Retirement: the ranking of the 10 best countries where to expatriate to take advantage of it

Excluded capital

Exclusive – Are you retired and have desires elsewhere? To help you select the destination that corresponds to your needs, capital and the retireesansfrontieres.fr site offer you the top 10 of the best countries to expatriate.

Purchasing power, sun, security, all in a country close to France. Here is, in summary, the dream destination of retirees. If you are done with work and want to expatriate you soon, the site pensions are has established, as every year, its classification* of the best countries to settle down once retired. This 2025 edition, that Capital Excluding exclusively, once again gives pride of place to European countries since Portugal retains its first place, still in front of Spain and Greece. An unchanged podium, as well as the priorities of French retirees: “The cost of living criterion is the most important for them”specifies Paul Delahoutre, the founder of retirement without borders.

If purchasing power is crucial and counts for 20% of the note awarded to each country, the climate obviously weighs in the balance (15%), faced with the quality of medical care, safety and accessibility (10% each ). “The fact of moving away from his children is a huge brake for many retireesconfirms Paul Delahoutre. But retirees also realize that their retirement will drop and that taxes will increase ”continues the expert. Hence the presence, as last year, from Thailand in fourth position, despite a distance of around 10,000 km with France.

The rest of the classification favors destinations to the attractive climate, with in order Mauritius (5th), Morocco, Tunisia and Senegal (8th). Destinations already present in the top 10 retirees in 2024, just like Bali, again 9th and which precedes the Dominican Republic which incorporates the classification in 10th position and replaces the Costa Rica. Here is the summary of the 10 best countries where to pass your retirement, according to the study of the retireesanieres.fr site.

1 – Portugal

At the top of the ranking in 2024, Portugal retains first place. Its situation of choice, just two hours by plane, as is the security that reigns in the country are acclaimed by retirees. “Portugal is easily accessible from France thanks to many low-cost flights”explains Paul Delahoutre. Integration, facilitated by the presence of many Francophones, is also appreciated by retirees, like heritage, cultural as gastronomic, or the quality of medical care. Its weak points: the cost of living and the price of real estate.

2 – Spain

Border country of France, Spain offers unrivaled proximity for retirees anxious to see their families regularly. The climate is much more pleasant than in France. The Iberian Peninsula also offers advantages specific to that of“A country culturally close to France, with modern infrastructure and a health system similar to ours”note Paul Delahoutre. Only downside: the cost of living, close to that of a retiree installed in France.

3 – Greece

Again third in the ranking, Greece continues to attract retirees for multiple reasons. Its cultural heritage, of course, with its ancient ruins, as well as its climate and its heavenly beaches, in particular. But also its taxation very favorable to retirees from the private sector, since the latter benefit from a particularly advantageous agreement and tax limited to 7% of their income for 15 years. What compensate for a cost of living deemed quite similar to that suffered in France.

4 – Thailand

First non -European country in the charts, Thailand especially seduces retirees by the cost of living on site, much lower than in Portugal or Spain. “Rental included, a retired couple can live there with less than 1,000 euros per month. On average, it will spend half less money in Thailand than in France, against 15 to 20% less in Portugal ”underlines Paul Delahoutre. An asset of weight for this destination which also offers an attractive natural framework, but which can also reject certain retirees cooled by the prospect of moving away from France and their families.

5 – Mauritius

Seventh last year, Mauritius won two places in 2025. This little paradise on earth attracts by its climate, reassuring security and facilitated integration, the Mauritians being French -speaking. Not enough to forget the distance from France which can be a brake, as is the cost of living and the plane ticket to return to France.

6 – Morocco

One less place this year for the first Maghreb country in the ranking. But a rank of choice for Morocco, praised for its pleasant climate, the hospitality of its inhabitants who often speak French, and its proximity to France. The wealth of heritage also attracts retirees, as is the cost of living much lower than in France. But the image of insecurity that sticks to the skin is still a brake for many retirees.

7 – Tunisia

Like Morocco, Tunisia is receding a notch in the ranking this year. The “little pearl of the Maghreb” still suffers from a degraded image in terms of security. But there is better: “Tunisia reappears in our record since the situation seems controlled”explains Paul Delahoutre. A deserved place, as the advantages offered by this country are numerous: accessibility, low cost of living, climate that invites you to relax …

8 – Senegal

Low cost of living, real estate, generous climate, as is the reception reserved for expatriates … The eighth place in Senegal in the classification of the favorite countries of retirees owes nothing to chance. And that is without counting a gentle taxation on retirement pensions, with an 80% reduction when these are paid into account labeled into CFA francs. Its weak points: the quality of care and infrastructure.

9 – Bali

It is the country of the top 10 most interesting financially. The cost of living is much lower than in France and retirees are not mistaken. Add to that dream beaches and Balinese cultural and gastronomic heritage, and “the island of the gods” keeps its ninth place. Note that the distance and the poor quality of medical care constitute powerful brakes for still many retirees candidates for expatriation.

10 – Dominican Republic

Under the Antilles sun, the Dominican Republic offers a climate and a dream decor to retirees in search of idleness. Without forgetting Las Terrenas, “the French village”, which will allow expatriates not to feel disoriented despite the distance. So many factors that allow this Caribbean country to integrate the top 10 in 2025.

*Study carried out from physical meetings with groups of retirees and the sending of questionnaires to 176 candidates for retirement abroad for the definition and weighting of criteria. The grades were then awarded on the basis of public statistics and feedback for “friends” retirees from the retirement platform without borders located abroad.