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Statistics

Statistics play an important role in shaping public policy. They help to identify problems and to suggest solutions.

Retirement statistics come from a wide range of sources. The numbers can appear to be inconsistent, and they are often difficult to decipher. These pages summarize some of the most important figures produced by government agencies. Others will be added.

Why Pensions Are Important

This fact sheet explains the role pensions play in the overall retirement security of American workers, retirees, and their families.

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Income of Today’s Older Adults

As concern about the adequacy of the nation's retirement income programs moves to the forefront of public debate, policymakers and the public are looking to statistics to argue for or against the need for reform. Because there is a wide range of data from a variety of sources, the statistics can be confusing.

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How Much Is Saved in 401(k)s

Increasingly, retirement savings plans have become the way American workers accumulate the money they will need to supplement their Social Security payments in retirement.

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Income from Social Security

Nearly nine in ten older adults receives income from Social Security. Below are statistics on the benefits received by older adults, by average, median and relative importance.

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Income from Other Sources

Older adults also receive income from other sources, such as earnings from work, assets, and public assistance.

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Sources of Income for Older Adults

Today’s older adults typically have a number of sources of income. For most, the primary source of income is Social Security. Other sources are income from investments and other assets, pensions and other retirement plans, earnings from work and, for a small percentage, public assistance programs and veterans benefits.

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Income from Pensions

In 2008, pension benefits provided income to nearly one third of older adults. Below are some statistics on the median benefits received by older adults.

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Income Received By Different Groups

For a clearer picture of the economic status of today’s older adults, it is helpful to look at breakdowns of statistics by age, marital status, gender, and race, in addition to looking at overall income figures.

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