Thursday May 21, 2026
Thursday May 21, 2026
Thursday, 21 May 2026 05:28 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
The research, conducted by digital financial services provider Remitly for the second year running, compared 82 popular migration destinations on 34 important factors to consider when moving to a new country, including healthcare quality, cost of living, employment opportunities, and suitability for families. Sri Lanka ranks fourth as the best country for families to move to behind only Spain, China and the USA.
The 2026 edition of the report has considered additional factors and more metrics than last year’s report, meaning comparisons with the 2025 edition provide useful context, but not a like-for-like benchmark.
Sri Lanka’s high ranking as a family-friendly country is largely due to its education system and affordable childcare costs. It also features in fifth place for countries with the best public transport system, another significant benefit for families looking to move there.
Remitly said for families considering a move abroad, the practicalities matter just as much as the dream. This year, our family-friendly ranking looks closely at the systems that shape everyday life when you move with children, including: quality of education, childcare affordability, maternity and paternity leave policies, and access to international schooling. This year’s results reflect the introduction of new and expanded metrics, meaning direct comparisons with our 2025 Immigration Index should be viewed as indicative rather than absolute. By looking at factors such as international schooling options and parental leave, countries that ranked much further down in last year’s report have now jumped into the top 10.
Spain takes the top spot, driven by affordable childcare, generous parental leave policies (in fact, Spanish parents will have it even better in coming years, with extra paid leave5 scheduled to be implemented from 2026) and a strong public education system, complemented by a wide range of international schools for relocating families. China ranks second, supported by extensive education infrastructure and growing international school options in major cities, alongside evolving parental leave provisions.
The United States places third, boosted by its depth of international schooling and diverse education pathways, despite higher childcare costs in some states. Sri Lanka, last year’s number one, remains a standout thanks to low childcare costs, while the United Arab Emirates continues to attract expat families with excellent international school provision and competitive parental benefits.
The global results can be accessed via https://www.remitly.com/us/en/landing/the-immigration-index
