Norway got the highest marks as the country where it is best to live as an older person, despite its reputation for deep snow, long winter nights, and expensive prices.
But its long-established policies provide financial security to retired people as well as a good amount of employment opportunities for senior citizens. Norway has one of the highest levels of over-60s in work.
It also has universal pension coverage, and a strong health care system.
Research from HelpAge International considered economic security, health care, public transport and social inclusion.
It found that Sweden, Switzerland, Canada and Germany made it into the top five, having also implemented measures to provide for people over 60.
The UK was in 11th place out of the 96 countries ranked. For social inclusion, Britain scored third highest, but was number 27 when it came to health, two places behind the US.
The best health care was found in Japan. But Chile, Greece and Colombia all performed better than the UK.
Britain hit only number 23 when it came to education and employment, trailing behind Bolivia, Estonia and the Philippines.
By 2050 the number over-60s will have more than doubled to well over two billion – more than one in five of the world’s total population.
The last ten countries ranked were all in sub-Sahara Africa or in the Middle East.
