Middle-Age Americans Least Confident About Affording Retirement

More than half (52%) of Americans have doubts about their ability to afford the life they want during retirement, according to an August survey by GfK of more than 23,000 people in 19 countries.

In the U.S., nearly six in 10 of those in their 40s (55%) and those in their 50s (58%) are not fully confident they will have the funds they need. Less than half of Americans in their 30s (49%) and age 60 or older (45%) are not fully confident.                    

The survey finds U.S. women are much more uncertain or pessimistic about their retirement finances than men, with 60% saying they are unsure or not confident, compared to 41% of men.

Globally, the countries surveyed echo feelings in the United States, with 54% of respondents worldwide uncertain about or concerned with the state of their retirement finances. Individuals in Japan, Poland and France expressed the greatest levels of concern, with 74%, 68% and 68%, respectively, saying they are either uncertain or not confident about their retirements. Respondents in China (48%) and Spain (45%) were least likely to express doubt or concern about their retirement funding.