How the index works and who led
Norway led the 2026 Natixis Global Retirement Index, with Ireland in second. Those two stood out as the only countries that scored strongly and consistently across four pillars: retirement finances, well being, health and overall quality of life.
The index covers 44 countries and uses 18 data points that range from retirement finances to health outcomes. It also evaluates the strength of each country's financial services industry, climate and governance. The report includes a graphic titled "Top 10 Performers on the Global Retirement Index," sourced to the 2026 Natixis Global Retirement Index.
What the report says is driving the pressure
"Many of today's retirement pressures stem from the uncertainties presented by retirement systems that were built on 20th century assumptions," according to a company statement released with the report on Tuesday. "People are working differently today, living longer and shouldering a greater share of the responsibility for funding retirement."
Longer lifespans, obligations within private pension plans and unprecedented public debt are straining public pension systems, the report found. Inflation is also leaving people with less to set aside. Higher living costs are reducing household savings capacity, and swelling government debt is narrowing the policy tools available to support retirees. Demographics add to the squeeze as more people draw benefits while the base of workers contributing into systems gets smaller.
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Country movers and notable changes
Iceland posted the biggest slide among the top 10, down five places to ninth, largely because material well being deteriorated after unemployment rose. The Netherlands advanced three spots to third. Switzerland ticked down one notch to fourth. Australia moved up one to sixth.
The US fell three places to 24th, one position ahead of Japan. Aging populations and government debt weighed on both countries' results, according to Natixis Center for Investor Insight Executive Director David Goodsell. While the US scored well on quality of life, it lost ground in other areas, including retirement finances.
What this means for your portfolio
The anxiety shows up in the numbers: 43% of individual investors worldwide say retirement security now feels like something that would require a miracle, and one third of high net worth investors share that view.
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