Estonia Ranked the Best Country to Live in 2026

Estonia has been ranked the world’s best country to live in 2026, according to the latest Rumavi Global Relocation Index. Estonia topped the list among 184 countries, with a score of 72.8 out of 100. Singapore came second at 72.6, while Malaysia, Portugal and Taiwan complete the top five. Estonia’s first-place ranking is notable for a country with a population of 1.3 million. Estonia scored exceptionally well across the safety and settling pillars, supported by robust rule of law, a strong startup ecosystem, and low youth unemployment.

The report also ranks the world's worst countries to live which are: Afghanistan, Yemen and South Sudan. More information about the report can be found here.

Estonia continues to be No. 1 in Europe for education

According to the OECD’s 2025 PISA results, Estonia ranks the best in Europe and is among the top ten best education systems in the world. Only Japan and South Korea surpassed Estonia in 2025 for overall PISA test scores among the 91 OECD countries. For the past 15 years Estonia has outperformed the OECD average in science, maths and reading. This is another fantastic result for Estonia who places great importance on education.  Further reading can be found here.

Ülle Madise - The Next President of Estonia

On Wednesday, 2nd of September 2026, the Estonian Parliament (Riigikogu) elected Ülle Madise as the next President of Estonia. She ran as an independent candidate and secured 71 votes out of the required 68. Madise will be the second woman to hold the Estonian presidency, following Kersti Kaljulaid who left office in 2021. Madise succeeds Alar Karis, who chose not to seek a second term.

So who is Ülle Madise?

Ülle Madise is a prominent Estonian lawyer and legal scholar who has served as the Chancellor of Justice since 2015. She was born in Tartu in 1974 and studied law at the University of Tartu. Her father, Tõnu Anton, is a former member of the Supreme Court of Estonia and signatory of the ratification of the Estonian restoration of Independence. President-elect Ülle Madise holds core beliefs deeply rooted in constitutional law, institutional trust, individual liberty, and national identity.

Ülle Madise is scheduled to officially take office on 12 October 2026 where she will then become the seventh President of the Republic of Estonia.

Estonia's Education System: Why are Estonians so Smart?

The 1st of September marks the beginning of the new school year in Estonia. This year 14,700 children started first grade in Estonia, receiving their Aabits book and wearing their 'kooli tekkel' (school cap) for the first time with pride. Approximately 160,000 Estonian pupils will be attending general education this year, 26,000 students will commence vocational education and more than 47,000 students are enrolled at the country's universities. Estonia has one of the best education systems in the world and ranks number one in Europe for reading, mathematics, and science.

On this day in history

After half a century of brutal Soviet occupation, Russian troops finally left Estonia on 31 August 1994. On this day World War II officially ended for Estonia when the last occupying Russian military forces left Estonian soil.  It was a day of great celebration for Estonians all around the world.

Today in history

90 years ago today, on August 30, 1936, a memorial monument dedicated to writer Anton Hansen Tammsaare was unveiled in front of the Albu Municipal Hall. Tammsaare himself did not attend the event, either out of modesty or he was offended about a farm he was rumoured to receive as a gift for his 60th birthday, that it was given to Olympic champion Palusalu instead. A record book was signed by all people who attended the unveiling of the monument and it has been preserved in the local area. I was very pleased to view the record book in 2014 and saw the signature of my great-grandfather Arthur Lesthal. Arthur was both the village photographer aad bookkeeper at the Albu Muncipal Hall.

Photo flashback: Narva-Jõesuu 1890

This beautiful colourised photograph of a family in Narva-Jõesuu was taken in1890.