In Italy, about 400 thousand people have been receiving their pensions for more than 40 years, having started receiving their pension checks at an average age of just over 39 (36.4 for men and 39.5 for women). This figure emerges from the 12th Report "The Balance Sheet of the Italian Social Security System", presented Wednesday at the Chamber. The report shows an increase of 98,743 retirees: from 16.131 million in 2022 to 16.230 million in 2023. It also shows the sharp rise in the employment rate with a ratio of active to retired people of 1.4636. A ratio that is very close to that 1.5 margin that indicates when a welfare system is in balance.