Ireland ranks 15 in Global AgeWatch Index 2015

HelpAge International launched the Global AgeWatch Index 2015 on Wednesday 9 September 2015, ranking 96 countries according to the social and economic wellbeing of older people. The Index represents 91 per cent of people aged 60 and over, some 901 million people, measuring the wellbeing of older people in four key areas: income security, health, personal capability and an enabling environment.

Globally, Switzerland (1) is judged the best place for older people to live, closely followed by Norway.  Apart from Japan (8) all the top 10 countries are in Western Europe and North America. Afghanistan (96) is ranked last.Ireland ranks high in the Index at 15 overall and ranks consistently high in all domains.

• Ireland performs best in the enabling environment domain (16), with one of the highest rates of social connectedness among older people in the region (95%).
• It ranks high on the health domain (17), with values near regional averages for life expectancy at 60 (24) and healthy life expectancy at 60 (17.5) indicators.
• In the income security domain Ireland ranks at 18, with below the regional averages on the pension income coverage (90.5%) and GNI per capita (USS36,737).
• Ireland ranks lowest in the capability domain at 35, with values below regional averages on the employment of older people (51.3%) and educational attainment of older people (52.9%) indicators.

Read full report card and commentary by Naomi Feely Age Action Ireland here