Forbes, a leading global financial magazine, has released its ranking report The Best Places To Retire Abroad In 2026, selecting 24 top countries along with 96 livable cities across five continents deemed best suited for retirement living worldwide.
This year, "Thailand" continues to showcase its outstanding charm, securing a spot among the internationally popular destinations alongside leading countries worldwide with pride.
Economic factors, rising living costs, and political unrest in many Western countries are key drivers prompting retirees to pack their bags and relocate. A clear example is the U.S. social security recipients living abroad, which has increased by more than 20% over the past 13 years to 712,000 people.
Many families sell their homes and all assets in their home countries to seek a quality retirement life with nearly half the expenses, focusing on countries that offer a comfortable, safe lifestyle in a more welcoming environment.
Selection criteria before earning the retirement paradise status.
Forbes' 2026 ranking considers comprehensive key factors to aid retirement planners, starting with cost-effectiveness of living expenses and accommodation prices that must be cheaper than the country of origin. Next are healthcare standards, medical personnel, and accessible treatment costs. Importance is also placed on government policies welcoming foreign seniors, ease of obtaining long-term or retirement visas, social environment, low crime rates, and convenience of English communication.
Notably, this ranking also strictly assesses climate change risks and natural disasters, resulting in some high-risk Pacific countries like the Philippines and Indonesia being excluded from this year's list.
Thailand shines globally along with two new countries.
Thailand continues to capture foreign retirees' hearts and is praised as a retirement paradise due to its affordable cost of living, high-end internationally accredited medical systems and hospitals, abundant food, warm climate, and the friendliness of Thai people welcoming visitors. Forbes highlights four key cities: Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Koh Samui, and Phuket.
Besides Thailand, Asia features Malaysia and newcomer Vietnam making the list for the first time this year. Europe leads with the most countries on the list—12 in total—including popular spots like Portugal, Spain, Italy, France, Greece, and Austria, along with countries known for quality of life such as Ireland, Malta, Cyprus, Albania, Montenegro, and Slovenia.
Across the Americas, interesting options range from northern cities like Canada and Mexico down through Central and South America including Costa Rica, Belize, Panama, Colombia, Argentina, and Uruguay. Africa is represented by Mauritius, the Indian Ocean paradise island, which also enters the list for the first time this year.
Thailand's and other countries' inclusion on the 2026 global list reflects that the definition of retirement living is no longer confined to one's homeland but embraces opportunities to experience new chapters in life balanced with happiness, value, and sustainable quality of life.
Source: forbes
Image: istock