Retirement is something many people spend decades preparing for, yet when it finally arrives, it can feel disorienting. But there are some destinations better prepared to welcome retirees than others.
The Nordic country of Finland stands out when it comes to quality of life, earning the top spot on the Global Retirement Index from Natixis Investment Managers. The country moved up a spot after coming in second place last year.
To determine the ranking, the company looked at five quality of life indicators: air quality, biodiversity and habitat, environmental factors, happiness, and water and sanitation. Finland was a standout in happiness and water and sanitation, taking the top spot in both categories. It also ranked well for air quality. Finland’s overall quality of life score for 2025 was 89 percent out of 100.
Known for its emphasis on work-life balance, connection with nature, and consistent place on the list of happiest countries in the world, Finland boasts gorgeous lakes, a robust sauna culture, incredible wildlife, northern lights spotting, and more.
Beyond Finland, Norway came in second on the list, a stronger finish than its fourth place showing in 2024. That was followed by Iceland, Sweden, and Denmark, which rounded out the top five. The first non-Nordic country on the list was Luxembourg at No. 6, while the United States came in at No. 25.
Quality of life is an important factor when considering a big move after retirement, but the index also looked at other factors, including having enough money to live comfortably, access to financial services that help preserve savings, quality healthcare, and a clean and safe environment.
When combining all these factors, the index found Norway topped the list.
Overall, only 21 percent of people surveyed said it would take a miracle to feel secure in retiring, according to Natixis, but 69 percent of Americans believe the world feels unstable and fear how that impacts their finances.
“This year’s Global Retirement Index paints a complex and cautious picture regarding people’s anxiousness about a comfortable retirement,” Dave Goodsell, the executive director of the Natixis Center for Investor Insight, said in a statement. “Nonetheless, US retirement savers are still worried about inflation’s impact on savings, public debt and Social Security benefits, as well as lingering uncertainty if their retirement funds have enough savings to fund longer than expected retirements.”
These are the top 25 countries for quality of life, according to the Global Retirement Index.
Finland Norway Iceland Sweden Denmark Luxembourg Switzerland Ireland Netherlands Germany United Kingdom Austria Australia Belgium New Zealand Lithuania Canada France Slovenia Estonia Spain Czech Republic Israel Italy United States
