Best countries and places for older adults: the evidence

There is no single best country for older adults, because rankings change with what they measure and how they weight it. The WHO judges places on eight age-friendly areas, such as housing, transport and social participation, while the Global AgeWatch Index compared 96 countries on income security, health, capability and environment.

At a glance

• The WHO age-friendly framework looks at eight areas of urban life, from housing and transport to health services.
• The WHO Global Network has over 1,400 members across 51 countries (as at April 2023).
• The UK Network of Age-friendly Communities has over 100 places and describes itself as an affiliate of the WHO Global Network.
• The Global AgeWatch Index named a different top country in its 2014 and 2015 editions, and ranked the UK 10th in 2015.
• If you move abroad, your UK State Pension only rises each year in certain countries.

Is there one best country to grow older in?

No, and the reason is practical. A country can rank highly because of pensions, health outcomes or social connection, but those averages say little about whether a particular person will thrive in a particular town. A good place for a healthy 62-year-old who enjoys walking may be a poor one for an 85-year-old with dementia who needs care close by.

For that reason, we look at the frameworks that organisations use to define age-friendly places rather than naming a winner. The sections below explain them, show where the evidence is thin and suggest how to judge somewhere for yourself or a relative.

What makes a place age-friendly, according to the WHO?

The WHO Age-friendly Cities framework identifies eight connected areas of urban life that can show, and help remove, barriers to older people’s wellbeing and participation. It was based on focus groups with older people, caregivers and service providers in 33 cities across 22 countries.

The WHO describes age-friendly environments as better places to grow, live, work, play and age, for younger and older residents alike. The right-hand column is our plain-English summary of each area, not WHO wording.

What is the WHO Global Network, and where does the UK fit?

The WHO Global Network for Age-friendly Cities and Communities had over 1,400 members in 51 countries when the WHO published a national programmes guide on 19 April 2023. The WHO has not stated a current total in the pages we reviewed, so treat that figure as dated.

In the UK, the Centre for Ageing Better supports the UK Network of Age-friendly Communities, which began in 2012 under the UK Urban Ageing Consortium. It describes itself as a growing movement of over 100 places, with over 30 million people living in an Age-friendly Community across England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. It is an affiliate of the WHO Global Network, as is the Older People’s Commissioner for Wales.

The WHO says members of affiliated networks may automatically qualify to join the global network where criteria align. Membership shows a commitment to improve, not a guarantee of results, so ask what a place has actually changed, such as bus services, benches or housing. We have not named individual UK member places, because the pages we reviewed did not list them and we do not want to guess; the network publishes its own member list.

What is the Global AgeWatch Index, and what are its limits?

The Global AgeWatch Index was published by HelpAge International. It scored older people’s wellbeing in four areas: income security, health, personal capability (such as education and employment) and an enabling environment. The 2014 edition covered 96 countries, with Norway first and Afghanistan last. The 2015 edition, reported by Age UK on 8 September 2015, also covered 96 countries, with Switzerland first, Norway second and Sweden third. The UK ranked 10th, up one place.

Three limits matter. First, only countries with enough data were included, so many are missing, and the 2014 release said that gap calls into question governments’ ability to plan for an ageing population. Second, it ranks whole countries, not towns, care homes or neighbourhoods. Third, the editions we reviewed date from 2014 and 2015, so they do not describe today. The first-place country changed between editions, which shows how sensitive a rank is to scoring.

Why do rankings disagree with each other?

• Different measures. One index may weight pensions and income heavily, another health outcomes, another community life.
• Different data. Some countries have good statistics on older people and some have almost none.
• Different people. Rankings tend to describe an average older person, not someone with dementia, a disability or a low income.
• Different scale. A country score cannot tell you whether the bus runs to your village.

Treat any list headlined “best country to retire” with care, check who produced it and what was measured, and compare at least two methods.

What should you check if you are thinking of retiring abroad?

Look at the practical rules before the climate. Your UK State Pension will only increase each year if you live in the European Economic Area, Gibraltar, Switzerland, or a country with a UK social security agreement, other than Canada and New Zealand where increases are not paid. Pensions elsewhere are not increased.

Also check healthcare access, how you would pay for care if you needed it, language, tax, and whether family could support you. Care funding in the UK depends on where you live and on means testing, which our care means test guide explains. A place that suits you at 65 may look different at 85.

How do you judge a place in the UK?

Use the WHO areas as a checklist, and visit at different times of day.

• Can you reach a GP, pharmacy and shop on foot or by bus?
• Are pavements level and crossings safe, with places to sit?
• Is there a community hub, library, u3a or lunch club? See social groups for over-50s.
• Is housing adaptable, or would a care home or extra care housing be needed later?
• How strong is local care capacity? Our data on care home fees by region, places where care home beds are hardest to find and council care home quality shows how much local areas differ.

Frequently asked questions

Which country is best for older adults?

No country is best on every measure. The Global AgeWatch Index put Norway first in 2014 and Switzerland first in 2015, with the UK 10th in 2015. Rankings depend on method, data and what you value, so use them as a starting point.

What does age-friendly mean?

The WHO describes age-friendly environments as places that help people of all ages take part in what matters to them. Its framework covers eight areas, including housing, transport, social participation, respect, and community support and health services.

Which UK places are in the age-friendly network?

The UK Network of Age-friendly Communities has over 100 places, including towns, districts, cities, counties and regions. It publishes its own member list through the Centre for Ageing Better, so check that rather than relying on a ranking.

Is the Global AgeWatch Index still up to date?

The editions we reviewed date from 2014 and 2015. The data may be out of date, and only countries with enough information were included, so use the Index for historical context, not as a current guide for a move.

Does my State Pension rise if I retire abroad?

Only in some countries. It rises each year in the EEA, Gibraltar, Switzerland and countries with a UK social security agreement, except Canada and New Zealand. Elsewhere it is frozen. Check GOV.UK for your destination before deciding.

Where to get help next

If you are weighing a move to be nearer family, read long-distance caregiving and helping older people stay independent. When you know the area, you can search for care near you or compare local costs with the care cost calculator.

Sources

• WHO: Age-friendly cities framework
• WHO: New guide on developing national programmes for age-friendly cities and communities
• Centre for Ageing Better: Age-friendly communities
• HelpAge International: Global AgeWatch Index 2014
• Age UK: Switzerland ranked best place to grow older
• GOV.UK: Your State Pension if you retire abroad

Reviewed by The Care Panel team on 9 November 2026. This guide is general information about care in England, not legal, medical or financial advice. Rules and rates change; check with your council or an adviser before making decisions.