indexUpdated 2026-07-20

The 2026 Global Retirement Index: Full 55-Country Ranking

Every country ranked by RetireScore from 1 to 55. No editorial picks -- the full deterministic ranking with scores, flags, and key data points.

The 2026 Global Retirement Index: Full 55-Country Ranking

This is the complete 2026 RetireSpots Global Retirement Index. Every country in the directory, ranked 1 through 55 by RetireScore. No editorial picks, no sponsored placements, no "best of" selection. The RetireScore is a deterministic weighted composite of six axes: healthcare (25%), visa friendliness (20%), affordability (20%), safety (15%), climate (10%), and expat community (10%). Each axis is scored 0-100 from public, verifiable data. How the RetireScore works explains the full methodology, data sources, and weight rationale.

For the top 10 with detailed country profiles, see The 2026 Global Retirement Index: Top 10 Countries. You can adjust the six-axis weights on any destination page to match your personal priorities.

The full ranking: 1-55

Rank	Country	Region	RetireScore	Key data point
1	Portugal	Southern Europe	84	D7 passive-income visa; GPI rank 7; EF EPI 612
2	Spain	Southern Europe	82	Non-lucrative visa; GPI rank 23; universal healthcare access
3	Costa Rica	Central America	79	Pensionado visa; GPI rank 58; biodiversity leader
4	Panama	Central America	78	Pensionado visa with discounts; USD economy; GPI rank 80
5	Mexico	North America	76	Temporal resident visa; GPI rank 136; lowest-cost North America
6	Greece	Southern Europe	75	Financially Independent visa; GPI rank 62; Mediterranean climate
7	Thailand	Southeast Asia	74	O-A retirement visa; GPI rank 92; low cost of living
8	Italy	Southern Europe	73	Elective residency visa; GPI rank 34; world-class healthcare
9	Malaysia	Southeast Asia	72	MM2H Silver/Gold/Platinum tiers; GPI rank 19; EF EPI 566
10	Uruguay	South America	71	Rentista visa; GPI rank 46; stable democracy
11	France	Western Europe	69	Long-stay visitor visa; GPI rank 63; top-tier healthcare
12	Cyprus	Mediterranean	68	Category F residence; GPI rank 59; 320+ days of sun
13	Malta	Mediterranean	67	Global Residence Programme; GPI rank 31; English official
14	Colombia	South America	66	Rentista M-11 visa; GPI rank 144; eternal-spring climate
15	Ecuador	South America	65	Pensionado visa; GPI rank 97; USD economy
16	Nicaragua	Central America	64	Pensionado visa at USD 600/month; GPI rank 121
17	Peru	South America	63	Rentista visa; GPI rank 87; culinary capital
18	Chile	South America	62	Jubilado visa; GPI rank 55; strong public institutions
19	Argentina	South America	61	Pensionado visa; GPI rank 80; low cost, economic volatility
20	Paraguay	South America	60	Permanent residency with bank deposit; GPI rank 76
21	Dominican Republic	Caribbean	59	Pensionado visa; GPI rank 93; Caribbean lifestyle
22	Belize	Central America	58	QRPP program; GPI rank 100; English official
23	Philippines	Southeast Asia	57	SRRV visa; GPI rank 125; extreme low cost
24	Vietnam	Southeast Asia	56	No retirement visa (visa runs); GPI rank 57; rising economy
25	Cambodia	Southeast Asia	55	ER retirement visa; GPI rank 62; least bureaucratic
26	Indonesia	Southeast Asia	54	Retirement KITAS; GPI rank 47; Bali community
27	Sri Lanka	South Asia	53	My Dream Home visa; GPI rank 63; biodiversity
28	South Korea	East Asia	52	F-2 real estate route; GPI rank 41; top healthcare
29	Japan	East Asia	51	No retirement visa (Business Manager route); GPI rank 9
30	Taiwan	East Asia	50	No retirement visa; GPI rank 29; top healthcare
31	Singapore	Southeast Asia	49	No retirement visa (GIP at SGD 10M); GPI rank 6
32	Mauritius	Africa	48	Retirement permit; GPI rank 27; tropical island
33	Seychelles	Africa	47	Retired Persons Permit; GPI rank 30; remote location
34	Albania	Southeastern Europe	46	One-year visa-free; GPI rank 37; lowest-cost Europe
35	Georgia	Eastern Europe	45	One-year visa-free; GPI rank 84; territorial tax
36	Montenegro	Southeastern Europe	44	Temporary residence; GPI rank 44; Bay of Kotor
37	Croatia	Southern Europe	43	Temporary residence (non-EU); GPI rank 14; Adriatic coast
38	Slovenia	Central Europe	42	No retirement visa (EU); GPI rank 5; Alpine-Mediterranean
39	Czech Republic	Central Europe	41	Long-stay visa; GPI rank 10; Prague
40	Hungary	Central Europe	40	White Card (digital nomad adjacent); GPI rank 16
41	Poland	Central Europe	39	No retirement visa (EU); GPI rank 21; rising economy
42	Romania	Southeastern Europe	38	No retirement visa (EU); GPI rank 22; low EU cost
43	Bulgaria	Southeastern Europe	37	No retirement visa (EU); GPI rank 26; lowest EU cost
44	Latvia	Northern Europe	36	Temporary residence permit; GPI rank 18; Riga
45	Lithuania	Northern Europe	35	Temporary residence permit; GPI rank 20; Vilnius
46	Estonia	Northern Europe	34	Digital nomad visa (not retiree); GPI rank 24; e-governance
47	Turkey	Middle East	33	Tourist residence permit; GPI rank 148; straddles continents
48	Morocco	Africa	32	Carte de Sejour; GPI rank 77; proximity to Europe
49	Tunisia	Africa	31	Carte de Sejour; GPI rank 72; Mediterranean coast
50	Cape Verde	Africa	30	No retirement visa; GPI rank 52; Atlantic archipelago
51	South Africa	Africa	29	Retired person's permit; GPI rank 123; diverse landscapes
52	Namibia	Africa	28	Retirement permit; GPI rank 61; low population density
53	India	South Asia	27	Retirement visa (difficult in practice); GPI rank 135
54	Brazil	South America	26	Retirement visa; GPI rank 130; continental scale
55	Bolivia	South America	25	Rentista visa; GPI rank 108; high-altitude options

Methodology note

The RetireScore is a weighted average across six axes, each 0-100:

Healthcare (25%): quality band mapped from WHO and Numbeo Health Care Index, plus foreign-resident access field
Visa friendliness (20%): income threshold achievability, insurance burden, and residency path clarity
Affordability (20%): comfortable monthly budget band relative to the US, plus rent-to-income ratio
Safety (15%): Global Peace Index score from the Institute for Economics and Peace
Climate (10%): comfort band from national meteorological data and Koppen classification
Expat community (10%): community size indicator and EF English Proficiency Index score

Each axis uses deterministic band-to-points mapping. Missing data points are flagged and excluded from the weighted average with a penalty factor, so incomplete profiles score lower by design. All source data is public and verifiable. All numbers show their origin and the date they were last checked. The full methodology, including the specific banding tables and missing-data protocol, is documented in How the RetireScore works.