have been made to the age limits, aimed at raising them all to 65.
Accordingly, as of the years 2000 to 2004 the age limit for women will be raised from 60 to 65 on a monthly basis.

Source: Presse- und Informationsdienst der Bundesregierung (ed.): Informationen zur Arbeitswelt, Bonn 1998

8. Actual Entry to Retirement According to Gender

Year

All pension types

Retirement pension

Retirement due to reduced earning capacity

Survivors pension

 

Men

Women

Men

Women

Men

Women

Men

Women

1980

58.5

59.8

62.5

61.9

54.4

57.7

X

63.8

1990

59.5

61.6

62.8

63.5

53.8

52.6

67

65.2

1993

60.4

60.5

63.1

63

53.3

51.3

66.2

64.4

1995

59.8

60.5

62.3

62.5

52.7

50.9

66.4

65.3

1997

59.2

60.1

62

62.3

52.4

50.5

66.9

66.2

1999

59.6

60.5

62.1

62.2

52.3

50.5

67.9

67.1

(Source: Verband deutscher Rentenversicherungsträger, Internet vdr.de, 23.8.2000)

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France

1. Total Population and Women aged 50 and over (in 1000s)

Total population (in 1000s): 56,634.3 census 1990 (60,186.2 census 1999)

of which
total women: 29,080.5
total men: 27,553.8
Population 50 and over: 17,175.3 – 30% of total population
Women of 50 and over: 9,581.0 – 17% of total population – 56% of population of 50 and over

Source: INSEE, anonymous, 1992: Recensement de la population de 1990. France métropolitaine et régions ; Résultas du sondage au 1/20 (Census 1990. Metropolitan France and the regions; results of random sample 1/20).

2. Women of 50 and older according to age groups, 1990

Age groups

in 1000s

%

50 - 54

1,440.8

15

55 - 59

1,544.2

16

60 - 74

3,956.3

41

75 - 79

1,025.3

11

80 and older

1,614.4

17

Total

9,581.3

100

Source: op. cit.

3. Age groups of women of 50 and over according to family status, census 1990; in 1,000s and in %

Age goups

Total

Family status in %

in 1000

%

single

married

widowed

divorced

50 - 54

1,440.8

100

7

78

7

8

55 - 59

1,544.2

100

7

75

12

6

60 - 74

3,956.3

100

8

60

28

4

75 - 79

1,025.3

100

8

34

54

4

80 and older

1,614.4

100

9

16

72

3

Total

9,581.3

100

8

55

32

5

Source: op.cit.

4. Life Expectancy at birth and at 60, 1985 to 1999

Average life expectancy at birth according to gender, 1985 to 1997; in years

 

1985

1995

1999

Women

79.4

81.9

82.3

Men

71.3

73.9

74.9

Source: Roselyne Kerjosse, 2000 : Bilan démographique 1999 (Demographic Balance) in INSEE Première, no. 698, p. 2

Average life expectancy at 60 according to gender, 1985-1997; in years

 

1985

1995

1998

Women

23,0

24,9

25,1

Men

17,9

19,7

20,0

Source: op. Cit.

5. Income of men and women aged 50 and over

The economic situation of older and old French people has improved continuously. The source and the amount of income people have when they retire, however, are very heterogeneous; due to the system, these vary in particular according to the pension funds and to the person's gender. Older and old women, especially when widowed, are among the least well off, as many of these women only made irregular contributions. In addition to the retirement pension based on contributions, there are other sources of retirement income both derived coverage and benefits.

Source: Alain Parent, 2000: Les revenus des retraités. In Population & Sociétés, no. 356, April 2000, p. 1

Monthly retirement pension of persons aged 60 and over according to gender and compulsory basic pension fund, 1997, in FF, Euro and %

 

Men

Women

FF

Euro

Group of persons in %

FF

Euro

Group of persones in %

"Uni-pensioner" = a single basic pension fund

Private sector salaried employees (general basic, and additional funds)

10,510

1,602.24

34.3

6,702

1,021.71

38.4

Public official at national level (civilian and military)

13,219

2,015.22

4.3

11,194

1,706.51

5.2

Public official at local level

11,016

1,679.38

0.3

9,250

1,410.15

0.5

Agricultural worker

5,289

806.30

1

6,333

965.46

0.8

Other special pension funds (electricians, railway workers, miners, navy …)

11,928

1,818.41

1.7

6,869

1,047.17

1.4

Salaried employees, one fund, total

10,738

1,6367.00

41.6

7,273

1,108.76

46.2

Indep. farmers

3,041

478.84

5.7

1,722

262.52

8.4

Craftspeople

5,176

789.08

0.3

3,307

504.15

0.2

Traders

3,502

533.88

0.2

3,748

571.38

0.2

Free-lancers

15,912

2,425.77

0.1

-

-

0.1

Indep. total

3,234

439.02

6.3

1,755

267.55

8.9

One insurance fund, total

9,765

1,488.66

47.8

6,154

938.17

55.1

"Pluri-pensioner" = several basic pension funds

Several funds, total

8,063

1,229.20

52.2

5,403

823.68

44.9

Overall total

8,877

1,353.29

100

5,926

903.41

100

Definition of respective group: recipient of retirement pension from own entitlements – excluding premiums, survivors' pension and benefits – with complete pension entitlements, i.e., at least 150 trimesters of contributions.

Source: Alain Parant, 2000: Les revenus des retraités. In Population & Sociétés no. 356, April 2000, p. 2, table 2

Average monthly pension income, 1997; in FF and Euro

Men

Women

Total

FF

Euro

FF

Euro

FF

Euro

Retirement pension

8.877

1.352,28

5.926

903,41

7.865

1.199,01

Premiums, benefits

401

61,13

176

26,83

324

49,39

Survivors' pension

30

4,57

519

79,12

198

30,18

Additional benefits from FSV

25

3,81

44

6,71

31

4,73

Total

9.333

1.422,81

6.665

1.016,07

8.418

1.283,31

Definition of respective group: recipient of retirement pension from own entitlements, 60 years and older, with full pension entitlements, i.e., at least 150 trimesters of contributions.

Source: Odile Dangerfield, Danièle Prangere, 1999: Les retraités (Pensioners). In Données sociales, La Société française, INSEE, pp. 418-426

6. Employment status according to gender and age

The employment quotas decrease significantly as of the age of 50 and over, but do not vary much in the course of time.

Employment quotas of men and women aged 50 and over according to age groups, March 1997; in %

 

Men

Women

50 - 54 years

92

72

55 - 59 years

68

50

60 years and over

6

4

Average: 50 years and over

34

22

Source: INSEE Première, no. 530, June 1997, p. 4

Employment quotas of men and women aged 50 and over, March 1997, March 1998, January 1999; in %

 

Men

Women

March1997

34.2

22.1

March1998

34.5

22.7

January 1999

35.2

23.7

Source: INSEE Première, no. 530, June 1997, p. 4 ; no. 658, June 1998, p. 4; no. 693, June 1999, p. 4

Unemployment quotas of men and women aged 50 and over and percentage of long-term unemployed, March 1997, March 1998, January 1999; in %

 

Men

Women

 

Unemployment quota

Percentage of unemployed for >1 year – %

Unemployment quota

Percentage of unemployed for >1 year – %

March 1997

8.5

58.9

9.2

60.7

March 1998

8.4

60.3

9.2

61.7

January 1999

8.5

59.8

9.1

58.3

Source : op. cit.

7. Legal Retirement Age Limit for Men and Women

Men and women: 60 years, if the entitlement prerequisites for a full pension exist in terms of duration of insurance; otherwise, 65 for both men and women.

These age limits apply to the general basic pension fund for employees, i.e., for the majority of income recipients. Certain special funds have age limits that differ from those of the general basic fund (for example, the military, miners underground, certain railway employees, women who have raised at least three children).

8. Actual Retirement Age according to Gender

The actual age at entry to retirement must be distinguished from the age at which some people stop working. The latter designates the age at which the insured person definitively stops working, and today this is no longer synonymous with entry to retirement; that these two ages can differ today has to do with the fact that the definitive end of a person's working life is – in most cases, unwillingly – brought about by unemployment or early retirement.

Actual retirement age of men according to insurance fund membership, 1997, in %

Less than 55 years

55 to 60

60 to 65

65 and over

"Uni-pensioner" = one single compulsory pension fund

Private sector salaried employee

0

0

68.5

31.5

Public official (civilian)

3.3

34.8

47.5

14.5

Public official (military)

66.3

28.1

5.6

0

Salaried employee, special funds

19.2

62.1

16.5

2.2

other "pluri-pensioners"

0

0

74.5

25.5

"Pluri-pensioner" = several compulsory pension funds

"Pluri-Pensioner" in public service

23.6

39.9

30.8

5.7

Other "pluri-pensioners"

0

0

24.9

"Uni and pluri-pensioners"

Total pensioners

5.3

10.7

61.6

22.4

Source: Odile Dangerfield, 1999 L’âge de liquidation des droits à la retraite (Entry to Retirement) in Études et Résultats, no. 22, July 1999, DREES, Ministère de l’Emploi et de la Solidarité, p. 3

Actual retirement age of women according to pension fund membership, 1997, in %

Less than 55 years

55 to 60

60 to 65

65 and over

"Uni-pensioner" = one single compulsory pension fund

Private sector salaried employee

0

0

51.1

48.9

Public official (civilian)

14.0

35.5

44.5

6.0

Public official (military)

Insig.

-

-

-

Salaried employee, special funds

13.4

41.3

36.8

8.5

Other "pluri-pensioners"

0

0

62.9

37.1

"Pluri-pensioners" = several compulsory pension funds

"Pluri-pensioner" in public service

7.3

21.4

56.6

14.7

Other "pluri-pensioners"

0

0

64

35.4

"Uni-and pluri-pensioners"

Total pensioners

1.2

3.3

54.2

41.3

Source : op. cit.

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Austria

1. Population and Percentage of Women over the age of 50

Total population: 8,078,400

of which
total women: 4,158,300
total men: 3,920,100
Population 50 and over: 2,605,800 - 32% of the overall population
Women 50 and over: 1,472,800 - 18% of the over population – 56.5% of the population of 50 and over

Source: Micro census 1998, ÖSTAT

2. Women aged 50 and over according to age groups, 1998

Age goups

in 1000s

%

50 – 54

239.1

16.2

55 – 59

267.7

18.2

60 – 64

184.8

12.6

65 – 69

195.1

13.2

70 – 74

205.9

14

75 and older

380.2

25.8

Total

1.472.8

100

Source: op.cit.

3. Women over 50 years of age according to family status

Female Population according to age groups and family status, 1991

Age groups

Population

Family status (in %)

Single

Married

widowed

divorced

50-54

243,788

7.4

75

8,.

9.3

55-59

193,968

7.8

70.5

14.6

7

60-64

212,714

8.6

62.3

22.5

6.6

65-69

241,298

10.1

49.4

34.2

6.3

70-74

159,288

9.8

35.4

49.1

5.7

75-79

160,112

10.2

21.5

63.6

4.7

80-84

122,044

10.7

12.7

72.7

3.9

85 and older

79,731

11.9

5.6

79.6

2.9

Total

1,412,943

9.2

48.3

36.2

6.3

The most current data available are those dating from the year 1991.
Source: ÖSTAT – national census of 1991 (in: ÖSTAT, Statistisches Jahrbuch 1999:2000)

4. Life Expectancy of Men and Women

Life expectancy at birth according to gender, in years

 

1988

1993

1998

Women

78.58

79.43

80.93

Men

71.95

72.96

74.73

Average life expectancy at 60 according to gender, in years

 

1988

1993

1998

Women

21.80

22.55

23.60

Men

17.73

18.30

19.36

Source: Demographisches Jahrbuch 1998, p. 23

5. Net Income of Men and Women aged 50 and over

Net income of employed persons 1997, 51 - 60 years:

Total: 19,583 ATS/1,423 Euro
Women: 14,473 ATS/1,052 Euro
Men: 22,193 ATS/1,613 Euro

Source: Statistisches Jahrbuch 1999/2000, pp. 196

6. Employment status according to gender and age

Women

Age

Resident population (in 1000s)

Employed (in %)

Unemployed

Pensioner

House keeping

Others

50-54

239.1

57.2

5.5

9

27.4

0.9

55-59

267.7

22

1.1

48.4

28.1

0.4

60-64

184.8

5.9

0.3

69.5

23.9

0.4

65-69

195.1

1.9

 

77.7

19.8

0.6

70-74

205.9

1.4

 

83.1

15.1

0.4

75 and older

380.2

0.6

 

89.5

9.4

0.5

Total 50+

1.472.8

14.6

1.1

63.9

19.8

0.6

Men:

Age

Resident population (in 1000s)

Employed (in %)

Unemployed

Pensioner

House keeping

Others

50-54

239.1

84

5.5

9.6

0.3

0.8

55-59

258.9

58.6

5.4

35.1

0.2

0.7

60-64

169

11.1

0.2

88.3

0.1

0.4

65-69

165.1

4.2

 

95.3

0.1

0.4

70-74

132.2

2.1

 

97.4

0.2

0.4

75 and older

168.7

2.2

 

97

0.2

0.6

Total 50+

1,133

34

2.4

62.9

0.2

0.5

Source: Micro census 1998, ÖSTAT

7. Legal Retirement Age Limit for Men and Women

At the moment:

Men: 65
Women: 60

Needless to say, a series of special regulations exists (for example, distinctions between salaried employees and public officials). What is more, changes are under discussion or are likely to be implemented shortly.

8. Actual Entry to Retirement According to Gender

Year

All pension types

Disability pensions

Retirement pensions

Men

Women

Men

Women

Men

Women

1970

61.9

60.4

56.6

56.6

64.2

61.5

1980

59.2

58.3

53.9

55.1

62.5

59.5

1990

58.3

57.5

53.9

52.4

62.1

59.7

1995

58.1

56.7

49.4

48.8

60.4

58

1997

58.4

56.8

49.9

48.1

61

58.2

Source: Handbuch der österreichischen Sozialversicherung

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2001-04-25