Choosing a country to raise children comes down to measurable criteria: the quality of the education system, access to healthcare, safety, cost of living and parental support policies. These factors vary from one family to another, and international rankings only tell part of the story.
Parental leave: duration alone doesn’t reveal how much support families really receive
Comparisons between countries often focus on the length of parental leave. Sweden, Norway and Portugal regularly rank near the top thanks to their generous, flexible leave policies.
The OECD adds an important nuance: the full-rate equivalent of parental leave can dramatically change the rankings. Several months of poorly paid leave may provide less financial support than a shorter period paid at full salary. Spain, for example, offers sixteen weeks of maternity and paternity leave at full pay.
For a family that has to live on a single income during this period, the wage replacement rate matters more than the theoretical number of weeks. Finding the best country to raise children means looking beyond headline figures and comparing the income families actually receive during leave.
Education systems and school integration for expatriate children
A national school system’s reputation doesn’t guarantee the same experience for every student. A country that ranks highly in education may present real challenges for children who don’t speak the local language or arrive partway through the school year.
Language and academic support for newly arrived students is a criterion in its own right. Scandinavian countries (Finland, Sweden and Denmark) generally offer structured integration programs. Thanks to its multicultural model, Canada provides newcomer classes in most provinces.
By contrast, in some Asian countries known for their academic results, such as South Korea and Japan, the language barrier and highly competitive teaching methods can make it harder for children from France to adjust. Choosing a country therefore depends as much on the overall quality of education as on the support available to expatriate families.
International schools or the local system
The network of French and international schools makes the transition easier in countries such as Portugal, Switzerland and the United Arab Emirates. These schools come with high fees that can put pressure on the family budget.
Choosing the local system reduces tuition costs but requires a greater investment in language learning from children. The right choice depends on how long you plan to live abroad: for a two-year stay, an international school helps children keep up with the French curriculum. For a long-term move, the local system supports integration.
Cost of living and access to healthcare: the criteria that narrow down the list
A country may tick every quality-of-life box and still be financially out of reach. Switzerland and Norway offer high-performing healthcare and education systems, but their cost of living is among the highest in the world.
Three criteria can help narrow down destinations based on the family budget:
- Cost of family housing: in Scandinavian or Swiss cities, rent for an apartment suitable for a family can take up half of the household income. Portugal and Malaysia offer significantly lower rents and a comparable quality of life outside their capitals.
- Access to pediatric care: the Netherlands, Norway and Switzerland have healthcare systems that cover a wide range of children’s medical needs. In Thailand and Malaysia, private hospitals provide high-quality care, but expatriate health insurance is essential.
- Childcare and early childhood services: the OECD notes that access to childcare remains unequal even in Europe, with wealthier households finding it easier to secure places. The actual availability of places—not just their theoretical existence—should guide your choice.
Safety and digital well-being: two dimensions that shouldn’t be considered separately
Physical safety features in every ranking. The Global Peace Index regularly places Iceland, Portugal, Denmark and New Zealand among the safest countries. For families with children, this remains a basic consideration.
Children’s digital well-being is a more recent concern and is less thoroughly covered in comparisons. Schools’ ability to guide children’s screen use varies considerably from one country to another. Some school systems include digital literacy programs, while others leave it to families to manage.
This criterion is becoming more important as children get their first smartphones at younger ages. A country that invests in digital guidance at school offers a more protective environment than one that relies on general recommendations alone.
Urban environments and spaces for children
Beyond statistical indicators, family quality of life is also shaped by urban planning. The Netherlands and Denmark have cycling infrastructure and public spaces designed with families in mind. Japan offers a level of urban safety that allows children to travel on their own from primary school age—a rare freedom in most other countries.
Choosing a country to live in as a family can’t be reduced to a single ranking. Each family’s circumstances, planned length of stay abroad and budget determine which destination is the right fit. Well-paid parental leave, a school system that supports children who don’t speak the local language, an affordable cost of living and a safe environment, including online: taken together, these four factors provide a more reliable answer than any ranking.
