The best countries for sun seeker holiday makers to retire to!
The best travel destinations for retirees seeking the sun and happiness
Retirement is a big part of life for so many. It should be an opportunity to enjoy life freely without work commitments and be as happy as one can be. But how much does it cost to retire in the countries that have the highest happiness levels? Which benefits do these countries offer travel wise? Is it worth moving there for retirement rather than a holiday?
Our Life Plan has taken the 95 happiest countries from across the world, according to the World Happiness Report, and has ranked them across six categories, including the number of sunshine hours and the cost of living, to reveal what place is most likely to ensure a happy retirement!
If you're looking for somewhere warm, sunny and that ranks well on the World Happiness Report then you've got plenty of options. Coming in at the top is Dubai, with an average yearly temperature of 27.63 degrees celsius and 3,508.7 hours of sunshine, it's a great option for retirees who are perhaps looking further afield and enjoy the heat and sunshine, all year round.
However, if you’re looking to retire in Europe, then Cyprus is a great choice. With sun all year round, average yearly temperatures of 19.6 degrees (temperatures reach 35 degrees in the summer months), and a happiness index score of 6.26, it’s the right option for retirees to enjoy whilst soaking up the sunshine. Cyprus is well-known for its combination of stunning beaches, seaside restaurants, cafes, and Old Towns.
Other good options in Europe include Spain and Malta. Spain is known to be a popular choice for retirees, especially the British, with thousands of over 65s moving there to enjoy the Mediterranean sun, beautiful beaches, and rural Spanish towns.
Research from Our Life Plan also found that Israel and Australia are good options for retirees seeking happiness, warmth and sunshine. Israel scored relatively high on the World Happiness Report, with an index rating of 7.195, followed closely by Australia who scored 7.137. Israel also sees a remarkable amount of sunshine throughout the year with the average number of sunshine hours being 3,311, alongside an average temperature of 20.51 degrees celsius.
Top 20 countries for happiness, warmth and sunshine:
Country |
Happiness Index 2020 |
Average yearly temp. (degrees celsius) |
Number of sunshine hours |
Happy retirement index |
United Arab Emirates |
6.458 |
27.63 |
3,508.70 |
8.929 |
Bahrain |
6.173 |
28.23 |
3,350 |
8.618 |
Israel |
7.195 |
20.51 |
3,311.00 |
8.552 |
Saudi Arabia |
6.56 |
25.47 |
3,248 |
8.507 |
Australia |
7.137 |
21.94 |
2,813.70 |
8.066 |
Cyprus |
6.26 |
19.63 |
3,314.10 |
7.886 |
Nigeria |
5.503 |
27.24 |
3,114.00 |
7.835 |
Malta |
6.157 |
19.61 |
3,054 |
7.519 |
Thailand |
5.885 |
26.79 |
2,623.80 |
7.474 |
El Salvador |
5.462 |
25.24 |
2,957 |
7.455 |
Egypt |
4.472 |
23 |
3,541.80 |
7.306 |
Cameroon |
5.241 |
24.87 |
2,927.10 |
7.248 |
Taiwan Province of China |
6.751 |
22.25 |
2,212 |
7.156 |
Namibia |
4.451 |
20.56 |
3,605.00 |
7.154 |
Iraq |
4.785 |
22.58 |
3,240.80 |
7.122 |
Colombia |
5.709 |
24.79 |
2561 |
7.117 |
Brazil |
6.11 |
25.51 |
2187.3 |
7.003 |
Ghana |
5.319 |
27.68 |
2,432.00 |
6.972 |
Mexico |
5.964 |
21.31 |
2,555 |
6.970 |
Spain |
6.502 |
13.93 |
2,769 |
6.917 |
Please find the full campaign, here: https://ourlifeplan.co.uk/the-happiest-countries-for-retirement/