Are people happier after retirement?

Asked by: Prof. Norwood Jerde  |  Last update: September 11, 2025
Score: 4.7/5 (11 votes)

Retirees are generally happier in retirement than in the workforce, but like many things in life, there are gaps between expectation and reality according to the latest MassMutual Retirement Happiness Study.

What is the happiest retirement age?

On average, 63 is the ideal age for retirement according to both retirees and pre-retirees. While current retirees are hitting close to that mark with an average actual retirement age of 62, there are signs that future retirees could have more difficulty retiring at their ideal age.

Does retirement make people happier?

For example, Some research studied data from multiple US public opinion surveys and found that retirement will make the older person feel more satisfied with their quality of life, and the impact on men is significantly greater than that on women (19).

What is the average life expectancy after retirement?

According to their table, for instance, the average remaining lifespan for a 65-year-old woman is 19.66 years, reaching 84.66 years old in total. The remaining lifespan for a 65-year-old man is 16.94 years, reaching 81.94 years in total.

What percentage of retirees are happy?

For the most part, retirement does increase people's sense of wellbeing, according to the survey. About 67% of retirees who are 15 years or less into retirement said they're happier since retiring, and 82% said they're more relaxed on a typical day.

Retire Happy: Creating a Joyful and Fulfilling Life After Work

16 related questions found

What is the #1 regret of retirees?

More than two-thirds of retirees wish they would have saved more and on a consistent basis — and half wish they hadn't waited so long “to concern themselves with saving and investing for retirement,” according to the researchers.

What percentage of seniors are lonely?

Community studies have reported rates of severe loneliness among adults aged 65 and over of between 2% and 16%,3 while at any one given time up to 32% of individuals aged over 55 feel lonely.

What is the healthiest retirement age?

You're Likely to Live Longer If You Retire After 65.

What is a good monthly retirement income?

The ideal monthly retirement income for a couple differs for everyone. It depends on your personal preferences, past accomplishments, and retirement plans. Some valuable perspective can be found in the 2022 US Census Bureau's median income for couples 65 and over: $76,490 annually or about $6,374 monthly.

What is the hardest part of retiring?

Reorientation: Often considered the hardest stage, this is when you're most likely to start re-evaluating your retirement lifestyle. It involves asking the hard questions and relearning what does and doesn't work for you, so you can get the most out of your retirement.

Do retired people enjoy life?

about half of retirees

A slightly smaller proportion (41%) took about the same amount of pleasure in life before and after retirement, while 12% reported that they enjoyed life less now.

What is the happy number for retirement?

Pensioners need an income of just £1,700 a month to enjoy a happy retirement, analysis suggests.

Do people get lonely when they retire?

Retirement is often seen as a time to relax, enjoy hobbies and spend time with loved ones. However, for many older adults, it can also be a time of loneliness and isolation.

What is the first choice of most retirees?

Senior Citizens' Saving Scheme

SCSS is arguably the first choice for most retirees.

Do you live longer if you retire early?

Conclusions. We did not find an association between early retirement, compared with continued work participation, and mortality. On-time retirement, compared with working beyond retirement, was associated with a higher risk of mortality.

Is $1,500 a month enough to retire on?

It's Possible To Retire on a $1,500 Monthly Budget

But with a little creativity and flexibility, you may find a new home with everything you want, including a good climate, welcoming community and affordable lifestyle.

How long will 100k last in retirement?

With $100,000 you should budget for a retirement income of around $5,000 to $8,000 on top of Social Security, depending on how you have invested your money. Much more than this will likely cause you to run out of money within 25 – 30 years, which is potentially within the lifespan of the average retiree.

What is the average Social Security check at age 65?

According to data from the Social Security Administration, as of January 2024, the average monthly retirement benefit payment was $1,909.01, which comes to about $22,322 per year.

What is the smartest age to retire?

Retiring in your mid-60s still makes sense for many people. At this point, you are old enough to have hopefully amassed sizable savings, but you are still young enough to enjoy active pursuits such as travel.

What percent of the US population dies before age 80?

According to 2015 age-specific mortality rates, almost 60 percent of the 2015 birth cohort will live past 80, while more than 20 percent will die before 70.

Is it better to take Social Security at 62 or 67?

You can start receiving your Social Security retirement benefits as early as age 62. However, you are entitled to full benefits only when you reach your full retirement age. If you delay taking your benefits from your full retirement age up to age 70, your benefit amount will increase.

Why do older people isolate themselves?

Older adults are at higher risk for social isolation and loneliness due to changes in health and social connections that can come with growing older, hearing, vision, and memory loss, disability, trouble getting around, and/or the loss of family and friends.

Why do elderly talk about the past?

This is sometimes called life review or reminiscence. By sharing memories, older adults can explore their thoughts and feelings about the past. They can put their past experiences in perspective with what is happening to them in the present or what may happen in the future.

What age is most lonely?

Young adults between the ages of 18 and 22 are the loneliest age group. The number of people who live alone has increased by over 30% in the last few decades. Social isolation is as harmful to health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Loneliness can increase the risk of premature death by up to 50%.