Estonia ranks first in 2026 Global Relocation Index
Estonia has been ranked the world’s best country to relocate to in 2026, according to a Euronews report on the latest Rumavi Global Relocation Index.
The 2026 edition places Estonia first among 192 countries and territories, with a score of 72.8 out of 100. Singapore follows at 72.6, while Malaysia, Portugal and Taiwan complete the top five. Rumavi says the index was published on 30 June and is updated annually at the end of the second quarter.
Strong scores for families and entrepreneurs
Rumavi’s general ranking combines 24 metrics across four pillars: financial and tax, livability and health, safety and stability, and settling and opportunity. The framework is re-weighted for six different priorities, including families, digital nomads, retirees and entrepreneurs.
Estonia’s strongest individual scores are in currency and banking, at 99, business opportunity, at 96, and property rights for non-citizens, at 90. The country also scores 82 for housing affordability, 86 for green space, 77 for street safety and 89 for its startup ecosystem.
The country ranks first in the index’s family ranking, with a score of 74.5, and second for entrepreneurs, with a score of 78.6, behind Singapore. Estonia ranks sixth for digital nomads, ninth for retirees and fifth on the tax-friendly ranking.
A relocation signal for international business
For companies considering where to locate a team, establish a base or support internationally mobile employees, the result highlights the overlap between everyday quality of life and business conditions. Rumavi’s Estonia profile points to the country’s banking infrastructure, business opportunity and legal protection for non-citizens as key strengths.
The index also identifies trade-offs. Estonia receives a score of 20 for climate comfort, reflecting its cold and dark winters, while its general affordability score is 62 and its foreign-income tax score is 58. Rumavi’s methodology is blended: some metrics use named institutional datasets, while others are partly estimated or based on documented expert assessment.
International companies and professionals exploring a move can use Invest Estonia’s relocation guide for practical information on settling, working and starting a business.
