Most Americans elect to spend their golden years on U.S. soil. But in recent years, there’s been a growing interest in retiring abroad—a record 712,000 Americans overseas were receiving Social Security benefits at the end of 2024, up 21% in the last 12 years.
From economics to politics, there are a variety of reasons folks are leaving the U.S. to enjoy their retirement. But actually taking that jump requires a lot of research.
If you’re interested in an international retirement, Forbes is here to help you get the ball rolling. Our new list of the Best Places to Retire Abroad in 2025 highlights 96 places in 24 different countries across four continents, plus islands.
In making our picks, we considered relative cost of living; taxes (rarely a bargain); healthcare quality and costs; ease of traveling back to the U.S. to see family; crime and political instability; and social isolation, especially if English isn’t widely spoken.
From Albania to Thailand, here are our picks for the best places to retire abroad. And keep scrolling below for more great stories from Forbes, including a more in-depth guide to planning a foreign retirement. |
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