Pensioners in Germany: Seniors are healthier and fitter

Created: 09/03/2022, 16:00

By: Laura Knops

Many seniors are happier than younger generations thanks to a positive attitude towards life.

The life satisfaction of older people has increased significantly in recent years.

The myth of the dreary senior life is no longer true: Many pensioners maintain social contacts and are active and happy even in old age thanks to sport and good health care.

After all, those who age in Germany are usually quite satisfied.

This is shown by a current study by the Research Center for Intergenerational Contracts at the University of Freiburg.

Pensioners in Germany: Seniors are healthier and fitter

According to the scientists, the majority of older people in this country have a positive life balance.

Germany's pensioners have not only become happier in the last two decades.

The 60+ generation has also coped with setbacks such as the corona pandemic much better than younger people.

Although the restrictions have not left pensioners untouched, the negative influences have only affected their quality of life for a short time and to a much lesser extent.

In recent years in particular, the number of pensioners who exercise regularly has increased significantly (symbol image).

© Science Photo Library / Imago

"In terms of their well-being, today's seniors can no longer be compared to the seniors of the early 2000s," explain the researchers at the Institute for Public Opinion Allensbach (IfD Allensbach) in the current "SKL Glücksatlas" on life satisfaction.

This is mainly due to the fact that most retirees today live healthier lives and are active in sports.

The vast majority of older people are fitter than ever before: around a third of pensioners rate their health as “good” or “very good” – in 2000 only around a fifth of seniors did so.

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Pensioners in Germany: Seniors are becoming more and more sporty

How happy are older people with their lives?

To answer this question, it is worth taking a look at who is considered old in this country.

In contrast to previous generations, many seniors still feel young and vital at the age of 60.

This is also evident among the very old: the proportion of people over 80 who rate their health as “good” or “very good” rose from 15 to around 22 percent.

In the last few decades in particular, the perception of many pensioners with regard to their state of health has changed significantly.

Fewer and fewer seniors worry about illnesses.

According to the researchers, this has a direct impact on life satisfaction.

The fitness level of the older generation is also influenced by the fact that many seniors exercise and play sports regularly.

Retirees today do more for their health than they did a few years ago.

Seniors spent around 48.2 minutes in 2020 on physical activities such as sport, fitness or gymnastics.

Pensioners in Germany: Fewer worries and fears

Not only the physical health of the elderly has improved in the last two decades.

Concerns and fears about one's own health have also decreased - despite the corona pandemic.

Only around 19.5 percent of seniors were very worried about their health in 2020, compared to around a third of all pensioners in 2000.

This also affects general life satisfaction.

Seniors in this country rate their happiness in life much more positively compared to earlier years.

While the general population has also lost some life satisfaction during the corona pandemic, older people seem to be less affected by the effects.

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This article only contains general information on the respective health topic and is therefore not intended for self-diagnosis, treatment or medication.

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