The Country for Old People

04.Oct.2014

URUGUAY in A worldwide rAnking   

Uruguay is in 23rd place in the World ranking for the best places to retire according to Global Age 2014 although it ranks low in terms of transport and safety. Uruguay has the lowest poverty index for senior citizens.

Venezuela is one of the worst countries in the World for old people and Norway is the best, according to an index of 96 countries published in London on Tuesday. Uruguay is in 23rd place and holds 2nd place in South America, after Chile.     

The Global Age Watch 2014 classification, organized every year by the British organization Help Age International, which specializes in the care of the elderly, is the result of four factors: income security, health – life expectancy and psychological wellbeing –the possibility of working and continuing their education for example – and the environment in which they live- civic freedom and social relationships

Venezuela is in 75th place: the worst of all the Latin American countries. Spain is in 21st place followed by Chile (22nd place), Uruguay (23rd place), Panama (24th place), Costa Rica (26th place), Mexico (30th place), Argentina (31st place), Ecuador (33rd), Peru (42nd place), Bolivia (51st place), Colombia (52nd place), Nicaragua (54th place), El Salvador (57th place), Brazil (58th place) and Honduras (74th place).

 The first five countries in this ranking, which was released in time for the UN worldwide senior citizen day, are Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Canada and Germany.

The authors sustain that "the ranking tells us that economic growth is not enough to ensure the wellbeing of the elderly and that we have to create policies that deal with aspects of growing old".

"Uruguay is high up on the ranking. It’s got some of the highest incomes, the second best health coverage in the region and the tenth best in the world (92.7%) and the lowest poverty index in Latin America (8.3 %).  

It’s also one of the highest in terms of opportunities (the possibility of working and educating themselves), with above average percentages. In terms of employment among senior citizens we’re at 64.8%, and for 40.2% in terms of education.

We’re doing pretty badly in terms of health (37), and even worse in terms of environment, with a low safety index (40%) and public transport (52%).

To view indexes from Uruguay, click here