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.

Here’s what the student and skilled worker routes ask of you. Once you’re in, Leeds is one of the better-value big cities in England, with the Yorkshire Dales an easy drive away.

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 beautiful, everything is good. For us, it’s really cheap and…not too busy.”

Americans get up to 365 days in Albania on a passport alone, so you can try it visa-free before you commit. Saranda suits small-town life on the Ionian coast, while Tirana has the private hospitals and the most English.

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.

The pints pour just as well in laid-back Cork, where rents run comfortably below Dublin. And if a grandparent was born on the island, citizenship by descent could be your way in.

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.

Start in Florence, with the rest of Tuscany at your doorstep, or in Bologna, which stays Italian because few tourists linger. Retirees can settle on a pension or savings with the elective residency visa.

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.

Tallinn pairs an intact Old Town with government services online, and the ferry to Helsinki makes an easy weekend trip. If your job already lives on that iPad, look into Estonia’s digital nomad visa.

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.

Prague has the most English-language work in the country, while Brno offers easier rents and direct trains to Prague and Vienna. Remote employees and freelancers can apply for a Czech digital nomad visa with a 45-day decision.

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.

For peace of mind the Finnish way, try Tampere, set between two lakes with a serious public sauna tradition. A job offer can become a residence card on Finland’s EU Blue Card, and founders have a startup visa of their own.

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.

That’s the Pensionado visa, which comes with permanent residency from day one. Plenty of Boquete expats handle errands and healthcare down in David, where prices sit well below the capital.

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.

Mountain trails and river parks sit close to New Taipei City, where rent runs lower than inside Taipei. Skilled workers can bundle a resident visa and an open work permit into one Employment Gold Card.

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.

Medellín is the expat capital, with 72-degree days and a real tech scene. Retirees with a lifetime pension of about $1,700 a month can get up to three years of legal residence on the Migrant visa.

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.

For that slower pace, look at sunny Montpellier, with the beach nearby and lower costs than the Riviera, or food-loving Lyon. Retirees settle in on France’s long-stay visa.

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.”

Christchurch has a calmer pace, cheaper housing, and the Southern Alps barely an hour away, while walkable Wellington wins people over with its waterfront and cafes. Want a trial run? The American working holiday visa has no annual cap to race for.

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.

Degree holders with a German job offer can file for the EU Blue Card after they land, and the Opportunity Card lets skilled workers job-hunt on the ground. Hamburg brings canals, parks, and an easygoing northern mood.

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.

To live hygge daily, Copenhagen has the cafés and bike commutes, and Aarhus is a smaller, gentler version of the same. A well-paid job offer can turn into a Danish work visa in about a month.

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, remote workers with U.S. employers can stay as visitors for up to six months at a time.

Express Entry is Canada’s points-based fast track to permanent residence, with no job offer required to start. And if Toronto rents sound stressful, bilingual Montreal is far cheaper.

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.

Bergen puts mountains and fjords at the edge of town, if you don’t mind the rain, and people come to Arctic Tromsø just for those lights. With a Norwegian job offer, the skilled worker permit is your way in.

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.

For those quieter spaces, try Leuven, a compact university town half an hour from Brussels by train, or canal-lined Ghent, with fewer crowds than Bruges. Americans who come to work or study start with a temporary residence card.

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!

The simplest way to blend in is to get hired: your employer starts the paperwork for Sweden’s work permit. Graduates on a study permit can stay up to a year after finishing to find a job.

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.

Commuters who want big-city jobs without the big-city stress often land in Haarlem, a 15-minute train from Amsterdam Centraal. American entrepreneurs can start a business and bring the family on the DAFT visa.

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.

Among those smaller cities, Maribor is laid-back and cheaper than Ljubljana, and Piran is made for a quiet life by the water. Every Slovenian residence permit is tied to one purpose, like a job, remote work, or study.

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.

Americans aged 18 to 30 can test it out on a work and holiday visa. For space without Sydney rent, there’s Adelaide, with the Barossa wine region close by.

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.

Larochette, a village of about 2,200 under a ruined castle, is about as small-town as it gets, while Luxembourg City has free buses, trams, and trains. Americans now apply for a national visa in person at a consulate before they fly.

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.

Down on the coast, Split has the Riva waterfront and ferries out to Brac, Hvar, and Vis. Farther north, Rijeka is a working port city rather than a resort, with Opatija’s seaside promenade a short drive away.

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.

Mexico has no retirement visa; retirees qualify for temporary residency on income or savings instead. Beyond Mérida, look at Oaxaca for art and food, or Querétaro, one of the safer big cities in the country.

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.

Relaxed Graz has rents well below Vienna’s, and Salzburg puts the Alps and lakes close enough for a weekday afternoon. Thinking of retiring here? Austria’s retirement visa asks for A1 German before you arrive.

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.

Beach people head to Tamarindo, home to one of the country’s deepest expat communities, while city folks settle in San José near the top private hospitals. Retirees can qualify for pensionado residency on $1,000 a month in lifetime passive income.

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?

To eat like a local, try Kalamata, with a big twice-weekly farmers market and locals who far outnumber foreigners. If you’re living on a pension or other passive income, Greece has a retirement visa built for that.

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.

Buenos Aires gives you theaters and late parrilla dinners, while Córdoba has real hospitals without the capital’s prices. Living off rent, dividends, or interest? That’s what the rentista visa is for.

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.

Want winters warm enough to swim? Look at Málaga. Retirees living on a pension or savings come in on the non-lucrative visa, and remote workers can keep their jobs with the digital nomad visa.

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.

Porto is smaller and easier on the wallet than Lisbon, and rents in university town Braga run well under Porto’s. If you’ll be living on savings or a pension, read up on Portugal’s passive income visa.

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.

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