Malaysia ranked third in 2026 global relocation index

The 2026 Rumavi Global Relocation Index has ranked Malaysia as the third-best country in the world to live in, out of 192 countries and territories. Malaysia achieved a score of 72.0, placing it behind Estonia, which ranked first with 72.8, and Singapore, which took second place with 72.6.

Other top-ten nations identified by the index include Portugal, Taiwan, Lithuania, Hong Kong, St. Kitts and Nevis, Czechia, and Malta.

The index focuses on where individuals can build a life rather than passport strength, utilizing 24 metrics categorized into four pillars: financial and tax, livability and health, safety and stability, and settling and opportunity. Specific factors include affordability, healthcare, infrastructure, political stability, and visa ease. The methodology re-weights these metrics across six different personas to reflect diverse needs. However, the report notes that data quality varies, with 65 countries having lower confidence ratings in their institutional metrics.