The UK ranked 23rd, being beaten by countries including: Turkey, Czechia and Austria
Scores were determined across 7 factors, including the balance between old and young, how many over 65s emigrated from there, the quality of healthcare & safety, life expectancy, and life satisfaction.
Iceland ranked top as the best country for retirees
ConfidenceClub, a company with more than a little stake in seniors’ well-being, has released a study identifying the best cities across the globe for retirees.
The study looked at factors to rank countries and cities on their ability to support a fulfilling, secure, and healthy retirement.
How did the UK rank compared to other cities?
The UK was near the bottom of the list when it came to accommodating cities for retirees. The data showed the UK ranked 23rd out of 38 countries analysed. The UK performed poorly across Elder Balance score, which looks at the ratio of ageing population compared against old-age dependency from the OECD. A higher ratio suggests a greater burden on the working-age population to support the elderly, impacting everything from healthcare to pension systems. The UK also had one of the highest rates for over 65s emigrating at 1.1%. The UK also ranked around the middle range for safety and life expectancy.
Who were the winning countries?
The nation of Iceland scored top marks in this study, thanks to a perfect score in both life expectancy and life satisfaction.
You can view the full breakdown here: https://confidenceclub.co.uk/blogs/news/cities-that-enhance-quality-of-life-for-retirees
| 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 |
| Comparison | UK | 60 | 33.2 | 1.10% | 74.8 | 50 | 80.74 | 6.8 |
Who were the winning cities?
When specific cities were analysed, Reykjavik was the Icelandic city to win this round.
The Hague (Netherlands) and Tel Aviv (Israel) came a joint second, rounding off the top three cities for retiring in.
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 |
You can view the full breakdown here: https://confidenceclub.co.uk/blogs/news/cities-that-enhance-quality-of-life-for-retirees