The U.S. ranks 19th worldwide in retirement security, according to the 2014 Global Retirement Index, released Tuesday by Natixis Global Asset Management. That rank is unchanged from the year-earlier survey.
Switzerland led the 2014 ranking, followed by Norway (last year's No. 1), Austria, Sweden, Australia, Denmark, Germany, Finland, New Zealand and Luxembourg. Australia and New Zealand are the only non-European countries to break into the top 10 globally.
New Zealand and Iceland are the most improved performers in the top 20 of the rankings, with each climbing at least 10 places from last year to enter the top 20. In contrast, Japan dropped from the top 20, as did Slovenia and Slovakia.
“The responsibility for financial security in retirement is falling even more heavily on individuals than ever before, and this trend is likely to continue as government resources become more scarce,” said John T. Hailer, president and CEO of Natixis Global Asset Management in the Americas and Asia, in a statement about the survey.
The 2014 Global Retirement Index is based on an analysis by Natixis Global Asset Management of 20 key trends across four broad categories in 150 countries: health and health-care quality; personal income and finances; quality of life; and socioeconomic factors.
The U.S. scored higher year over year in all four broad categories, yet was beat out by other countries trending higher in areas such as health care and levels of government debt.
Despite ranking sixth highest in per capita income, the U.S. ranks first in per capita health-care expenditures, yet 33rd for life expectancy and 81st for income inequality.
