The most family-friendly countries
Deciding on a new country to call home can be an even bigger decision when you have a family to consider, and so within our analysis, we also wanted to explore the best countries for families to relocate to, based on two factors. Firstly, we looked at the quality and accessibility of education in each nation, using an education statistics score from Radboud University which represents: the average years of schooling adults have completed and the expected years of schooling children can anticipate in each country. [3] We also looked at the cost of childcare per year to score each nation on how family-friendly they are.
Topping the list is Sri Lanka, which boasts an impressive education system score paired with incredibly low annual childcare costs of just $354.60 per annum, making it a highly family-friendly destination with an overall family score of 88 out of 100. Sweden secures second place with an impressive education score and moderate childcare costs of $1,664.30 annually. Norway follows closely in third, showcasing a robust education system, though with higher childcare costs of $3,559.60.
New Zealand and Iceland round out the top five, delivering strong educational outcomes, albeit at higher childcare costs of $9,347.40 and $5,568.90, respectively. Similarly, countries like Germany and Finland are highly regarded for their educational systems and remain popular choices, despite childcare costs of $5,347.40 and $3,948.10 per year.
While countries such as Denmark, Australia, and the United States rank lower in the top ten due to higher childcare expenses, they continue to appeal to families who prioritize access to excellent education and other amenities.