Decision 3 · Week 3 · Wed Nov 18
How do I judge whether a country is safe to retire in?
SHORT ANSWERStart with the US State Department travel advisory, which rates every country from Level 1 (exercise normal precautions) to Level 4 (do not travel) and often names specific regions. Then judge the city and neighborhood where you would actually live.
A national rating describes the whole country, including regions you may never visit. Many advisories list safer and riskier areas inside the same country.
Safety is lived locally: the neighborhood, how you get around, health care access in an emergency, and who you know. Many people visit before committing and rent before buying.
Apply the same test to where you live now. Staying put has its own risks.
Week 3 compares safety and governance alongside cost and health care.
Sources
- Travel Advisories · US Department of State
Written and reviewed by Todd Allyn, Founding Director, Sovereo Intelligence
Facts checked Oct 6, 2026 · Next review by Apr 6, 2027
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