The 10 Best Countries To Move To In 2025

Thinking of making a fresh start abroad? Whether you’re chasing better healthcare, lower living costs, or just a less chaotic commute, Remitly’s 2025 ranking of the best countries for immigrants is the ultimate guide to where life might be greener (and possibly cheaper). Using 24 factors—from public transport and healthcare to economic strength and digital infrastructure—the remittance company has crunched the numbers to reveal the top global destinations for starting over.

Topping the list? Iceland—where geothermal energy powers your heating, public transport is efficient, and the social safety net is as strong as the coffee. Iceland scored 58.4 out of 100, edging out other European heavyweights that dominated the top 10.

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Here’s the full top 10 list of the best countries for immigrants in 2025:

1. Iceland

2. Norway

3. Switzerland

4. Luxembourg

5. Denmark

6. Ireland

7. United States

8. Netherlands

9. Germany

10. Finland

The UK? It landed in 19th place, falling behind Australia (12th) and the U.S., though it did beat France, Spain, and New Zealand. Britain only made the top 10 in one category: environmental performance—which, let’s be honest, isn’t enough to make up for the long GP wait times and patchy public transport outside London.

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Meanwhile, South Korea was praised for having the world’s best healthcare system, thanks in part to its tech-forward hospitals and universal access. Sri Lanka unexpectedly ranked top for education, largely due to its incredibly low childcare costs—just £274 a year. Luxembourg came out on top for public transport, while the UAE was ranked safest overall.

A separate World Happiness Report crowned Finland as the world’s happiest country for the eighth year running, followed by fellow Nordic neighbours Denmark, Iceland, and Sweden. The UK ranked 23rd for happiness, with the U.S. just behind at 24th.

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Ironically, despite its middling placement, the UK is experiencing record-high immigration. The Office for National Statistics revealed that net migration in the year to June 2023 hit 906,000, with updated data showing even bigger figures than previously estimated.

So, while the UK might be popular on paper, when it comes to tech-savvy living, high-quality public services and future-facing policies, it seems the real winners are found further north—and often much colder.