U.S. Retirement Quality Falls in Global Rankings, Europe Leads

U.S. retirement quality drops to 24th globally, with European nations leading in healthcare and cost of living.

October 3, 2026 One Min Read

POLICY WIRE — Washington, D.C. — The U.S. has slipped in global retirement rankings, falling to 24th out of 44 countries according to the 2026 Natixis Global Retirement Index. This marks a decline from its 14th position in 2015 and a drop of three spots from the previous year.

The ranking considers health, quality of life, material well-being, and financial stability. A key concern for American retirees is rising healthcare costs, with one in three fearing they may face financial ruin due to medical expenses in their later years.

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Norway tops the list, followed by Ireland, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Denmark. Nine of the top 10 countries are in Europe, highlighting the region’s advantages in healthcare access, cost of living, and quality of life. Many U.S. retirees are now considering moving to Europe, with Portugal emerging as a top destination.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)

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