30 Best Countries for Mental Health, Based on Study Data
30 Best Countries for Mental Health, Based on Study Data
If your anxiety or depression are through the roof here in the United States, you’re not alone. More than 50 million Americans live with a mental illness, none of whom are helped by our lackluster healthcare systems or the stress of living here. If you’d like to consider another country for a break, here’s where we recommend.
30) United Kingdom
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The UK has long been a favorite for expats looking to restore their mental health in a familiar land. The Commonwealth made emigrating here more difficult with Brexit; your best chances for getting in would be coming as a student, a skilled worker with job offer in hand, or a newlywed.
29) Albania
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Expats seeking the European life without the hustle and high cost of living may enjoy Albania. One EU citizen says, “We have good food here, the sun is shining, the sea [is] beautiful, everything is good. For us, it’s really cheap and…not too busy.”
28) Ireland
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While the UK isn’t quite open for business, the Republic of Ireland welcomes you to its rocky shores. Have a pint with your mates at the pub while you learn the intricacies of soccer, the original football.
27) Italy
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Americans dream of the romantic Italian life, sipping wine in Tuscany and making conversation with the welcoming locals. It’s having a right-wing moment, though; plan scouting trips to a few towns ahead of your move to make sure you feel at peace here.
26) Estonia
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Want to enjoy Old European architecture while planning weekend getaways on your iPad? This former Soviet country is right up your alley. The socially progressive Estonia just legalized same-sex marriage for 2024, inviting all newcomers to find peace on its shores.
25) Czech Republic
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If work-life balance eases your mental health, the Czech Republic is the place to be, ranking 1st of 65 countries on the Working Abroad Index. High quality of life, low cost of living, and top-tier infrastructure will surely enhance your psychological safety.
24) Finland
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For expats in the know, Finland is a no-brainer for finding peace of mind. It regularly tops the World Happiness Report for its robust social support, personal freedoms, and incredible safety. Once a Finn warms to you in this cool country, you’ve got a friend for life.
23) Panama
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Consider Panama for getting away from the US without cutting ties to it. Tropical weather, world-class healthcare (a Johns Hopkins hospital in Panama City!), and easy retirement plan bring more expats every year. Kelly Sparda enjoys the peaceful atmosphere in Boquete, where you can retire as early as 18 years old on $1000 a month.
22) Taiwan
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Americans appreciate Taiwan’s low cost of living and abundant nature. Find your inner peace among the country’s nine national parks and welcoming locals.
21) Colombia
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Aside from stunning natural beauty and low cost of living, expats in Colombia appreciate the peace of mind fostered by its stable political environment. Leave the liberal/conservative conflict behind for your mental health here in South America.
20) France
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While Americans mostly think of Paris’ cosmopolitan style, you’ll find a much more relaxed way of life outside the big city. Don’t want to work or retire? You may qualify for an artist’s visa to come and create to your heart’s content.
19) New Zealand
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New Zealand regularly gets praised for its stunning landscapes, high quality of living, and great work/life balance. You’re sure to find life-affirming adventure here in Aotearoa, the Māori name for this “land of the long white cloud.”
18) Germany
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Want to work fewer hours every week and enjoy ample time with your family? Most employees receive 5-6 weeks of paid leave every year; the average work week is 37.5 hours long, too. It’s a great place to escape the rat race and return to what matters.
17) Denmark
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Like Germany at number 18, Denmark encourages an empowered middle class, offering world-class healthcare, walkable cities, and fair wages to all. Access to the European Union further enhances mental health, opening your eyes to the possibilities outside the U.S.
16) Canada
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Coming in at number 16 is our northern neighbor. Canadians are proud of their robust healthcare system. While you can’t get a retirement visa there, they did just open the country for digital nomads looking to stretch their legs in the Great White North.
15) Norway
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Come for the fjords, stay for the healthcare. Catch some trout in Norway’s rich fishing waters or clear your head by hiking its snowy mountains. You can even tell your friends back home about the Northern Lights.
14) Belgium
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Belgium is an ideal country if you find psychological safety among quieter spaces. While it contains three distinct regions and official languages (French, German, and Dutch), Belgians manage to avoid the tense divisions plaguing the U.S. these days.
13) Sweden
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If life in America compels you to stand out in the crowd, Sweden is the place for your mental health. Their Law of Jante philosophy insists on equality for all people—you’re no better or smarter than anyone else here. Come and blend in by not trying to stand out!
12) The Netherlands
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Commuting just got a lot easier for expats in the Netherlands. Leave rush hour behind; grab a bike, train, or use your own two feet to carry you about your daily life. If you’re really looking to downsize, try renting a houseboat in Amsterdam for peace of mind.
11) Slovenia
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The expat’s sleeper hit of eastern Europe, Slovenia offers much for Americans needing to slow down for their psychological safety. Smaller cities, top-tier healthcare, stunning natural scenery, low cost of living—the list of attractive features just keeps going. There’s even a high number of English speakers here, making it easy to communicate with new friends.
10) Australia
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Australia rounds out the 10 best countries for mental health. It’s easy to see why, too: English-speaking country, high standard of living, gorgeous coastlines. While it’s more difficult to establish permanent residency in recent years, getting an investor visa does ease your path to a new life Down Under.
9) Luxembourg
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Luxembourg is a great choice for expats seeking small-town flair with high-quality lifestyle in a multilingual environment. Its low crime rates and efficient healthcare ease the mental burdens brought on by U.S.’ random gun violence and exorbitant medical costs.
8) Croatia
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Croatia offers much more for your mental health than a pretty face (and the capital of Westeros in Game of Thrones). Universal healthcare and coastal living contribute to the slower pace of life here. There’s a booming tourist industry around Dubrovnik, so look to Zagreb for quieter life among the expat community.
7) Mexico
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Coming in at number 7 is Mexico. Our first Latin American country on this list, Mexico welcomes you with rich culture and cuisine. Mexicans welcomed us during our time there, inviting us to slow down and enjoy life in colorful Mérida. Retirees are in good company here, with 62,000 Americans collecting social security in 2022. It’s our personal expat destination when we leave the U.S.
6) Austria
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Escape to Austria for its clean alpine air, efficient public transport, and safe cities. A great place to raise kids, Austria even offers free college education to its citizens and believes in reproductive rights for all women.
5) Costa Rica
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Ahh, the pura vida life of Costa Rica! An expat destination for decades, Americans love the simpler way of life that this Central American country provides. From traditional beachside bungalows to spacious apartments in the big city, transplanted Ticos know just how to enjoy the simple life.
4) Greece
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Greeks are known for their longevity—82 years in 2023—and it’s easy to see why. The slower pace of life on the Mediterranean, paired with a diet of fresh foods and oils, make Greece an ideal place to restore your peace of mind. Maybe the family from My Big Fat Greek Wedding was onto something?
3) Argentina
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Rounding out the top 3 is Argentina, our third country in the top 10 from Latin America. Aside from pleasant climates and developed infrastructure, it literally tops the best countries for mental health. Argentina boasts more psychiatrists per capita than any other country. Come for the 60,000 American expats, stay for the therapy.
2) Spain
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Our runner-up on this list of best countries for mental health, Spain amazes us with its virtues. It offers strong quality of life, vibrant mixtures of small towns and massive cities, and some of the most welcoming communities in the West. A thriving LGBTQ populace calls Madrid home. Others flock to cities like Bilbao in the north, Valencia in the east, and Seville in the south.
1) Portugal
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Over the last several years, more Americans are waking up to the fact that UK expats have known for years: Portugal is the best country for your mental health. From coastal breezes off the Atlantic and bustling wine culture to its low cost of living, this country invites you to leave the political tension behind. Ignore the shocking headlines about Americans taking over Portugal, too; we add up to maybe 10,000 expats here, or about 0.1% of the country’s population. There’s plenty of room for you to find a new home here.
What countries do you think are best for mental health? Leave a comment and let us know what countries we should feature in a future slideshow.
14 Countries with Better Healthcare Than the United States
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In some cases, countries have much better outcomes than the United States, and in others, countries have marginally worse outcomes but much more affordable, accessible care. Learn about 14 countries with better healthcare than the US where you can immigrate.
➤ 14 Countries with Better Healthcare Than the United States
12 European Countries Where the Middle Class is Seriously Thriving
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➤ 12 European Countries Where the Middle Class is Seriously Thriving
You’ll Never Buy a Home Because Boomers Have All the Money
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TikTok creator Freddie Smith tracks wealth in the U.S. and uses statistics to illustrate why it’s so difficult for Millennials to save and get ahead.
He also helps younger people understand the housing market and gives them real advice for buying their first home: not that tired nonsense about giving up Starbucks.
One of his most eye-popping videos illustrates just how much money boomers have:
➤ You’ll Never Buy a Home Because Boomers Have All the Money
Brett Andrews is the co-founder of Expatsi, a company that helps expats discover how to leave the U.S. Brett and his partner Jen developed the Expatsi Test to recommend countries to move to, based on factors like budget, visa type, spoken languages, healthcare rankings, and more. In a former life, he worked as a software developer, IT support specialist, and college educator. When he's not working, Brett loves watching comic book movies and reading unusual books.
Brett Andrews is the co-founder of Expatsi, a company that helps expats discover how to leave the U.S. Brett and his partner Jen developed the Expatsi Test to recommend countries to move to, based on factors like budget, visa type, spoken languages, healthcare rankings, and more. In a former life, he worked as a software developer, IT support specialist, and college educator. When he's not working, Brett loves watching comic book movies and reading unusual books.