20 Best English Speaking Countries to Retire, Live, or Visit

Rabia Mazhar
11 min read

In This Article:

This article takes a look at the 20 best English speaking countries to retire, live, or visit. If you wish to skip our detailed analysis on retirement living outside the States, you may go to 5 Best English Speaking Countries to Retire, Live, or Visit.

Sating the Travel Bug in Retirement

Although the US is large and its many different states offer wonderful vacation opportunities for people looking to travel, the majority of Americans are foreign travel enthusiasts. According to a study by the Pew Research Center, a whopping 76% of Americans have traveled to a country outside the States - of the 23% that haven’t, most say they would given the opportunity. 

What is interesting is that the study elaborates that of the 76% that have traveled abroad, most fall into the older category. In fact, Americans aged 65 and above have more than double the likelihood of having visited five or more countries. This paints a recurring picture - retirement in the US is often associated with foreign lands, whether to live out the golden years or simply to visit. 

While exact figures for how many Americans are retiring abroad are unknown, the Wall Street Journal relates that social security checks are an indication. In 2008, some 307,000 Americans were receiving their Social Security checks in a foreign country - by 2021, the number was up to 450,000, and the trend is expected to grow. 

So, why do people retire abroad in the thousands? While the opportunity to experience a new culture, travel, and live the adventurous life people only imagined in their youth are certainly compelling reasons, they are not the only factors. Often, the choice to retire abroad stems from a place of practicality and need, rather than want. 

The US’ Financial Landscape and the Retiree Choice

Life in America has gotten expensive, perhaps more expensive than ever before. This is a statement with which the average American agrees, and financial figures back it up. The CoinNews Media Group states that the annual inflation rate for the US for 2023 was 3.4%, up from the 2022 figure of 3.1%. Additional figures from Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. (NASDAQ:WBD) owned CNN stated that the CPI Shelter category was up 6.2% for 2023, indicating a significant increase in rent prices. 

In further conversations with CNN, a division of Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. (NASDAQ:WBD), Wendy Edelberg, Director of The Hamilton Project, stated that 2023’s inflation report was nothing to be concerned about. 

“I don’t think that there’s anything wildly concerning in this report. It wasn’t surprisingly good news, which would always be welcome, but nothing too concerning. It’s mostly steady as she goes” Wendy Edelberg, Director, The Hamilton Project .

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