A new study* by money.co.uk has revealed where the world is planning on retiring to the most, crowning France as the most sought-after retirement hotspot.
With restrictions starting to lift around the world, the study analysed where the inhabitants of 142** different countries are searching to retire to the most on Google.
Home to a reasonably priced property market, strong healthcare system and warm climate, France proves to be a favourable choice for many retirees looking for a change of scenery in their later years. Taking the top spot with a total of 20 countries that include the likes of Italy, Belgium and Cameroon searching to retire here more than any other country.
However the other side of the Atlantic also proved popular, with Canada ranking in second, being the most searched retirement relocation destination for 14 countries that include Albania, Taiwan and more. Argentina ranked third, favoured by 11 countries in total, with many already based within South America.
The 10 Most Searched For Retirement Hotspots
| Rank | Country | Number of countries searching to retire here the most |
| 1. | France | 20 |
| 2. | Canada | 14 |
| 3. | Argentina | 11 |
| 4. | Portugal | 10 |
| 5. | Australia | 9 |
| 5. | Thailand | 9 |
| 6. | Spain | 8 |
| 7. | Costa Rica | 6 |
| 7. | Germany | 6 |
| 8. | New Zealand | 5 |
| 9. | Turkey | 4 |
| 10. | Belgium | 3 |
| 10. | Malaysia | 3 |
Potentially due to the difficulty of being able to actually retire to the United Kingdom or United States of America, both of these countries were discovered to be less desirable when it comes to finding to right place to retire. Only America topped the searches for retirees in Nigeria, and the UK failed to rank top for any pensioners worldwide.
Meanwhile, inhabitants of the UK search most for retirement options in Spain, a country popular with British expats. Americans instead desire to retire to the tropical surroundings of Costa Rica the most, a country that offers enviable medical care alongside its picture-perfect habitat.
Where People in the UK Want To Retire To The Most
- Spain
- Thailand
- Portugal
- Australia
- New Zealand
Joel Kempson, personal finance expert at money.co.uk, commented: “Retirement is an exciting phase of our lives and for many, this means the opportunity to spend some of our pensions, and the latter years of our lives, in a new country altogether.
“We hope our findings help to provide some inspiration for anyone currently considering retiring abroad, wherever they may currently be based”.
For further information on the findings, the top-ranking countries and their options for retirees, visit: https://www.money.co.uk/pensions/where-the-world-wants-to-retire
