A new national report is raising concerns about retirement readiness in Georgia, placing the state near the bottom compared to others across the country.
According to the 2026 Retirement Readiness Index from Western & Southern Financial Group, Georgia ranks No. 42 overall, putting it among the 10 worst states for retirement.
Here’s what to know.
Why Georgia ranked low for retirement
The report evaluates states based on factors like retirement savings, income, housing stability, cost of living, and overall quality of life.
Georgia’s weakest category was retirement savings and benefits, where it ranked No. 45 in the nation.
Other rankings for Georgia include:
The data suggests that while affordability is relatively strong, gaps in savings and retirement income are pulling the state’s overall ranking down.
Best 5 states to retire in
Delaware
Utah
Wyoming
Maryland
Virginia
Worst 5 states to retire in
Louisiana
Mississippi
Arkansas
New York
Alabama
Methodology
The index is based entirely on federal data, including information from the U.S. Census Bureau and CDC. Each state was scored across five weighted categories, with retirement savings and benefits carrying the most weight.
Researchers also adjusted the 2026 formula to put more emphasis on affordability, reflecting rising concerns about how far retirement income can stretch.
For to full report, visit westernsouthern.com/2026-retirement-readiness-index.
Vanessa Johns is the Trending Topics Reporter for the Deep South Connect Team Georgia, covering food and entertainment. Email her at Vcountryman@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: New report shows Georgia struggling in retirement preparedness. See why
