Many British retirees have been tempted to up sticks from the UK and move abroad to sunnier climes. Researchers estimate that around 5.5 million Brits live permanently outside the country.

This represents roughly an astonishing one in 10 people of the total UK population. Traditionally, some of the most popular places for expats have been Spain, France and Australia. These countries have always been viewed as safe, straightforward and sunny – making perfect destinations. However, rising living costs, evolving tax landscapes, shifting visa rules post-Brexit and new global lifestyle trends have forced Britons to reconsider their options. The international financial advisory and wealth management firm Hoxton Wealth has ranked 20 popular destinations for British retirees against 10 different criteria. These included cost of living, property ownership, lifestyle, healthcare access, economic stability, language and integration, travel connectivity as well as visa access, taxation and safety.

In tenth place is Turkey, followed by Mauritius, Greece, Spain and Panama – all of which score 80 to 81 points.

Malaysia occupies fifth place, getting the highest score for the cost of living category. The report says there is “outstanding” value for money. It also ranked well for safety and climate, with a strong expat community. In fourth place comes Malta, which offers British citizens post-Brexit structured, accessible residence scheme.

The fact that the official language of the country is English is an added bonus. Cost of living was rated as generally lower than the UK, with affordable healthcare, transport and dining.

Portugal comes third with Cyprus taking second place. Both countries were rated for their pleasant climate, with Cyprus earning extra marks for its relaxed, beach-oriented lifestyle, and for being expat-friendly.

The number one choice, though, is actually closer to home. Ireland scored 87/100, with its pathways for seamless legal migration seeing it receive high marks for visa access and residency.

Post-Brexit UK citizens retain unique rights under the Common Travel Area (CTA) agreement, meaning British nationals can live, work, retire and access public services in Ireland without restriction. Ireland also received top marks for its economy, which the report described as “fast-growing and modern, bolstered by tech, pharma, and finance sectors”.