Female expat retirees choosing countries committed to gender equality

Lone female retirees looking to emigrate are now choosing countries with a strong commitment to gender equality.

One valid concern for lone Western women looking to retire overseas has been the traditional status of females in their preferred destination. Unfortunately, this criterion rules out a good number of retirement hubs suitable in many ways, but the World Economic Forum’s annual report on the Global Gender Gap can help by identifying locations with a high score in gender equality. Its recent report on 144 world economies puts the USA in 49th position.

Twelve countries were named in the report as having good standards of gender parity, all of which beat out the USA as regards scores. Ireland, the Philippines, France, Nicaragua, Spain, Costa Rica, Peru, Panama, Portugal, Bolivia, Ecuador and Columbia scored highly in women's lifespan, representation in government, access to education and economic participation, with retired women expats in all the above saying evidence of increased gender parity was easily noted.

In Nicaragua, 40 per cent of political parties are run by women, and elections at all levels must field one male and one female candidate. Expat women retirees have a high standard of lifestyle without the usual hassles and can participate in local politics. Ireland is another retirement destination where women can enter politics as well as settling in and finding friends easily. Columbia’s welcome for women expats is warm, and locals treat them with respect and kindness. The country’s universities are graduating a majority of women over men, and the actual percentage of females in professional positions is on the increase.

Costa Rica’s political stability has spurred a change of face as regards women’s equal rights, with females now taking up jobs traditionally regarded as reserved for males such as healthcare, law, computer science and politics. The small country had a female president between 2010 and 2014, and expat women are safer here than in many other Latin American states. As regards Ecuador, its women graduates are found in all professions, and take strong roles in society as well as in business. They’re also moving into politics and are running influential NGOs.