Where Should You Retire?
The Aging Gracefully Index, conducted by ConfidenceClub, has unveiled the best countries and cities for retirees based on seven crucial factors: the balance between old and young, emigration rates of those over 65, healthcare quality, safety, life expectancy, and life satisfaction.
The USA’s Ranking
The USA ranks 18th overall in this global study, falling behind countries like Turkey, Czechia, and Austria. Despite ranking 15th out of 38 for elder balance (a metric considering the ratio of the aging population against old-age dependency), the USA’s lower scores in safety, life expectancy, and healthcare impacted its overall ranking. However, the USA performed well in life satisfaction and emigration rates, securing second place overall for the latter, indicating that elder residents prefer to stay rather than retire abroad.
Top-Ranked Countries for Retirees
- Iceland: Iceland leads the list with top marks in life expectancy and life satisfaction.
- Israel: Israel follows closely, excelling in healthcare and life expectancy.
- Finland, Netherlands, Switzerland, and Luxembourg: All these countries share the third position, boasting high scores across various factors, including healthcare, safety, and life satisfaction.
- Denmark and Australia: Both countries score high, particularly in healthcare and life expectancy.
- Norway: Known for its healthcare and life expectancy.
- South Korea: Impresses with its healthcare and life expectancy.
Detailed Rankings
| Rank | Country | Total Score | Elder Balance | Emigration | Healthcare | Safety | Life Expectancy | Life Satisfaction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Iceland | 87 | 25.5 | 0.48% | 68 | 75.8 | 82.68 | 7.6 |
| 2 | Israel | 85 | 23.1 | 0.11% | 73.8 | 73.7 | 82.26 | 7.2 |
| 3 | Finland | 83 | 41.5 | 0.81% | 80 | 75.4 | 82.04 | 7.9 |
| 3 | Netherlands | 83 | 34.7 | 0.84% | 79.5 | 75.2 | 81.69 | 7.5 |
| 3 | Switzerland | 83 | 31.8 | 0.61% | 70.4 | 73.5 | 83.99 | 7.5 |
| 3 | Luxembourg | 83 | 23.5 | 1.04% | 78.2 | 70.9 | 82.63 | 7.4 |
| 7 | Denmark | 82 | 35.6 | 0.60% | 76.3 | 74.2 | 81.38 | 7.5 |
| 7 | Australia | 82 | 28.6 | 0.10% | 70.1 | 63.7 | 84.53 | 7.1 |
| 9 | Norway | 80 | 31.3 | 0.53% | 78.1 | 66.4 | 83.23 | 7.3 |
| 10 | South Korea | 77 | 26.3 | 0.14% | 83.1 | 75.6 | 83.7 | 5.8 |
| 18 | USA | 68 | 29.4 | 0.04% | 66.4 | 47.7 | 77.2 | 7.0 |
Best Cities for Retirement
When focusing on specific cities, Reykjavik in Iceland emerged as the best city for retirees. The Hague in the Netherlands and Tel Aviv in Israel tied for second place.
Top Cities for Retirees
| Rank | City | Country | Total Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Reykjavik | Iceland | 87 |
| 2 | The Hague | Netherlands | 85 |
| 2 | Tel Aviv | Israel | 85 |
| 4 | Geneva | Switzerland | 83 |
| 4 | Helsinki | Finland | 83 |
| 4 | Zurich | Switzerland | 83 |
| 4 | Eindhoven | Netherlands | 83 |
| 4 | Rotterdam | Netherlands | 83 |
| 4 | Luxembourg | Luxembourg | 83 |
| 4 | Canberra | Australia | 83 |
| 4 | Adelaide | Australia | 83 |
| 4 | Sydney | Australia | 83 |