Canada Ranks Fourth Best for Seniors

The Global AgeWatch Index released its ranking this week of the top 10 countries for senior citizens.

1. Norway
2. Sweden
3. Switzerland
4. Canada
5. Germany
6. Netherlands
7. Iceland
8. United States
9. Japan
10. New Zealand

The list reflects the economic security, health, education and environment of the elderly in 96 countries worldwide. Canada ranked high in the health domain and above average on all health indicators. It has a higher than average GDP per capita for its region and older Canadians are better educated than average.

With a global aging population, how countries care for its senior citizens is becoming increasingly important. The over-60 population is expected to reach two billion by 2050 and will account for 1 in 5 people.

Among the worst places to live out your golden years include Tanzania, Pakistan and Afghanistan rounding out the bottom three. Surprisingly, some of the poorer countries such as Sri Lanka were praised in the survey for their investment in health and education. Bolivia, which offers free healthcare to its older citizens despite being one of the poorest countries surveyed proves that “limited resources need not be a barrier to countries providing for their older citizens.”

How a culture and country treats it’s senior popular, with reverence or with distain, will ultimately be reflected in government policies. In countries like Korea and China, elderly are taken care of by family, and a similar family-centered philosophy governs Latin and Mediterranean cultures. However, western cultures tend to be more youth oriented and independent.