 Country |
 Rank |
 Crime Index |
 Cost of living index |
 Over the age of 65 (% of population) |
 House price |
 Life expectancy |
 Final score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Finland | 1 | 27.01 | 77.46 | 21.61 | 8.64 | 81.73 | 3.83 |
| Spain | 2 | 33.13 | 59.09 | 19.7 | 9.59 | 83.43 | 3.7 |
| Slovenia | 3 | 21.79 | 59.38 | 19.65 | 10.89 | 81.37 | 3.7 |
| Netherlands | 4 | 27.22 | 78.64 | 19.16 | 7.35 | 81.81 | 3.68 |
| Italy | 5 | 44.37 | 73.11 | 23.31 | 9.52 | 83.34 | 3.65 |
| Denmark | 6 | 26.72 | 91.67 | 19.84 | 6.66 | 80.95 | 3.63 |
| Portugal | 7 | 29.89 | 52.88 | 21.89 | 12.65 | 81.32 | 3.62 |
| Estonia | 8 | 23.38 | 56.45 | 19.73 | 9.11 | 78.24 | 3.6 |
| Germany | 9 | 35.42 | 70.62 | 21.66 | 9.12 | 80.89 | 3.57 |
| Austria | 10 | 25.23 | 75.49 | 19.38 | 10.4 | 81.69 | 3.5 |
| Switzerland | 11 | 21.35 | 131.75 | 18.63 | 8.42 | 83.75 | 3.32 |
| Iceland | 12 | 24.13 | 96.77 | 14.79 | 6.31 | 82.86 | 3.32 |
| Greece | 13 | 44.14 | 60.96 | 20.59 | 10.13 | 81.78 | 3.31 |
| Bulgaria | 14 | 38.12 | 40.92 | 21.07 | 8.97 | 74.93 | 3.25 |
| Belgium | 15 | 44.17 | 78.52 | 18.76 | 6.91 | 81.59 | 2.23 |
| Sweden | 16 | 47.2 | 79.17 | 20.08 | 8.56 | 82.55 | 3.21 |
| Romania | 17 | 28.35 | 38.5 | 18.28 | 10.66 | 75.35 | 3.12 |
| Croatia | 18 | 24.91 | 56.36 | 20.12 | 14.2 | 78.07 | 3.12 |
| Latvia | 19 | 37.21 | 52.87 | 19.98 | 8.48 | 74.78 | 3.08 |
| Malta | 20 | 38.93 | 73.61 | 19.85 | 12.5 | 82.44 | 3.08 |
| Czech Republic | 21 | 25.31 | 49.18 | 19.47 | 15.46 | 79.02 | 3.07 |
| Norway | 22 | 33.35 | 106.09 | 17.01 | 8.49 | 82.75 | 3.01 |
| Hungary | 23 | 34.81 | 42.75 | 19.51 | 11.6 | 76.06 | 3.01 |
| United Kingdom | 24 | 45.26 | 71.03 | 18.65 | 9.57 | 81.25 | 2.99 |
| Lithuania | 25 | 33.84 | 47.66 | 19.16 | 10.97 | 75.68 | 2.98 |
| Poland | 26 | 29.32 | 42.04 | 17.34 | 14.03 | 77.6 | 2.83 |
| Slovakia | 27 | 29.74 | 49.08 | 15.6 | 11.14 | 77.26 | 2.82 |
| Bosnia And Herzegovina | 28 | 43.01 | 38.56 | 17.01 | 10.75 | 77.64 | 2.79 |
| Ireland | 29 | 45.02 | 83.11 | 14.27 | 7.4 | 82.25 | 2.71 |
| France | 30 | 49.2 | 80.62 | 20.05 | 13.48 | 82.72 | 2.7 |
| Luxembourg | 31 | 32.15 | 88.28 | 14.48 | 12.17 | 82.29 | 2.57 |
| Serbia | 32 | 38.26 | 39.19 | 17.89 | 17.08 | 75.89 | 2.26 |
| Montenegro | 33 | 41.61 | 41.43 | 15.25 | 14.12 | 76.77 | 2.23 |
| Russia | 34 | 40.13 | 33.17 | 14.61 | 11.14 | 72.65 | 2.22 |
| Ukraine | 35 | 48.28 | 29.21 | 16.76 | 10.77 | 71.58 | 2.22 |
| Albania | 36 | 41.64 | 40.25 | 13.59 | 14.78 | 78.45 | 2.15 |
| Belarus | 37 | 60.27 | 30.69 | 15.04 | 16.79 | 74.17 | 1.37 |
Best European countries for retirement - Finland is the best European country for retirees.
Read our guide on the best European countries for retirement.
With breath-taking views, fresh lakes, vast forests, and quaint cities; it’s no surprise that Finland of one of the best places to retire in Europe as it draws millions of retirees to their border each year. The friendly locals, relaxed way of living, and beautiful changing seasons make it the perfect destination for anyone who’s looking to wind down and enjoy life in their ‘golden years’. It’s easy to see why Finland has become one of the best countries to retire in Europe.
Best country for house prices
In regards to the best European countries for retirement at the time of this data being collected in 2021, the Balkan country of Serbia has the lowest house prices on average across Europe. This beautiful nation has so many things going for it, including its delicious cuisine, and unique culture, which is a fusion of central and South-eastern Europe.
Best country for over 65s
Italy has the largest population of over 65s in Europe, meaning retirees will be surrounded by people of a similar age range. Famous for its gorgeous scenery, charming lakes, and delicious cuisine; retirees who move here definitely won’t be short of things to do.
Best country for life expectancy
Switzerland tops the list, with the highest life expectancy rates across the entirety of Europe. Here, the average person lives for over 83 years. With its peaceful and relaxing mountain landscapes, and wealth of outdoor activities such as skiing; Switzerland is the perfect location to both relax and stay active.
Best country for cost of living
Spain has a low cost of in Europe. A beautiful country with a rich history, it boasts stunning architecture, picturesque beaches, and a great café culture. Whilst it’s often overlooked as a retirement destination, it’s a great option for those who are looking to get more for their money.
Sources
- Crime index data https://www.numbeo.com/crime/rankings_by_country.jsp
- Age of population data https://www.worldbank.org/en/about/legal/terms-of-use-for-datasets
- Property price data https://www.numbeo.com/property-investment/rankings_by_country.jsp
- Life expectancy data https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.DYN.LE00.IN
- Cost of living data https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/rankings_by_country.jsp
Methodology:
To calculate the index, we first normalised the data categories individually from 0 to 1 and then summed the results.
On this scale, for
- Crime – The country with the highest rate of crime would be weighted closer to 0
- Cost of living – The country with the highest cost is weighted closer to 0
- 60 and over – lower % of population is weight closer to 0
- Property prices – Higher property prices are deemed less desirable so are weighted down
- Life expectancy – Lower life expectancy is less desirable so weighted down