Global Retirement Report 2025: Country Ranked Second Most Attractive Destination for International Retirement

Mauritius ranks second globally among the most attractive destinations for international retirement in the Global Retirement Report 2025, a benchmark study published by Global Citizen Solutions. With an overall score of 89.24 points, the island is just behind Portugal (92.61) and ahead of Spain (88.52), confirming its strategic positioning amid the increased international mobility of retirees.

The report's preface notes that "life expectancy has dramatically increased worldwide over the last few decades," emphasizing that "a baby born in 2021 can expect to live, on average, more than 25 years longer than a baby born in 1950." This evolution is accompanied by profound changes in migration practices: "In an era of unprecedented mobility, retirement is no longer defined by national borders; it has become an international journey."

The Global Retirement Report 2025 analyzes 44 retirement visa or passive income programs across 44 countries, based on "20 targeted indicators grouped into six thematic sub-indices: Procedure, Citizenship and Mobility, Economy, Taxation, Quality of Life, Security, and Integration." The aim is to provide "a multidimensional and objective assessment of the most relevant destinations for retirees."

Mauritius is among the top five countries in the ranking, alongside Portugal, Spain, Uruguay, and Austria. The report specifies that "these countries excel across all of our six sub-indices and set the global benchmark for international retirement migration." For Mauritius, the performance is particularly notable in terms of taxation and integration. The island ranks fifth for tax optimization, with a score of 99.7, and also fifth for security and integration (91.24).

The document highlights the structural characteristics of the Mauritian system. The country offers a "Residence Permit for Retired Non-Citizens," with a monthly income requirement set at $1,500, a processing time of three months for paperwork, and the possibility to include "the spouse or legal partner, as well as dependent children." On the tax front, Mauritius applies "a territorial tax system (no tax on foreign-source income)" and does not impose "wealth tax or inheritance tax." Access to citizenship is available after six years, with dual nationality permitted.