Sri Lanka has ranked fourth in the 2026 edition of Remitly’s Immigration Index for best countries for families to relocate to, behind Spain, China and the United States, according to a Daily FT report on the digital financial services provider’s annual study.
The 2026 edition compared 82 migration destinations on 34 factors including quality of education, childcare affordability, maternity and paternity leave policies, employment opportunities and access to international schooling. Sri Lanka’s ranking was driven primarily by its education system and affordable childcare costs. The country also placed fifth for best public transport — another factor weighted in the family-friendly assessment.
Sri Lanka was the top-ranked country in Remitly’s 2025 Immigration Index. The drop to fourth reflects methodology changes — the introduction of new and expanded metrics — rather than a deterioration in performance, the company said. Remitly noted that “direct comparisons with our 2025 Immigration Index should be viewed as indicative rather than absolute.”
Spain took the top spot in the 2026 edition, helped by affordable childcare, generous parental leave policies set to expand further from 2026, and a strong public education system. China ranked second on the strength of extensive education infrastructure and growing international school options in major cities. The United States placed third, supported by depth of international schooling, despite higher childcare costs in some states.
Sri Lanka, the report said, “remains a standout thanks to low childcare costs.” The United Arab Emirates rounded out the top five.
The ranking lands as Sri Lanka’s tourist arrivals cross the 950,000 mark for the first part of 2026.
Remitly’s full global results are accessible via the company’s website.
Source: Daily FT.
