The Best Places to Retire in the World

Senior couple playing pickleball.

If you’re nearing or living in retirement, as you look around at how your peers are faring around the world, you may think you should have been born Dutch. Or Norwegian. Or Irish. Granted, you can’t choose where you were born, but retirement is the right time to take a look at where you and other Americans stand on the worldwide retirement leaderboard. How do your average home-grown Tom, Dick or Mary stand, compared to Thijs, Didrik or Maeve?

The short answer: The U.S. may be the world’s number one superpower, but people living in a multitude of other wealthy countries can expect more financially secure retirements than Americans. When it comes to getting a secure retirement, analysts say other wealthy countries — that provide both financial benefits and better health systems — outrank the U.S.

Best places to retire — key facts

• Retirement in the top 10 countries — from Australia and New Zealand to Norway and Denmark — outranks retirement in the U.S., says Natixis, an asset management and investment banking firm. The U.S. ranks 15 in the Finances in Retirement Sub-Index and 23 in the Quality of Life Sub-Index.
• The U.S. earns only a C+ for its pension system, according to Mercer, the global consulting and financial services company that grades systems on, among other things, how adequate and sustainable they are. The U.S.'s grading is on par with Hong Kong SAR (25) and Spain (26) but behind hemisphere neighbors Canada (17) and Uruguay (13) and just barely outpacing Poland (30) and Japan (35).
• While the U.S. moved up two spots and ranks third overall in the annual U.S. News & World Report “Best Countries” list, it barely rates a mention on the “Comfortable Retirement” sub rankings. At No. 30 among the 85 countries surveyed, the U.S. comes in behind most of Europe as well as (in order) Canada (6), Thailand (17), Mexico (19), Panama (20), the Philippines (22), Costa Rica (23), the Dominican Republic (28), and Singapore (29).

If these facts or others have you considering spending all or some of your retirement outside the U.S., you are not alone. More than 760,000 retired workers are collecting U.S. Social Security benefits abroad.

Consider John Ovink, a 69-year-old, Dutch-born U.S. citizen, who emigrated to America in his mid-thirties and retired after practicing law as an attorney in Florida for more than 20 years. He went back to the Netherlands in January and received permanent resident status.

Ovink lives in Rotterdam, home of the largest seaport in Europe. He travels around using his bicycle and public transit. While it’s very difficult for foreigners to drive in the Netherlands (getting a driver’s license is an arduous process for Americans, and you can’t insure a car without a Dutch license), Ovink says this isn’t an issue in a country about the size of West Virginia. “You really don’t need a car in the Netherlands,” he says “Everything is pretty much near everything else, meaning you can get pretty much anywhere within two to three hours by using public transport.”

Ovink finds the “attitudes toward elderly people [and English speakers] are always patient, polite and friendly. People have even gotten up and offered their seats in buses or waiting rooms. There is also visible respect for the elderly and their opinion.”

Indeed, Ovink says, “returning to the Netherlands feels like coming home.”

(Image credit: Getty)

It shouldn’t be surprising that the Netherlands, with its high-quality, low-cost health care system and strong retirement savings structure for its citizens, as well as its government pension system, known as Algemene Ouderdomswet or AOW, appears near the top of several lists that rank countries as places for retirees — whether it be for their own citizens or for expats seeking to spend their retirement in a country that’s healthy, interesting and financially secure. The Netherlands ranks first in the Mercer Global Pension index, with an overall grade of 84.8 compared to 60.4 for the U.S.

Affordable health insurance 

Ovink notes that health insurance is affordable in the Netherlands. “Purchasing health insurance is mandatory for all citizens and permanent residents,” he says. “I’ve heard health care is very good, but have no personal experience. I do know my parents were very satisfied.”

In 2024, the monthly AOW net payment for eligible Dutch people living on their own is €1,486.24. For married people or people living with another adult, the monthly net amount is €1010.69 per person, according SVB Sociale Verzekeringbank. (A Euro (€) is equivalent to a few cents more than a U.S. dollar).

Countries Natixis ranked as secure retirement locations are mostly concentrated in Europe but also include New Zealand and Australia. The top three countries in the rankings are Switzerland, Norway and Iceland, all of which have life expectancies of 83 years, compared to 79.25 in the U.S. and the world average of 71.3. Life expectancy was considered in the rankings’ health index, which also considered health expenditures. The rankings also had categories for material well-being, finances in retirement and quality of life.

The countries that do retirement best tend to be small

Dave Goodsell, Natixis

Switzerland is said to have a robust private and public pension system that ranks twelfth in the Mercer Global Pension Index. Switzerland also has a high standard (and high cost) of living and has created a special Retirement Residency Program to accommodate retirees who want to settle there. The Netherlands has the top-rated pension system among all countries, according to Mercer.

In contrast, retirement in the U.S. — with its patchwork of financial support and uneven social services — can be less easy and less secure.

“The U.S. system is messy,” says Rich Nuzum, executive director and global chief investment strategist at Mercer.

According to the Federal Reserve, just 20% of non-retirees in the U.S. work at employers who will provide traditional pensions, also known as defined benefit plans. And while 72% of Americans have some retirement savings, 28% have no retirement savings at all. Nuzum notes that those without any retirement savings will rely exclusively on Social Security benefits to live on when they can no longer work. Yet Social Security is designed to replace only about 40% of preretirement income.

The threat of changing demographics

There’s also a pesky demographic problem that’s especially acute in virtually all wealthier nations — the rapid increase in the number of retirees versus the number of workers who support them with government pension and health insurance systems. The standard in many wealthy countries today is about three workers supporting one retiree. By mid-century, it will be down to two workers.

Data compiled by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) make the trend clear: Across the 38 wealthy OECD member nations, there are, today, 33 retirees 65 and older for every 100 workers aged 20 to 64. By 2050, there will be 55 retirees for every 100 workers.

The U.S. currently has 28.4 retirees for every 100 workers, and that will rise to 40.4 in 2050, according to the OECD data. The numbers for some individual countries are much worse than they are in the U.S. Japan already has 55.4 retirees for every 100 workers, and the number is expected to rise to 80.7 by 2050. Italy has 41 retirees for every 100 workers today, rising to 74.4 in 28 years.

To address this growing imbalance, some countries are talking about raising the full retirement age; others have already implemented these changes. The full retirement age in Canada is gradually increasing from 65 to 67 years old; in the Netherlands, it rose to 67 in 2024; and despite nationwide unrest, the retirement age in France is going up to 64 from 62, and retirees must work for at least 43 years.

The 10 best places to retire

1. Switzerland. The life expectancy is 83, and the country is known for having a high standard (and high cost) of living and low taxes, as well as beautiful places to visit. The country has established a special Retirement Residency Program to accommodate retirees who want to settle there.
2. Norway. Another country where expectancy is nearly 83, compared to the world average of 71.3 and 79.25 for the United States, according to the World Bank. Norway is also said to have a robust private and public pension system ranking eighth in the Mercer Global Pension Index.
3. Iceland. Also at 83 years life expectancy, Iceland has the number two rated pension system for its local retirees, according to Mercer. Iceland is known for its landscapes and history.
4. Ireland. Life expectancy is 82 in Ireland, a country that International Living says is noted for the charm of its people and its landscape. According to Wise, Ireland is also known for having a very low crime rate and a low-cost government health care system.
5. Netherlands. Life expectancy is 81 years. Wise says the healthcare system is one of the best in the world. The country is friendly to expats and the culture is “immersed in nature,” according to Wise.
6. Luxembourg. Life expectancy is 82.4 and the country has a relatively high cost of living. According to Expatica, the country “boasts a wealth of nature, culture, art, and history.”
7. Australia. Life expectancy is 83 and Wise describes the country as featuring beautiful beaches, friendly people and universal health care.
8. Germany. Life expectancy is 82. Because of the large expat population, many German cities have English speaking social clubs, according to Wise. The cost of living varies enormously based on the type of lifestyle you lead and where you choose to live.
9. Denmark. Life expectancy is 82. According to Wise, the country’s quality of life is “notoriously great,” although the cost of living is high, but about average for Europe.
10. New Zealand. Life expectancy is 82. Wise says the country is known for its high quality of life and relatively low cost of living.

Asset management and banking firm Natixis ranks countries annually for retirement security based on finances in retirement, material well-being, quality of life and health.

Considering retiring abroad?

Check the immigration and residency laws of the country in which you wish to live. Keep in mind that different countries have differing requirements for visas and residency, with many countries requiring a certain amount of passive income — such as from a pension or savings. Some countries allow you to establish dual citizenship based on the birthplace of your parents or grandparents.

Shannon Raiser, a customer advocate at Wise has some additional advice. (Wise is a tech company that facilitates international money transfers).

• Figure out the cost of living. “It is important to research and carefully evaluate the expenses associated with living in a foreign country,” Raiser says. “We recommend drafting a list of expenses that you normally spend money on and then compare it with how much these same expenses will cost in the new country.”
• Account for currency fluctuations. With proper planning,” Raiser says, “the impact of currency dips can be minimized. For instance, individuals can ’fix’ the currency by purchasing it in advance and depositing it in a bank account, so that in case the rates increase, you'll have some cash that won't be affected by sudden changes.” She also highly recommends spending time comparing different transfer services, as “most are riddled with hidden fees.”
• Open a bank account. Once you determine where you want to locate, Raiser says, “it is vital to open a bank account in that country. Since most U.S. banks do not have international locations, retirees will have to set up a new bank account. We also recommend maintaining a relationship with your current bank in the United States so you can manage recurring bills without the burdens of transferring money back and forth in the future.”
• Research taxes. The U.S. has tax treaties with many foreign countries. Check how these treaties affect your taxes (if you live in one of them) on the IRS website. Raiser further advises establishing a plan with your accountant to manage taxes in your new country. “Tax legislation varies from country to country and it is important for retirees to do their due diligence before the move.”
• Check your Social Security and health coverage. Information about receiving Social Security while living overseas can be found on the Social Security website. In general, Medicare doesn’t pay for medical care outside the U.S.

Further information about retiring abroad is on the U.S. State Department website. Go to Travel.State.Gov and type “retirement abroad” in the search box.

Note: This item first appeared in Kiplinger’s Retirement Report, our popular monthly periodical that covers key concerns of affluent older Americans who are retired or preparing for retirement. Subscribe for retirement advice that’s right on the money