Top 10 Best Countries To Raise A Family

If you’re planning to relocate with your family abroad or you intend to have children during your stay abroad, you should assess the suitability of your intended country for raising a family.

We’ve curated a list of the top 10 best countries to raise a family. Our immigration advisors are also available to answer all your questions and assist you with the relocation process. You can reach us online or via email.

Best Places to Raise A Family in the World

Moving abroad is never easy and requires lots of research and planning. It’s even more challenging when you’re doing so with young children. Your planning shifts from merely worrying about business opportunities and tax rates to things like access to quality healthcare, childcare, public education, safety and security, quality of life, family-oriented policies, and local infrastructure.

Plus, young kids are generally not thrilled with the idea of leaving friends and all things familiar behind to start over in a new country. And now you have to convince them that the move will benefit the entire family. The best countries to move to with a family are those that have the basic needs, like quality and affordable healthcare, education, and childcare, sorted. The country should also be safe and secure and have family-friendly policies that give parents the necessary time and resources to raise their children.

Our list of the top countries to raise a family is drawn from independent research sources and the experiences of thousands of our clients across the globe. Below are our 10 best countries to live in with a family.

The Netherlands

The Netherlands ranks high as one of the best countries to raise kids. The Dutch nation is known for having strong family values, child protective safety measures, and environmental standards. It also has one of the best education and public healthcare systems in Europe and worldwide, and has consistently topped UNICEF’s list of overall children’s wellbeing. The Dutch value socialising. Community activities, clubs, and social groups are widespread. Children are encouraged to play outdoors, cycle to school, and engage in community events. It’s no surprise that Dutch children are some of the happiest globally. The government also prioritises children’s interests in planning and policymaking. Children are encouraged to share their opinions on national affairs, and cities reserve a percentage of residential areas for children’s playgrounds, fields, and sporting facilities. You can find multiple playgrounds in many neighbourhoods. The Netherlands also supports parents with friendly parental leave and childcare policies. Parents enjoy 16 weeks of paid maternity leave, 5 weeks of paternity leave, and 26 weeks of shared unpaid parental leave. This leave is available to all legal residents of the Netherlands. Childcare is also subsidised, capped at €500 per child per month. However, the cost of living in the Netherlands is relatively high. The average cost of living for a family of four is about €3,600, excluding rent. A decent 3-bedroom apartment will set you back another €1,800 to €2,500.

Spain

Spain is ranked as one of the safest countries for raising kids in terms of environmental factors like air and water pollution. It also has a universal healthcare system that caters to all legal residents. But what makes Spain one of the best countries to raise kids is its child-friendly culture. Spain’s mild climate and abundance of beaches, parks, outdoor spaces, and community activities encourage an active lifestyle in children. You can find families with small children and older kids on their own everywhere, in restaurants, streets, parks, and no one gets upset when a child makes a fuss in public.

Spanish culture highly prioritises work-life balance. Lunch breaks are usually long, and so are holidays, promoting more family time.Spain also has the most generous combined paid parental leave policy worldwide. It grants 16 weeks of paid maternity leave and 12 weeks of paid paternity leave to all legal residents (including freelancers), provided you’ve paid into the social security system for up to 180 days in the last seven years.

The cost of living for a family of four in Spain is about €3,000 per month, excluding rent. You can get a three-bedroom apartment for about €1,500 to €2,000.

Canada

Canada is one of the safest places to raise a family because of its culturally diverse society and low crime rate. Canada also has a high-quality public education system, providing free basic education to citizens and legal residents, and a comprehensive healthcare system that covers prenatal care, childbirth, and paediatric care. Canada’s parental leave policy is also very generous. It allows parents to take up to 18 months of shared paid leave to care for their new babies. However, full salary payments only apply to the first few months in many cases.

The Canadian government subsidises childcare for low-income families. Households with an adjusted family net income of less than C$37,487 are entitled to an annual Canada Child Benefit payment of C$7,797 for each child below 6 years of age and C$6,748 for children aged 6 -17 years. Households with net incomes above the C$37,487 are also entitled to CCB

benefits. However, theirs is at a reduced rate calculated based on their net income. The average cost of living for a family of four is C$5,500 per month, excluding rent. You can get a decent three-bedroom apartment for C$2,000 to C$2,500 per month

United Kingdom

The UK prides itself on being family-friendly and safe for children. Most residential neighbourhoods have multiple play areas, encouraging children to engage in outdoor activities. Basic education is free for both citizens and residents. The UK also has a friendly parental leave policy. It allows new mothers to take up to 52 weeks of maternity leave, comprising 39 weeks of paid leave and 13 weeks of unpaid leave. Fathers can also take 1 or 2 weeks of paid paternity leave, or both parents can opt for shared parental leave of up to 50 weeks, with 37 weeks of paid leave between them. UK parents (citizens and settled persons) are also entitled to government support to raise children. You can claim child benefits of £26.05 per week for your first child and £17.25 for each additional child. The child benefits also give you National Insurance Credits, which count towards your state pension, and a National Insurance number for each child. Older children under 16 can even claim the benefits themselves. The National Health Service (NHS) provides free healthcare for UK citizens and residents. However, waiting lists are often very long for specific treatments and procedures. So, it’s best to augment it with private health insurance for quick access to treatments. The cost of living in the UK is £3,000 on average for a family of four, excluding rent. The cost of rent depends on your location. You can get a 3-bedroom apartment outside central London for £1,500 to £2,000 per month.

Switzerland

Switzerland is known for its high quality of life, low crime rates, multilingual society, stable economy, clean and well-maintained cities, and strong educational system (public and private), making it one of the best countries to raise a family. The Swiss blend formal and vocational education to create a one-of-a-kind education system.

Although Swiss Cantons are governed independently, the healthcare quality in Switzerland is top-notch. Swiss maternal and child healthcare ranks among the best globally. Swiss culture encourages independence and outdoor living with abundant hiking and biking trails and watersports. Switzerland also offers generous parental leave. New parents can take up to 14 weeks of paid maternity leave and two weeks of paternity leave.

However, Switzerland is one of the world’s wealthiest countries, so living here is expensive. The cost of living for a family on a budget is about €6,000, excluding rent. Rent for a family will cost about €2,500 to €3,500 per month.

Japan

If safety and community are your top priorities, then Japan is the best place to raise your family. Japan’s environment is designed to create a safe space for growing children. There’s an abundance of green spaces, low water and air pollution levels, and a low rate of road accidents. Japan ranks among the top nations for child physical well-being, with low rates of obesity and child mortality. Japanese culture also encourages children to develop independence and self-reliance at a young age. It’s normal for young children to walk to school and back home or play in parks unsupervised. Both parents are entitled to a combined paid childcare leave (Ikijiku) of up to 12 months in Japan. However, the specific duration of the leave is determined by the employer. Employees raising children below 3 years old are exempt from overtime hours. Childcare is also more affordable than in many European countries. Living costs in Japan are expensive, particularly in the major cities. The average cost of living for a family is about €3,500 per month, excluding rent. Renting an average 3-bedroom apartment will set you back another €1,200.

Finland

Finland is one of the safest countries in the world and one of the best places to raise children. It is known for having a low crime rate, abundant urban green spaces, high-quality universal healthcare, and a sound public education system.When it comes to maternal and childcare, Finland tops the chart. New mothers can receive a baby box containing childcare essentials or a tax-free sum of €170 per newborn from the Finnish government. In Finland, new parents are entitled to up to 320 days of paid parental leave for each child. The parental allowance is divided equally between parents (160 days each). All new parents are entitled to paid leave, regardless of whether they’re students, employed, self-employed, or unemployed, provided they’ve contributed to the Finnish social insurance institute (Kela) for up to 180 days. Children do not start school until 7 and get shorter school hours with no standardised testing in the early years. Living costs in Finland are quite affordable. The cost of living for a family of four is about €3,500, excluding rent. A decent 3-bedroom apartment in the city centre costs about €1,500. Childcare in Finland is income-based, capped at a maximum monthly payment of €311 per child.

New Zealand

New Zealand consistently tops the ranks for family-friendliness, quality of life, low crime rates, and a strong sense of community, making it one of the best countries to raise a family. Life in New Zealand happens mostly outdoors, and children are encouraged to become independent at a young age.

The Kiwis (as New Zealanders are fondly called) highly value work-life balance. They prioritise spending time with family and friends in community activities. Public education is free, and quality healthcare is very affordable. New parents in New Zealand receive up to 26 weeks of parental leave payments from Inland Revenue, and you can get an extended unpaid leave of an additional 26 weeks. Aside from the paid parental leave, the government provides financial assistance to families. You can apply for the Working for Family tax credit payments or Best Start payments to reduce the cost of raising children. Both New Zealanders and legal residents are entitled to these benefits. The cost of living in New Zealand can be quite high in the cities. Expect to spend a monthly budget of about NZ$6,200 for a family of four and NZ$2,000 on rent.

Denmark

Denmark’s generous social welfare system, high quality of life, and safety make it one of the best countries to move to with a family. Citizens and eligible residents enjoy free public education (through university) and a public healthcare system that provides free basic care and greatly subsidised advanced medical care. It’s no surprise that Danes are considered one of the world’s happiest people. Parental leave is available to both parents in Denmark. New mothers can get up to 18 weeks of paid maternity leave, while fathers can get two weeks of paid paternity leave. Danes prioritise work-life balance, and it’s common for parents of young children to leave work as early as 3 or 4 o’clock to pick up their kids. Plus, you can take paid time off to care for your children when necessary. The government subsidises up to 75% of childcare costs. Living costs in Denmark are high. You can get by on a monthly budget of €4,000 for a family of four, excluding rent. Renting a 3-bedroom apartment in Copenhagen can cost as much as €3,200, but you can get it for less outside the city centre.

Australia

Australia ranks as one of the best places to relocate to with kids because of its family support programs, affordable quality education, and overall safety. Children are raised to be active and adventurous in Australia, thanks to the country’s warm climate, abundant open spaces, and numerous outdoor activities.

All kids in Australia are entitled to free comprehensive healthcare (Medicare). Australian parents and residents can take up to 24 weeks of paid parental leave to care for a newborn. The leave can be shared between both parents. Employees can take an additional 12 months of unpaid leave.The average cost of living in Australia with a family of four is A$5,700, excluding rent. A 3-bedroom apartment costs about A$2,300 in city centres and A$1,800 outside the cities.

Factors That Make These Countries Ideal for Raising Family & Children

If you’re planning a move to a new country with your family or intend to start one after you relocate, there are several factors to consider when choosing a country. You must look at factors beyond the cost of living and career opportunities. Factors like safety, quality and affordable healthcare, parental leave, affordable childcare, and work-life balance are crucial considerations, as they will impact your family’s wellbeing in your new country. A country offering all these benefits would be ideal for raising a family. Here’s a brief breakdown of factors we considered in creating our list of the 10 best countries to raise a family.

Safety and Security

Safety is a primary concern when travelling abroad, especially when moving with children. You do not want to worry about crime, violence, or instability constantly. Countries like Switzerland, Finland, Japan, the Netherlands, and Denmark rank high for safety. Parents in these countries do not have to worry about taking their eyes away from their children for a few seconds.

Access to Quality Healthcare

Dealing with a healthcare crisis in a foreign country is hard enough for a single person, but it is more so when it involves family. Access to quality healthcare is vital for your family’s well-being. Knowing that your family can get the care they need through a comprehensive public healthcare system or reliable private health insurance gives you peace of mind.

Quality of Education

Quality education is the foundation for future success, and you want to ensure your children can access this in your new country. The country’s honour list has a strong educational system that provides free, quality education for citizens and residents. Switzerland provides a blend of formal and vocational education to help kids gain hands-on experience and skills. Denmark stands out for providing free, quality education from early childhood through university.

Maternity and Paternity Leave

If you intend to have children in your new country, you want to ensure that you can take time off to care for your child without losing your source of livelihood. These countries offer paid parental leave in varying lengths. In most cases, you can take extended unpaid leave to continue childcare without losing your job and short paid time off when necessary, after your leave.

Childcare Support

Affordable quality childcare is a key consideration when moving abroad because it affects your ability to pursue your career while ensuring your children get the best care. Childcare is heavily subsidised in countries like Finland and Denmark. In the UK, Canada, and New Zealand, parents can claim childcare benefits from the government to augment their childcare costs.