Portugal is the Safest Place to Retire in 2026

Por Kimberly Anne

• GPI Rank: 7
• AGRI Rank: 4

Last night, as I was walking my dog around my neighborhood in Porto  at 11 p.m., I was once again struck by how safe I feel here. As a solo female, I often walk alone late at night in Portugal  without issue.

At midnight, you will typically see families out with their children. People carry their cell phones, visible in hand, walking without a care. It’s not uncommon to leave your cell phone and purse on a table or counter in a restaurant unattended while running to the bathroom.

When I first moved to Portugal in 2022, it was ranked the sixth safest country in the world. Now, it’s number seven in the Global Peace Index. Compare that to the U.S., which ranks at 128.

As a newcomer to Portugal, I was terrified of everything. If a car pulled up next to me as I was walking down the sidewalk, I jumped back and clutched my bag. I was afraid to walk alone at night, in the dark. As soon as I entered my car, I would auto-lock all the doors.

Thankfully, everything has changed for me, and I no longer live in fear.

There are some areas where petty theft can and does occur, such as downtown Lisbon or Porto, usually in the later hours of the night. Like any big city, you have to remain aware of your surroundings. Nevertheless, violent crime is rare. There are few guns due to strict laws.

The Portuguese are generally kind and benevolent. The mottos here are “calma” and “tranquila,” which are lived up to. The lifestyle is slower-paced, and because it’s so community-oriented, people tend to look out for one another. I often have strangers on the street offering to help me, no strings attached.

Another wonderful aspect about living in Portugal is the acceptance and inclusion of the LGBTQ+ community.

I have several queer male, female, and trans Portuguese friends who are fully supported and loved by their families. This is partly because family is a top value, and that bond often transcends traditional social views. By and large, the Portuguese people embody a “live-and-let-live” philosophy, showing little interest in the private lives of others.

I can’t speak to racism personally, but my expat friends of color report that they experienced frequent microaggressions and systemic barriers in the U.S. For the most part, this doesn’t occur in Portugal, and they report feeling safer here.

Some things are changing. Until recently, there was a five-year path to citizenship for immigrants. However, they’re most likely raising that bar to 10 years and implementing stricter regulations on new residency visas. Due to rising housing costs and inflation, some Portuguese are becoming disgruntled toward foreigners. But this presents itself not as unsafe, but as a subtle social friction absent just a few years ago.

Still, the feeling of safety on my late-night walks prevails.

Source: https://internationalliving.com/the-safest-places-to-retire/#1.-portugal