Best countries for healthcare
About this page
Ranked on healthcare index, life expectancy and how available English-speaking doctors are.
Healthcare quality is the most consequential number on this site for older movers, so this tab keeps the formula simple. It ranks on the published healthcare index, life expectancy and whether English-speaking doctors are widely available.
Countries that publish no healthcare index are not ranked. The index is a perception measure built from survey responses, not a clinical audit, and a strong national system can still mean long waits in a rural area.
Pair this ranking with the specific city you are considering, and check what residents actually pay, including whether private insurance is required for your visa. The figures are general country-level data and do not describe any single hospital or insurer.
Countries at travel advisory level 4 are not ranked here.
Read the full methodHealthcare ranking
South Korea
Healthcare index 83
English-speaking doctors: widely available.
- Large expat community
Vatican City
Healthcare index 100
English-speaking doctors: widely available.
France
Healthcare index 77
English-speaking doctors: widely available.
- Large expat community
- Retirement visa
Spain
Healthcare index 77
English-speaking doctors: commonly available.
- Large expat community
- Retirement visa
Israel
Healthcare index 74
English-speaking doctors: widely available.
- Travel advisory: reconsider travel
- English widely spoken
Finland
Healthcare index 78
English-speaking doctors: commonly available.
- English widely spoken
- Clean air
Denmark
Healthcare index 74
English-speaking doctors: widely available.
- English widely spoken
- Clean air
Austria
Healthcare index 78
English-speaking doctors: commonly available.
- English widely spoken
Netherlands
Healthcare index 78
English-speaking doctors: commonly available.
- English widely spoken
- Large expat community
Australia
Healthcare index 72
English-speaking doctors: widely available.
- English widely spoken
- Clean air
- Large expat community
Monaco
Healthcare index 75
English-speaking doctors: commonly available.
- English widely spoken
- Retirement visa
Norway
Healthcare index 75
English-speaking doctors: commonly available.
- English widely spoken
United Kingdom
Healthcare index 72
English-speaking doctors: widely available.
- English widely spoken
- Large expat community
Qatar
Healthcare index 74
English-speaking doctors: commonly available.
- Travel advisory: reconsider travel
- English widely spoken
- Large expat community
Singapore
Healthcare index 72
English-speaking doctors: commonly available.
- English widely spoken
- Large expat community
Japan
Healthcare index 80
English-speaking doctors: limited.
- Clean air
- Large expat community
Portugal
Healthcare index 72
English-speaking doctors: commonly available.
- English widely spoken
- Large expat community
- Retirement visa
Czechia
Healthcare index 76
English-speaking doctors: commonly available.
- English widely spoken
Ecuador
Healthcare index 78
English-speaking doctors: commonly available.
- Clean air
- Retirement visa
- Low cost
New Zealand
Healthcare index 68
English-speaking doctors: widely available.
- English widely spoken
- Clean air
- Retirement visa
United Arab Emirates
Healthcare index 71
English-speaking doctors: commonly available.
- Travel advisory: reconsider travel
- English widely spoken
- Large expat community
Belgium
Healthcare index 76
English-speaking doctors: available.
- English widely spoken
- Large expat community
Switzerland
Healthcare index 69
English-speaking doctors: commonly available.
- English widely spoken
- Large expat community
- Retirement visa
Thailand
Healthcare index 78
English-speaking doctors: commonly available.
- Large expat community
- Retirement visa
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