Safety, quality affordable healthcare, a relaxing lifestyle, a rich history and culture, savoury cuisine and geographic diversity: Portugal has it all as the top Global Retirement destination (see the full report here).

These are the results of International Living’s 2020 Annual Global Retirement Index, which saw Portugal top the categories of Healthcare, Climate and Housing. It also scored well in the categories of Fitting In/Entertainment and Development.

In terms of the rental and housing markets, International Living Portugal Correspondent Tricia Pimental notes that searching within 20 minutes of towns in areas like Lisbon and the Algarve can bring up gems for every lifestyle and budget.

“If you’re looking for land and a ‘get away from it all’ lifestyle, there are plenty of opportunities to invest and enjoy the breathtaking countryside Portugal is famous for,” she writes on the American website.

According to the writer’s calculations, US residents can live on a third of their current budget. Pimental, who has lived in the country for almost 10 years, also notes that retirees can live comfortably for around $2,500 a month.

When it comes to Healthcare, “Portugal has some of the finest doctors and medical training available anywhere”, with most medical staff fluent in English. The weather is also a high point. In Portugal, depending on the area, winters are cool and wet, and summers are dry and warm, with high temperatures rarely surpassing 32ºC.

As well as retirees, the country is attracting waves of digital nomads. Home to

one of the highest per capita fiber optic networks in Europe, Portugal now draws international high-tech firms and global events such as the Web Summit.

But it seems to be the laid-back lifestyle that makes the country so appealing. Rated the third-safest country in the world, the article cites the pace of life, social activities and the friendly Portuguese people.

The Global Retirement Index aims to help retirees find the best value-for-money overseas destinations. The 2020 Index examined 24 countries in 10 categories: Housing, Benefits and Discounts, Visas and Residence, Cost of Living, Fitting In/Entertainment, Healthcare, Development, Climate, Opportunity, and Governance.