22/06/2026
๐ The Best Countries to Retire in 2026
According to the Retirement Abroad Index 2026 by Expatriate Group, these are the worldโs top destinations for retirees based on overall quality of life and accessibility.
To identify the worldโs most retiree-friendly destinations, Expatriate Group developed the Retirement Abroad Index 2026, evaluating 20 countries across five key factors:
โ๏ธ Healthcare quality
โ๏ธ Visa accessibility
โ๏ธ Health insurance requirements
โ๏ธ Cost of living
โ๏ธ Expat community and ease of integration
๐ Retirement Abroad Index 2026 Rankings
1. ๐ต๐ญ Philippines
2. ๐น๐ญ Thailand
3. ๐จ๐ด Colombia
4. ๐ต๐น Portugal
5. ๐ฟ๐ฆ South Africa
6. ๐ฑ๐ฐ Sri Lanka
7. ๐ฆ๐ช Dubai (UAE)
8. ๐ฒ๐พ Malaysia
9. ๐ฒ๐ฝ Mexico
10. ๐ฎ๐ฉ Indonesia
11. ๐ช๐ธ Spain
12. ๐ต๐ฆ Panama
13. ๐ถ๐ฆ Qatar
14. ๐ซ๐ท France
15. ๐จ๐ท Costa Rica
16. ๐ณ๐ฟ New Zealand
17. ๐ฌ๐ท Greece
18. ๐จ๐พ Cyprus
19. ๐ฎ๐น Italy
20. ๐ฒ๐น Malta
Retirement priorities vary from person to person, but affordable living, quality healthcare, straightforward residency options, and welcoming expatriate communities remain some of the most important considerations when choosing a destination abroad.
๐ Source: Expatriate Group โ Retirement Abroad Index 2026