The Gallup's survey ranks Denmark as the happiest country for the 60-plus demographic globally.
Countries like Greece, Portugal and Colombia offer user-friendly residency visas and tax perks for retirees, making them appealing options. Locations such as Valencia, Spain, and Mazatlán, Mexico, combine affordability, vibrant culture and high-quality amenities.
Denmark topped the World Happiness Report and the U.S. ranked No. 10. Along with nearby Sweden, Norway scored a B in the Global Pension Index, calculated by crunching data on the adequacy, sustainability and integrity of each nation's retirement income system. Denmark nailed an A.
Key Takeaways
According to the Milken Institute's Center for the Future of Aging, the best cities for successful aging are clustered in Utah and Iowa, among other places. Other stand-out cities for retirees include Madison, Wisconsin, and Durham-Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
Of those interested in a clean slate, the majority would consider relocating or moving. Low prices, low unemployment, and lots of fresh air make Raleigh, North Carolina, the best city for a fresh start. High prices, high unemployment, and poor air quality make Los Angeles, California, the worst city for a fresh start.
Rancho Palos Verdes, California
With a median household income of $166,747, Rancho Palos Verdes takes the top spot. Residents ages 65-plus make up 26.2% of the total population of 41,805. Just under 11,000 seniors live here — the sixth-highest amount of any area in the overall ranking.
For those who wish to retire to safe havens that offer cheap living expenses, some of the cheapest and safest countries to retire to include Indonesia, Ghana, Romania, North Macedonia, and Vietnam.
Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, and Wyoming are the top tax-friendly states for retirees. All of them have no personal income taxes. 1 Other taxes, cost of living, and overall quality of life are also important considerations.
Costa Rica
Once settled, most retiree couples can live well within the country for as little as $2,000 per month.
Away from the UK, Norway is generally accepted as being the best country for elderly care. Norway supports its elderly in a number of ways, including a government-funded care system, numerous social opportunities and high-quality public health care.
The most affordable countries among the safest in the world are Latvia, Chile, Costa Rica, Slovakia, and Lithuania. The cost of living in these states varies from $1,000 to $1,100 per month.
The report revealed older adults are happiest in Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden and Iceland, in that order. New Zealand, the Netherlands, Canada and Australia were ranked sixth through ninth, respectively, with American older adults trailing in 10th place.
The best state to live in for seniors is Utah, which offers a combination of low assisted living costs, high-quality healthcare, and a strong overall quality of life. Utah has earned the title of the healthiest state for older adults, reflecting its supportive services and solid health outcomes.
Finland is the 'happiest' country in the world, followed by Denmark, Switzerland, Iceland, and Norway. The data comes from the Gallup World Poll, based entirely on survey scores and answers to the main life evaluation question asked in the poll.
Retiring abroad on $1,000 per month doesn't mean sacrificing quality of life. Many countries offer excellent health care, infrastructure and amenities at a fraction of the cost compared to the U.S. The cheapest places to retire abroad include Panama, the Philippines, Portugal, Malaysia, Mexico, Thailand and Vietnam.
Thailand. Is it possible to retire in Thailand and keep the costs in check? Certainly! It's another top choice for digital nomads with an achievable $500 monthly budget, focusing on affordable accommodation.
By Total: California has the highest number of seniors in the U.S. with a total of 5,148,448 residents ages 65 and older.
Zurich, Switzerland, tops the Quality of Living City Ranking for 2024. It is followed by Vienna, Austria, and Geneva, Switzerland, in second and third place.
Try to spend some time in nature—go for a walk in the park or find a new hiking trail. Help a friend or neighbor with an errand. Helping others can be just as beneficial to you as it is for them. Take a class either online or in-person, listen to a lecture, or take a tour of a museum.