Though it took the top spot in 2024, this year Switzerland made it only to fourth place in terms of appeal for international pensioners, a new global survey had revealed.
These are the findings of the “Global Retirement Index 2026” carried out among 34 nations by the international investment and asset management company Natexis.
Whilst Norway topped the table as the best country to retire to, followed by Ireland and the Netherlands, the study found that Switzerland performs less well, particularly in terms of material prosperity.
What does this mean, exactly?
The top 10 countries in the world to retire to. Image: Natixis
Many retirees rely on their savings to support themselves, but the country’s “persistently low-interest rate environment continues to depress returns on savings,” according to the report.
This category has sent Switzerland significantly down – all the way to the 15th place – which affected its overall score.
“Since September 2025, the Swiss National Bank (SNB) has kept its policy rate at 0%, due to very low inflation and its goal of limiting currency appreciation. Governance compounds the damage, slipping four places to sixth from a previous second- place position. On inflation, Switzerland remains in first place and tax pressure improves marginally to 13th, but these are not enough to arrest the overall fall on the Finances in Retirement sub-index,” the report stated.
It also noted how rising unemployment in the country had contributed to the country’s fall in the ranking:
“Switzerland’s export-reliant economy has been squeezed by a combination of US trade tariffs and a Swiss franc at its strongest against the dollar, while the financial services industry continues to absorb the fallout from the Credit Suisse-UBS merger, which has cost tens of thousands of jobs globally over the past three years,” it stated.
In other areas, however, the country does exceptionally well: it is in the second place in terms of the quality of its health system and quality of life, and third in the ‘Finances’ category.
And Switzerland is in the top position for its life expectancy.
“Switzerland draws strength from three sub-indices in the top ten: Finances in Retirement (third), Health (second), and Quality of Life (eighth), with only Material Wellbeing (15th) falling outside that threshold,” the report said.
This particular finding is not exactly a huge surprise.
That’s because for several years in a row, Switzerland’s ‘longevity index’ is among the world’s highest.
Experts attribute this phenomenon to a combination of factors such as good life conditions, nature, high quality of life and excellent healthcare – the latter two also highlighted in the retirement study.
READ MORE: Why living in Switzerland means you’ll (probably) have a longer life
And there is more
For several years running, Switzerland’s retirees – whether Swiss or those who retired here from abroad – have been among the ‘happiest’ in the world.
The reasons for this finding are pretty much the same as cited in the Retirement Index:
Longer, healthier lives
All the metrics show that Switzerland is near the top of the charts in terms of life expectancy of its population.
One such study, by the University Center for General Medicine and Public Health, or Unisanté, estimates the average life expectancy is now 85.8 years for women and 82.2 years for men.
The main reasons for the country’s high life expectancy, are “wealth, a sense of well-being, and healthy diet”, the study found.
Sense of well-being
According to Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Switzerland performs very well — and better than many other countries — in many categories relating to well-being of its people, including pensioners.
The country ranks above the average not only in income and wealth, but also in health status, social connections, environmental quality, housing, and personal security.
Healthcare
Switzerland has one of the best and most accessible health care systems in the world (even if it is among the most expensive too).
This means high-quality medical care is available to everyone, which becomes even more important as people grow older.
Its health insurance covers all medically-necessary treatments.
In the 2024 study by the German Federal Institute for Demographic Research, it was cited as the main reason for Swiss longevity.
“The Swiss medical system is less overwhelmed than that of its neighbours,” said demographer Mathias Lerch.
“Family doctors have more time to devote to their patients. Also, regular check-ups, early diagnosis, and preventive measures are more
common in Switzerland.
And according to demographer Philippe Wanner, “Switzerland benefits from a good health structure, and its health system is efficient in international comparison.”
READ MORE: What makes Switzerland’s retirees ‘the happiest in Europe’?
