Happy Retirees: 7 Countries Where They Thrive

Do you know the countries with extremely happy retirees?

There are a lot of happy retirees all around the world, but there are some countries in the world that are known to be places where seniors and retirees are living their best lives.

Generally speaking, the myth goes that retirees are not as happy as the younger generations, but this is not the norm.

In these countries, retirement happiness seems to be at an all-time high because they make the most of their golden years.

In North America, it has been reported that older people are happier overall than younger people. However, in Western Europe, older and younger people have the same level of happiness.

The World Happiness Report has analyzed 143 countries and has come up with the countries where older adults over 60 are the happiest.

If you are curious to see which countries in the Western world are considered a haven for happiness in retirement, keep reading!

Which country surprised you the most? Is there anything that makes you think these countries are happier than others? Share your replies in the comments!

Netherlands

Western and Northern Europe were bound to be on the list, but maybe not everyone expected to have this 17th-century powerhouse still reigning in such success.

The Netherlands has ended up in sixth place when it comes to the countries where retirees are the happiest.

Out of the people who have taken the server, the average score the country has received ends up being 7.36 out of a total of 10, and when compared with other factors, it ends up receiving the final score of 7.319!

The Netherlands is a pretty popular vacation spot, both for Europeans and for North Americans, and the nation is modern, democratic, and industrialized.

The calm life here and the culture that puts emphasis on bike riding may be part of what makes this country so appealing and what makes retirees love it.

New Zealand

On the other side of the world, we have New Zealand. And while the country wouldn’t have placed as high as others (since it ranks at an overall 11th), the people aged 60 and older have given the country a happiness score of 7.39!

The country became a separate colony from the United Kingdom in 1841, and then in 1852, it became self-governing. The country still responds to the British Crown but is still self-reliant, and the prime minister holds the power.

The country has advanced a lot since it got its self-governing statute, with a vibrant country and economy based on manufacturing, agriculture, tourism, and energy leading the way.

New Zealand strives to honor its indigenous roots, and the country is home to a lot of happy retirees who enjoy life on the island and the relaxing life inside the country.

Not to mention, if you are a movie enthusiast, New Zealand has a highly riveting film scene, and you can always pay a visit to Hobitton since this is where Lord of the Rings was filmed!

Iceland

Iceland’s happiness score ends up placing them in the overall third place in the world, with a score of 7.525 out of 10, with retirees and older adults 60 and older having an average of 7.585.

It is obvious that older adults in this country end up loving it here, and given the cold temperature, if you did not enjoy life here on the volcanic island, you would have left a long time before you reached the age of 60.

Despite being fairly small, Iceland has a powerful economy that is based on tourism and construction power, which has gotten back on its feet since the global crisis of 2008 and COVID-19.

Iceland is ranked so highly since they have high literacy rates, social cohesion, and life expectancy, making it not only one of the happiest countries for retirees but also one of the top countries in the world.

Sweden

Slightly behind Iceland is Sweden (with other Nordic European countries to follow soon), as it is our fourth in terms of overall happiness among retirees. They scored just slightly under Iceland, with a score of 7.344 (and a 7.588 from people aged over 60).

Sweden is considered a safe country, with a successful capitalist economic system that is based on a public safety net, so that each citizen of the country can rest assured that they will be taken care of in retirement.

The country is an amazing tourist destination too, and people love the calm and collected nature of Nordic countries. This is probably why they are among the countries with the most happy retirees.

One thing to note is that after centuries of being a neutral country, Sweden joined NATO in 2022 due to the invasion of Ukraine by Russia.

If you want to know why this country is definitely worth a visit (unless you would consider moving there for retirement), we recommend this comprehensive travel guide.

Norway

Ranked number 7, there are definitely many happy retirees in Norway, as the country gets one of the highest average happiness scores by adults aged 60 and older, 7.66!

Norway is a very interesting country as it is one of the parliamentary constitutional monarchies in Europe, still having a king as a monarch.

Many of the Nordic European countries still have monarchies, but Norway is one of the countries that has declined to associate with the rest of Europe in any sort of treaty.

Norway is neutral and on good terms with the entirety of Europe, but they have declined to join the European Union several times, including when it was still known as the European Economic Community.

The country is known for its welfare model, universal healthcare, and comprehensive social security system. It runs on egalitarian ideals, and since the late 1960s, the country has continuously secured its economic state with its vast oil and gas resources in the Norwegian Sea.

Denmark

Considered the second country when it comes to happiness scores, Denmark has managed to score a high score of 7.916 from its population aged 60 and older, with the overall happiness score falling to 7.583.

The country is highly modern and follows the same Nordic welfare models that have been spread among all the Northern European countries.

It is credited a lot of the time as the reason why all of these countries are considered the ones with the happiest populations.

Besides this, a lot of people appreciate the leading innovation and care given to environmental regulations.

The economy is stable, there are a lot of fun things to do around the country, and it is a perfect destination for those of us who want a simple, calm, and relaxed retirement.

Finland

The happiest country is Finland! The country got the highest score from people aged 60 and over, and the overall happiness score has also been the highest.

With a score of almost 8 from older adults and an overall one of 7.741, it is not surprising that it ended up being the place where most happy retirees reside.

The past of Finland is a bit murky, but they managed to regain their independence from Russia in 1917, before the end of World War I.

Since then, their economy has progressed from mainly agriculture and farming to a modern industrial system, which has brought about some of the highest living standards in Western Europe.

With such a stable economy and high living standards, it would be weird if retirees did not find themselves happy here!

Being a happy retiree is more than where you live; there are also other activities and habits that these retirees have that have earned them this title! If you want to make sure that you end up between them, check out these habits in this article: 7 Things Happy Retirees Have in Common.