Though Norway is known for its dark winter nights, it is apparently the best place to grow old says an international survey by HelpAge International that was released on Wednesday to coincide with the UN International Day of Older Persons. The country has decades’old policies that provide financial security and solace to the old such as an over-60s employment policy and an efficent public transport system so that they can get around.

The study included 96 countries that it measured on a scale that studied social and economic welfare for those aged over 60. Specifically, four key areas were measured: income security, health, personal capability and whether the person lives in an “enabling environment.”

The top 10 countries for those aged over 60 were:
1. Norway
2. Sweden
3. Switzerland
4. Canada
5. Germany
6. Netherlands
7. Iceland
8. United States
9. Japan
10. New Zealand

The worst 10 countries for those aged over 60 were:
87. Iraq
88. Zambia
89. Uganda
90. Jordan
91. Pakistan
92. Tanzania
93. Malawi
94. West Bank and Gaza
95. Mozambique
96. Afghanistan

All European countries in the top 20 are in northern Europe. Spain was 21st as the highest southern country, whereas Portugal and Italy were 37th and 39th respectively. Greece held a lowly 73rd place, coming behind India, Nepal and Bangladesh. HelpAge pins part of the blame on the government austerity program. “Older people’s welfare has been affected by government austerity programmes in recent years, affecting health services, and in the case of Greece, pensions,” says the report.

The report predicts that by 2050, 21% of the global population will be over 60. It also states that by 2050, there will be around 40 countries where 30% of the populations will be 60 years and over.