The Best Country to Move to in 2026: Estonia Tops the Global Ranking

Estonia took first place in the global ranking of the best countries to move to in 2026. Learn more about its strengths, the rankings of other countries, and the criteria used to evaluate 192 countries and territories

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Estonia has been named the best country in the world to move to in 2026. The Baltic nation topped the Rumavi Global Relocation Index, which evaluated 192 countries and territories based on 24 indicators, including cost of living, safety, quality of healthcare, taxes, the banking system, business opportunities, and conditions for settling in. According to Euronews, Estonia received particularly high marks for its financial infrastructure, opportunities for entrepreneurs, and protection of property rights for foreigners.

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Why Estonia Was Named the Best Country to Move To in 2026

Estonia ranked first among 192 countries and territories in the Rumavi Global Relocation Index 2026, scoring 72.8 out of 100. It was just 0.2 points ahead of Singapore, which scored 72.6, while Malaysia took third place with a score of 72.0.

Estonia’s lead is not due to any single indicator but rather to a combination of factors important for long-term life abroad. The study’s authors evaluated countries based on 24 indicators grouped into four broad categories: finance and taxes, quality of life and health, safety and stability, and opportunities for settlement and professional development. Each indicator was normalized on a scale from 0 to 100.

Among Estonia’s strongest points are its banking and currency system, favorable conditions for entrepreneurship, protection of property rights, security, and a well-developed digital infrastructure. Another important factor is that the country has long since moved a significant portion of its government services online, and its digital governance model simplifies many administrative procedures for those planning to live or do business here.

At the same time, the ranking does not mean that Estonia is the universally best option for everyone. Rumavi’s methodology specifically takes into account the needs of families, entrepreneurs, digital nomads, retirees, and people for whom taxes are a priority. That is why, in addition to the overall ranking, the study includes five specialized rankings where countries’ positions differ significantly.

In our previous article, we discussed the top 5 EU countries for starting an offline business in 2026.

In which areas does Estonia outperform other countries?

Estonia’s position in the ranking is primarily driven by its strong financial and business indicators. According to the Global Relocation Index 2026, the country scored 99 out of 100 for its currency and banking system, 96 for business opportunities, and 90 for the protection of foreigners’ property rights. It is precisely this combination of a stable financial environment, clear rules, and a digitized government system that makes the country particularly attractive to entrepreneurs and professionals working internationally.

Indicators directly related to everyday life also scored highly:

- Green spaces — 86/100

- Housing affordability — 82/100

- Safety on the streets — 77/100

- Quality of healthcare — 75/100

- Digital infrastructure — 70/100

However, Estonia is not the undisputed leader across all categories. The overall affordability of living was rated at 62/100, tax conditions for foreign income at 58/100, and climate comfort received only 20/100. It is precisely the cold and dark winters that remain one of the country’s most noticeable drawbacks for those choosing a new place to live. The ranking took into account not only financial factors but also safety, air quality, affordability, and climate.

Learn more about the most affordable countries for expats to live in 2026 by following the link.

Estonia is particularly attractive to families and entrepreneurs

The overall first-place finish is not Estonia’s only strong result. In the specialized categories of the Global Relocation Index 2026, the country also ranked highly for various groups of people planning to relocate.

Estonia achieved its best result in the category for families: 1st place worldwide and a score of 74.5 out of 100. The rating was influenced by safety levels, the quality of healthcare, environmental indicators, housing affordability, and the country’s overall stability.

For entrepreneurs, Estonia ranked second in the world with a score of 78.6 points. Key advantages here included digitized government services, a favorable business environment, banking infrastructure, and relatively straightforward company administration.

The country also ranked among the leaders in other categories:

- 6th place for digital nomads

- 9th place for retirees

- 5th place for tax attractiveness

These results show that Estonia competes not only as a comfortable place to live but also as a practical jurisdiction for work, entrepreneurship, and long-term relocation. At the same time, its advantages depend significantly on the profile of the relocator: for a family, safety and social infrastructure may be key, while for an entrepreneur, taxes, banking, and the speed of interaction with the government may be more important.

In our previous article, we discussed the cost of living in the best EU countries in 2026.

Which countries made it into the top 10 for relocation in 2026?

Estonia topped the ranking by a narrow margin: it is separated from Singapore by only 0.2 points, and the difference between first and tenth place is just 3 points. This shows just how fierce the competition is among the most attractive relocation destinations.

The top 10 of the Global Relocation Index 2026 looks like this:

1. Estonia — 72.8 points

2. Singapore — 72.6

3. Malaysia — 72.0

4. Portugal — 71.6

5. Taiwan — 71.4

6. Lithuania — 71.0

7. Hong Kong — 71.0

8. St. Kitts and Nevis — 70.3

9. Czech Republic — 69.9

10. Malta — 69.8

The ranking turned out to be geographically very diverse: the top ten includes countries from Europe, Southeast and East Asia, as well as the Caribbean. At the same time, five of the ten spots are held by European countries—Estonia, Portugal, Lithuania, the Czech Republic, and Malta.

It is also interesting that the large Western European countries, traditionally popular among expats, did not even make it into the top 20. For example, Spain ranked 21st, Switzerland 24th, Finland 27th, and Poland 32nd. This is due to the index’s methodology: it does not take into account a country’s prestige or popularity, but rather a balance of 24 indicators that are important for real-life experiences after moving.

How were the best countries to move to selected?

The Global Relocation Index 2026 covers 192 countries and territories. For each one, Rumavi analyzed 24 indicators that affect the comfort and practicality of a long-term move. The final score is based on more than just economic data: the calculation includes safety, healthcare, housing, taxes, the business environment, infrastructure, and other factors.

All indicators are grouped into four main categories:

1. Finance and Taxes — banking system, tax conditions, financial stability

2. Quality of Life and Health — healthcare, housing, environment, climate, and daily expenses

3. Safety and Stability — safety level, political and social situation

4. Opportunities for Living and Working—business environment, digital infrastructure, property rights, and conditions for professional development

Separately, the authors compiled rankings for different types of relocators, since the same country may be suitable for an entrepreneur but less appealing to a retiree or a digital nomad. That is why, alongside the overall index, the conditions for families, entrepreneurs, digital nomads, retirees, and people primarily focused on tax advantages are compared.

If you are planning to legalize, apply for a residence permit or submit migration documents abroad, the assistance of specialized migration lawyers can significantly simplify the process. Specialists will help you assess your chances of obtaining legal status, prepare a package of documents, avoid common mistakes, and accompany you at all stages of the migration procedure: from the initial consultation to obtaining a decision from the migration authorities.

We remind you! New economic indicators show which countries have been able to increase their GDP and which have lost ground due to inflation and slowing growth. Ranking of the richest countries in the world in 2026 — follow the link.

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