Portugal is a small country of around 10 million people on the south west corner of Europe. It has a low cost of living and a warm, dry climate with relatively mild winters, making it an ideal retirement location.
It is one of the safest countries in the world - as high as third place - according to the Global Peace Index, and scores highly on quality of life too.
Portugal is also one of the freest countries, the Freedom House report scores it 96/100 in the 2021 edition (by comparison, the UK scores 93, and the USA only 83).
The Portuguese healthcare system is ranked 12th in the world by the WHO. There is a free national health system (SNS) for residents and a good selection of private options are also available at costs significantly below many other developed nations.
There are direct flight connections to major US and Canadian cities from Lisbon, Porto and Faro airports.
Lisbon is one of the oldest and most picturesque capitals in Europe, while the country has terrain varying from forests and mountains to long sandy beaches and breathtaking cliffs.
English is widely spoken, especially in areas popular with expats such as the Algarve, Lisbon, Cascais and Estoril.
Although traditionally a catholic country, Portugal is a secular republic and tends to reflect the population's progressive leanings, with same sex marriage legalized in 2010 and moves now in motion to legalize euthanasia.
Unlike many developed countries, immigrants are welcome and the government has nurtured a forward-looking approach to attracting both immigrants and investment.