Brits are retiring with large debts

Published on 23/01/2013 03:29

NEARLY one in five Britons planning to retire this year will have outstanding debts, amounting to £31,200 on average, an insurer has found.

However, the typical amount of money owed has reduced compared with a year ago as more people retire mortgage-free, Prudential said.

The average amount owed by someone planning to retire last year was £38,200, while the share of people retiring in debt has held steady compared with 2012, at 18 per cent.

The survey showed that people in Wales planning to retire this year are the most likely to be in debt, with 
26 per cent still owing money, while just 13 per cent of those in Yorkshire and Humberside expect to take debts into retirement.

The corresponding figure for Scots is 15 per cent.