Uruguay tops 2026 Global Retirement Index

Uruguay has taken the top spot in the 2026 Global Retirement Index, unseating previous leader Portugal. The report, released by Global Citizen Solutions, evaluates 46 residency and passive-income visa programs worldwide based on five key pillars: quality of life, mobility and citizenship, taxation, application procedures, and costs.

While Uruguay leads due to consistent high scores across all categories, Mauritius follows in second place by combining favorable tax rates with strong performance in other areas. Europe remains the most represented region in the top ten, with six countries including Spain, Portugal, Latvia, Andorra, Italy, and Greece. Spain is ranked as the top European destination, though it ranks lowest among the 46 programs regarding taxation.

Portugal dropped to fifth place following changes to its citizenship requirements, which increased the time needed for non-EU applicants to obtain citizenship from five to ten years. The index highlights that as the global population aged 65 and over is expected to reach 1.6 billion by 2050, retirement visas are increasingly viewed as strategic assets for diversifying tax, lifestyle, and political exposure.