Indians aiming for a secure and comfortable retirement in 2025 now face a formidable savings goal: about ₹3.5 crore. According to HSBC’s “Affluent Investors Snapshot 2025” report, this is the estimated corpus required to maintain quality of life amid longer lifespans, rising living costs, and increasing uncertainty in world markets.
Several key drivers have pushed this number higher for today’s retirees:
Longer Life Expectancy: Indians are living longer, often into their 80s or 90s, increasing the years during which retirement savings must last.
Rising Cost of Living: Healthcare, housing, and daily expenses have steadily increased due to inflation, eroding the value of stagnant or slow-growing savings.
Economic Uncertainty: With inflation rates high and investment returns uncertain, a larger nest egg ensures better financial security.
Changing Family Structures: As traditional forms of family support become less reliable, individual preparedness is more critical than ever.
Despite the benchmark being ₹3.5 crore, surveys suggest the average Indian expects to retire on less than half this amount. Financial planners urge using the “30X rule,” which multiplies anticipated annual post-retirement expenses by 30 to estimate the corpus needed. Even so, many underestimate true costs or start saving too late.
HSBC found that those who begin retirement planning in their 30s are far more confident in their ability to maintain their lifestyle post-retirement compared to those who start in their 40s or 50s.
The ₹3.5 crore estimate is not just a statistic; it’s a call to action for Indian savers to prioritize retirement early and invest across assets. With disciplined planning, informed investment choices, and regular portfolio reviews, Indians stand a much better chance of enjoying a dignified and comfortable retirement.
