Best Countries For Raising Kids: A family is growing more expensive to raise as living expenses climb. Priorities are shifting as well; more families are looking for areas with policies that encourage a growing family, low crime rates, and convenient and cheap access to daycare and education. Although living and working abroad has many advantages for people of all ages, young people frequently struggle to understand these advantages because they are concerned about leaving their friends and familiar surroundings behind.
To allow children to develop normally without undue stress, a productive ecosystem that includes top-notch health, education, and social support systems is necessary. In terms of offering the ideal environment for growth, there is, regrettably, a significant geographical divide among nations. Most third-world nations aren’t even eligible for the grade to the extreme disparity. There is a significant socio-cultural disparity in how child raising is perceived, even within industrialized economies.
The standard of children’s upbringing is strongly correlated with per capita income. We all know that thinking about relocating abroad can be very stressful, but arranging a relocation with kids adds a whole other level of planning and consideration. Therefore, to make it simpler for you, we have compiled a list of the best countries in which to raise children.
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Top 11 Best Countries For Raising Children 2024
1. Sweden: Sweden, a nation of 10 million people, receives an A in both the environment and human rights. With world-class health and educational facilities, Sweden has some of the highest requirements for kid safety. Sweden is ranked #1 in both the cost of raising children overall and daycare due to its robust social policies. It is viewed as the best country in which to raise children.
Of the 480 days of paid parental leave available to parents, a father is qualified for 60 of those days. The government provides parents with a monthly allowance for each child in addition to allowing them to take time off work up until their children are eight.
2. Denmark: The Scandinavian nation is renowned for its outstanding performance when it comes to child care, safety regulations, and supportive infrastructure. Because of its superior healthcare, education, and safety, Denmark has long been a favorite choice for parents. One of the most liberal and adaptable parental leave policies in the EU is found in Denmark.
Fathers and mothers are each entitled to 23 weeks of parental leave, as well as four weeks of maternity leave before the anticipated due date. The inhabitants of Denmark benefit from a national health care system that provides them with nearly free medical care. Also free is higher education.
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3. Norway: In terms of bringing up a family, Norway excels. They ranked high in terms of safety, education, and healthcare, but what distinguishes this country is its maternity and paternity program. While husbands are eligible for up to 54 working days of parental leave, mothers are entitled to maternity leave. It is one of the best places in the world to raise a child as a new parent because 80% of men take some form of paternity leave.
Rent is expensive, but increased wages also contribute to this. The Norwegians are creating the ideal ecology for children’s total development in the happiest setting, with a per capita income of over US$74,000.
4. Finland: One of the safest nations in the world, according to many, is Finland. Every family has to be safe and secure above all things when moving with children. Mothers residing in Finland are eligible to apply for a baby box, which is a container that holds numerous baby care necessities and can also be used as a cot.
If the family decides they don’t need this package, they can request to receive a tax-free payment of 140 euros for each newborn, which will be provided by the Finnish government. The government also provides 4 months of paid maternity leave to moms who are not only working regularly but also self-employed, enrolled in school, or even jobless.
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5. Canada: Canada is the second-largest nation in the world after Russia since it occupies nearly two-fifths of the continent of North America. Your entire family will enjoy the experience of relocating to Canada, especially the youngsters! Your child won’t be treated any differently than a local child in terms of education and adjusting to a new social setting. One of the most tolerant and polite nations on the planet is Canada, according to surveys.
Employees who work for companies that are subject to the Canada Labor Code are entitled to maternity leave that lasts up to 17 weeks. Parental leave of up to 37 weeks is available to people who are caring for a newborn or recently adopted kid.
6. The Netherlands: The Netherlands, another nation in North Europe, is at the top of the list for raising children and everything else linked to relocating with children when it comes to health and welfare. The nation has the highest environmental rating and the most stringent kid safety regulations. It is known for its family values and freedom.
It has one of the top healthcare and educational systems in the world. In the Netherlands, young people’s ideas are respected and taken into consideration. In fact, from an early age, parents urge their kids to express their ideas. Through local initiatives, the Dutch government supports cities to advance children’s rights and interests.
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7. Switzerland: It is simple to understand why Switzerland is a desirable location for families to live with its pure air and excellent standard of living. It has some of the highest median earnings in Europe, delivers excellent healthcare, and is safe. For safety, education, and leading a healthy lifestyle, the nation consistently receives good marks.
The education system in Switzerland is highly regarded worldwide, and young children are not under any performance pressure here. Switzerland is ranked sixth in the world for educational excellence. Switzerland has the best maternal and infant healthcare in the world.
8. Iceland: Due to the flexibility and privileges both parents receive when it comes to raising children, Iceland is not just renowned as one of the finest locations in the world to be a mother, but it is also the best place in the world for working parents. Icelandic parents value the time spent with their infants more. In Iceland, about 90% of fathers take three months of required paternity leave, and studies show that parents remain actively involved in their children’s development.
Mothers and young children are welcomed anywhere, whether they are at work or school. Its four-level education system is regarded as one of the best in Europe, and universal healthcare is guaranteed by the law.
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9. Austria: Family and work-life balance are intertwined in Austrian society, which explains why so many people decide to start families here. It is regarded as one of the safest nations in the world and also has a renowned universal healthcare system. Both property prices and rents have remained reasonable. Mothers are currently barred from working for eight weeks before and after giving birth.
The social system in Austria provides a lot of help for parents. Working parents can choose a two-year parental leave that is entirely funded over staying at home. Additionally, until the child becomes 18, all households get “kindergeld,” a recurring payment, to help with daycare costs.
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9. Singapore: The best place to raise a family is Singapore. Safety, education, salary, and healthcare are the four out of seven categories that receive perfect scores. The OECD rates Singapore’s publicly funded education system as one of the best in the world. It has also continuously been ranked as one of the world’s safest and most serene travel locations.
Citizens enjoy universal healthcare benefits in addition to one of the highest median salaries in the world ($76,872.32). Though salaries are high, rent is notoriously expensive. Fathers have reasonably strong (19 points) paternity care, while mothers are entitled to sixteen weeks of paid maternity leave (22 points).
11. Poland: Poland is a great option for young families. Rent is substantially less expensive than in other regions of Europe, despite the fact that average salaries are likewise lower, at $32,527. Living expenses overall are, in fact, lower. The country provides exceptionally comprehensive healthcare (20 points) in addition to having excellent safety standards (84).
Maternity leave for new mothers is entitled to 26 weeks at 100% of the worker’s salary, while paternity leave for fathers is available for two weeks until the child is 24 months old. Education is closely behind our top five entries (16 points).
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Conclusion
The welfare of your children should be taken into account when deciding where to migrate or move to, as some nations are not the best places for a child to live or develop. However, some of the best nations for raising children are those that are listed above. These nations frequently offer generous parental and maternal leaves, high-quality healthcare, and effective general public education systems.
Edeh Samuel Chukwuemeka, ACMC, is a lawyer and a certified mediator/conciliator in Nigeria. He is also a developer with knowledge in various programming languages. Samuel is determined to leverage his skills in technology, SEO, and legal practice to revolutionize the legal profession worldwide by creating web and mobile applications that simplify legal research. Sam is also passionate about educating and providing valuable information to people.