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This article was first published 10 years ago

The top 10 retirement destinations in the world

Last updated on: January 17, 2014 16:45 IST


Photographs: Lucy Pemoni/Reuters

Post retirement, a person looks for easy life, better access to healthcare and cheaper cost of living.

International Living assessed various countries around the world based on real estate prices, retirement benefits, cost of living, ease of integration, entertainment and amenities, health care, retirement infrastructure and climate, to find best destinations for the seniors.

Let’s take a look at best places to retire.

Source: International Living

Thailand

Rank: 10

Score: 83.5

Culturally rich Thailand offers new way of life to pensioners. There are over 40,000 expats residing in the country as of now.

The top 10 retirement destinations in the world


Photographs: Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Uruguay

Rank: 9

Score: 83.7

Uruguay is the second smallest sovereign nation in South America and the third smallest territory.

The landscape features mostly rolling plains and low hill ranges with a fertile coastal lowland.

Uruguay has a climate that is relatively mild and fairly uniform nationwide.

The top 10 retirement destinations in the world


Photographs: Athit Perawongmetha/Getty Images

Malta

Rank: 8

Score: 84.1

Malta is a favoured tourist destination with its warm climate, numerous recreational areas, architectural and historical monuments, including three UNESCO World Heritage Sites, most prominently the Megalithic Temples which are some of the oldest free-standing structures in the world, according to Wikipedia.

The top 10 retirement destinations in the world

Image: Hot air balloons fly over Metropolitano park during the International Hot-Air Balloon Festival in Leon, in the Mexican state of Guanajuato.
Photographs: Reuters

Mexico

Rank: 7

Score: 84.2

Mexico has a really vibrant and colourful culture and has over a million expats residing in the country.

Is also has one of the most diverse weather systems and also one of the countries with the best biodiversity.

Mexico has the 14th largest nominal GDP and the 11th largest by purchasing power parity.

Tags: Mexico , GDP

The top 10 retirement destinations in the world

Image: Tourists visit at the Castillo San Felipe in Cartagena, December 16, 2012. Cartagena's peak season for tourism starts on December 15 and goes on into the second week of February.
Photographs: Reuters

Colombia

Rank: 6

Score: 84.2

Colombia is one of the megadiverse countries in biodiversity, ranking third in living species and first in bird species.

The geography of Colombia is characterised by its six main natural regions that present their own unique characteristics. It also features as one of the top destinations in the world list by many publications.

Tags: Colombia

The top 10 retirement destinations in the world

Image: A general view of the Spanish eastern coastal tourist village of Calpe is seen near Alicante.
Photographs: Heino Kalis/Reuters

Spain

Rank: 5

Score: 85.8

The country has one of the largest expat populations in Europe. The climate of Spain, historical and cultural monuments and its geographic position together with its facilities make tourism one of Spain's main national industries.

Tags: Spain , Europe

The top 10 retirement destinations in the world

Image: People take a bath in the Llanos del Cortes waterfall Bagaces, Guanacaste city.
Photographs: Juan Carlos Ulate/Reuters

Costa Rica

Rank: 4

Score: 86.8

Costa Rica has consistently been among the top Latin American countries in the Human Development Index (HDI). It is also the only country to meet all five criteria established to measure environmental sustainability in the Environmental Performance Index. It has ropical climate all year round.

The top 10 retirement destinations in the world

Image: A 20 hectare tropical landscape in the heart of Kuala Lumpur City Centre.
Photographs: David Loh/Reuters

Malaysia

Rank: 3

Score: 88.5

Malaysia has everything for a best retirement life. It has stable climate, beaches, islands, jungles, and best food in Asia.

The top 10 retirement destinations in the world

Image: Cathedral of Quito.
Photographs: Putneymark/Reuters

Ecuador

Rank: 2

Score: 91.1

Ecuador is a destination that offer best value for money when it comes to cost of living, real estate and healthcare. It also has friendly local population, who have a lot of respect for seniors.

Tags: Ecuador

The top 10 retirement destinations in the world

Image: Panama City skyline.
Photographs: Mario Roberto Duran Ortiz/Reuters

Panama

Rank: 1

Score: 91.2

Panama is one country that has pensioner visa and offers various discounts to seniors. It also has friendly population.

Tags: Panama