The United Kingdom is now ranked in 15th place on the Natixis Investment Managers global retirement index, falling one place from 2025.
The accompanying Natixis report noted that retirement security is coming under intensifying pressure globally due to rapidly ageing populations, record public debt and persistent inflation.
In addition to financial measures, the index assesses healthcare access and cost, climate, governance and overall population wellbeing. Rankings are based on performance indicators across finances in retirement, material wellbeing, health, and quality of life.
Norway and Ireland lead this year’s index in first and second place respectively for the second consecutive year.
The UK’s most significant movement in the GRI index is health, which falls 12 places to 22nd. Life expectancy is the main driver, dropping ten places to 27th, amid longstanding pressures on the NHS and widening health inequalities.
This decline was partly offset by stronger material wellbeing, which rose five places to 21st. Income equality is the main contributor, climbing seven places to 31st following above-inflation increases in the minimum wage and welfare benefits. Unemployment improves one place to 20th, while income per capita falls two places to 20th.
Andrew Benton, head of northern Europe at Natixis IM, says: “This year’s Index reinforces the urgency for outdated retirement systems to evolve and modernise, adapting to longer lives and changing work patterns.
“Policy reform can help move people from retirement saving to retirement investing, improving the odds of retirement security. Whilst modernising policy can improve the chance of retirement security, individuals must also take ownership of their retirement journey, saving now and consistently. Every year of delay increases the pressure on the years that remain.”
The United States faces headwinds in this year’s GRI rankings, slipping three places to 24th. Japan edged up one place overall, to 25th.