The World’s 10 Best Countries To Raise A Family In If You Are Relocating With Kids

Whether you’re moving abroad with children, or you’re thinking of starting a family abroad, you may be wondering which are the best places to raise a family in the world.

The good news is you’re not alone. In 2023, the Migration Data Portal found that over 2.5 million new migrations to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries were families. And, a 2023 UNICEF report titled Children on the Move estimates there to be around 35.5 million children worldwide not living in their country of origin. In other words, millions of families just like yours have successfully relocated abroad – which means you can do it too!

If you’re thinking of moving abroad with your family in 2025, we’ve gone in search of the best countries to raise a family. Looking at metrics like the cost of childcare, average hours worked and educational attainment, we’re listing the 10 best countries to raise a family.

In this article

• What are the world’s best countries to raise a family?
• Top tips from expats relocating with children

What are the world’s best countries to raise a family if you are relocating with kids?

Moving abroad is never a decision to be taken lightly, but moving abroad with kids adds a whole new world of complexity to the equation. There’s so much more to reckon with, such as:

• Getting your kids into a foreign school and helping them through their education
• Accessing childcare and other support systems in a foreign environment
• Helping your children integrate into a foreign society, learn a foreign language and make friends abroad

All this must happen while you may be dealing with your own sense of culture shock and trying to manage your finances, making the process of moving abroad with children a particularly challenging and emotional time.

Ranking the best countries for families

Some countries are easier to move to than others, and many can even offer you and your family a better quality of life. These tend to be countries that combine excellent education, a sensible work-life balance, affordable childcare and a manageable cost of living, and a welcoming culture that accommodates families.

We’ve used key metrics on these themes to find what we believe are the 10 best countries for families. We narrowed our search down to OECD countries and paid particular attention to:

• The cost of childcare
• The quality of education
• Length of maternity, parental and home care leave
• Average hours worked

See the full methodology at the bottom of this page.

Moving abroad with your family can be a stressful process, with many unknown factors at play. What we’ve seen from this study is that there is no one-size-fits-all answer to the question of which country is best for families, but some countries do perform significantly better than others overall.

It’s important to consider how your own personal and familial circumstances match up to the benefits that each country has to offer. This could be the availability of affordable childcare, the quality of schools and education, or the work-life balance offered in your preferred destination.

William Cooper

Marketing Director at William Russell

Thinking about moving and living abroad with your family?

William Russell offer flexible international health insurance for families

The world’s best countries to raise a family if you’re relocating with kids

Top 10 countries for families

1. Portugal
2. Sweden
3. Italy
4. Spain
5. Finland
6. Latvia
7. Hungary
8. Japan
9. France
10. Estonia

1/ Portugal

Family Relocation Score: 6.33/10

You’ll know Portugal for its brilliant sandy beaches, brightly coloured city streets and excellent cuisine. We’re also pleased to say that Portugal tops the list of the best countries in the world for families.

Balancing a low cost of living and a strong focus on work-life balance with a huge number of child-friendly attractions, Portugal provides a way of life that supports young parents both financially and socially.

What sort of lifestyle can your family expect in Portugal? Having previously named Portugal the least-stressed country in the OECD, and with capital city Lisbon appearing in our list of the 10 safest cities in the world, it’s fair to say the culture in Portugal is laid-back and easy-going.

Additionally, Portugal is highly affordable, with childcare costing just 5% of household income and the cost of rent and utilities being among the lowest in Europe.

Incentives for parents in Portugal

Portugal offers strong incentives to families, including a monthly cash benefit paid for all children who are residents of Portugal and not in employment, plus study grants. Parents, meanwhile, receive tax credits and VAT write-offs on household expenses.

Could Portugal be right for you and your family?

Read our guide on moving to Portugal as an expat to find out

2/ Sweden

Family Relocation Score: 6.26/10

With a culture that puts families first, an excellent working culture across the country and affordable childcare, Sweden comes in second place on our list of the best countries for families.

This should come as no surprise to regular readers of the William Russell blog – we’ve previously named Sweden the best country in the world for mental health, one of the healthiest countries, one of the happiest countries, one of the least-stressed countries and one of the greenest countries. There’s so much to recommend Sweden to expats, and now we’re pleased to say childcare is one of them.

Swedish culture famously does away with gender norms, encouraging both parents to work while also sharing household and child caring responsibilities. Swedish families also seek a balance between working life and nature, with weekends spent outdoors. This culture is supported by a low cost of childcare (just 4% of household expenses), a strong work-life balance (with one of the lowest average working hours) and low utility costs.

Incentives for parents in Sweden

Sweden provides generous incentives to families in the form of a “barnbidrag” (or “flerbarnstillägg” for large families). These are packages of benefits that include subsidies for childcare and an allowance for each child.

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3/ Italy

Family Relocation Score: 6.22/10

Family is one the cornerstones of Italian life. In fact, it’s so much a feature of Italian life that Italy has the highest proportion (80%) of young adults in the OECD who continue to live in their family homes.

Indeed, Italian culture places a strong emphasis on intergenerational bonds, with grandparents expected to share child caring responsibilities – which is perhaps why Italy can boast that families spend 0% of their household budget on childcare.

Outside the family home, Italy is a highly-developed country that prioritises education, industry and culture. Expat families living in Italy can therefore expect to find plenty of fantastic schools, well-paid jobs and family-friendly experiences. And, with a low cost of living compared to other countries in Europe, families can make ample use of their income to provide a wonderful upbringing for their children. 

Incentives for parents in Italy

In response to its declining birth rates, Italy has implemented a system of incentives for new parents, which includes maternity cover paying up to 100% of the mother’s salary, an allowance for each child (scaled according to household income) and a new ‘baby bonus’, paying up to €1,000/US$1,128 for each child born or adopted in 2025 (so long as one parent is an Italian or EU citizen, or long-term resident of Italy).

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4/ Spain

Family Relocation Score: 6.19/10

A dream country for many expats, Spain offers much more than amazing food, sun-drenched beaches and historic cities. With a low cost of living, a relaxed working culture and a strong focus on family values, Spain is also the perfect destination for families.

Like the Italians, Spaniards place family at the centre of their lives, while also leaning heavily on their local communities. The phrase ‘it takes a village to raise a child’ is nowhere as true as it is in Spain, where neighbours often take turns to care for, feed and educate local children.

Spain offers a high quality of life that prioritises outdoor exercise, healthy food and cultural activities. With a growing number of job opportunities in major cities, families will find it easier than ever to move to and make the most of their lives in Spain. And there’s good news if you’re not looking to settle down permanently, as Spain offers a generous digital nomad visa for stays of up to one year.

Incentives for parents in Spain

The Spanish government offers significant incentives for new parents. All parents receive a €200/US$225 monthly grant, regardless of income, and can also receive substantial tax breaks. This begins at €600/US$677 for one child, and increases up to €1,700/US$1,918 for three children – and this benefit continues until the children are 25 years old. The Spanish social security service also provides grants to the mother’s pension plan, subsidising her maternity leave pay.

 

5/ Finland

Family Relocation Score: 6.04/10

Finland may be best known as the land of saunas and snow, but it’s also the land of modern parenting. The Finns take a unique approach to child-rearing with an emphasis on unstructured play, with an aim to develop independent, resilient and curious children.

So crucial is this methodology to Finnish society, Finland has created one of the best work-life balances in the world, offering parents one of the longest parental leave periods (up to 13 months, plus 40 days pregnancy leave) and lowest average working hours (although the pay-off is a high cost of living). Indeed, Finland comes second in the world for both worker’s rights and quality of working conditions.

Finland is a destination for expat families who seek a more holistic way of life, a closer connection to nature, and who want to be part of a kind and caring community. It’s little wonder, then, that it’s among the best countries in the world for mental health, and our second-best country in the world overall for expats.

Incentives for parents in Finland

As well as providing incredible support for mothers during pregnancy, Finland offers a strong package of benefits to new parents. For almost 100 years, new parents in Finland have received a ‘baby box’ upon the birth of their child, containing essentials such as clothes and nappies, with the box itself doubling as a crib. Finland also pays a generous tax-free allowance to parents, starting from €94.88/US$108 per month for one child, up to €192.69/US$219 for five or more children.

Did you know – some countries will pay you to move there?

Find out which countries offer you incentives to move there

6/ Latvia

Family Relocation Score: 5.74/10

With a staggeringly low cost of living and an economy on the ascendency, Latvia is emerging as a top destination for expat families who want to live the European lifestyle without the European price tag. As one of the best countries in the world for mental health, Latvia offers expats the chance to live a more relaxed and carefree lifestyle in a country teeming with nature, art and history. Best of all, Latvia offers one of the lowest costs of living in the European Union.

When it comes to parenting, Latvia is in a state of transition. Cultural conservatism – which once preached an authoritarian, disciplinarian approach to parenting – is giving way to more modern, child-centred and attachment-based approaches as Latvia seeks to shed its Soviet influences. Still, the Latvian family structure revolves around the nuclear family, with a strong emphasis on personal ambition and academic achievement.

Incentives for parents in Latvia

With an inclusive approach to childcare, Latvia offers childcare incentives to anyone living in the country regardless of their citizenship. Parents receive a lump sum of €421.17/US$478 on the birth of each child. Then, to encourage parents to have more children, Latvia provides a general monthly allowance to parents, increasing as the number of children in the family increases also. This starts at €25/US$28 for one child, increasing to €100/US$113 for two children, €225/US$255 for three, and then an additional €100/US$113 for each subsequent child.

 

7/ Hungary

Family Relocation Score: 5.74/10

Hungary takes a community-first approach to child-rearing. Whether in the big cities or rural areas, communities come together to support young parents, with various traditions including komatál (where friends and family help with the cooking) and ringató (where new parents come together to sing songs to their babies).

An affordable country with a strong sense of culture and history, Hungary offers everything a new parent could ask for. With up to three years of maternity leave available, ample childcare facilities across the country and the lowest cost of rent in the OECD, parents in Hungary can expect to live well while raising their children.

Incentives for parents in Hungary

Amidst a declining birth rate, Hungary is putting a lot of effort into supporting new parents, and especially mothers. Parents who have, or even pledge to have children can receive a grant of up to HUF 10 million/US$28,000. For those who have three or more children, the government will provide generous tax breaks and even subsidise their mortgage. However, it has been noted that these incentives only apply to heterosexual couples, and only full citizens of Hungary may be able to access the most lucrative benefits.

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8/ Japan

Family Relocation Score: 5.63/10

Japan needs no introduction. It’s the land of incredible technology, fast-paced culture and ancient traditions. It’s also a mainstay on the William Russell, making into our list of the healthiest countries, the best countries for healthcare, the best diets, the best for education and even the best drinking cultures.

And of course, famously, it also has the highest life expectancy in the world. There are very few downsides to life in Japan – and, for new parents, it may just be one of the best places in the world to raise a family.

But, Japan is also known for its exceptionally low and still declining birth rate – just 6.98 per 1,000 in 2024 (compared to 11.99 for the US). With a rapidly aging population, Japan has recently started to relax its immigration policies while also incentivising young people to have more children. This has opened the door to expats looking to start a family in a country like no other. With the highest academic performance in the OECD and phenomenal employment opportunities, you may find Japan to be the dream destination for your family.

Incentives for parents in Japan

Japan is throwing everything it has at new parents in an effort to stem its declining birth rate. This begins with a hefty ¥500,000/US$3,500 bonus to all mothers giving birth, which helps to cover hospital expenses and infancy costs. Parents will then receive ¥15,000/US$105 per month until their child reaches three years old, followed by ¥10,000/US$70 until the child reaches 15 (and this increases to ¥30,000/US$210 for the third and all subsequent children).

 

9/ France

Family Relocation Score: 5.63/10

Parenting in France is almost like a national sport. French parents take their responsibilities very seriously, providing structured households and clear routines for their children in an effort to breed a sense of confidence, individuality and organisation. With a keen emphasis on work-life balance, the French are proudly hands-on parents, supporting their children throughout their journey to adulthood.

All of this takes place in the beautiful background of France, a country known for its natural beauty, good food and rich culture. France may not top any ‘best of’ lists – educational achievement is somewhat average and the cost of living is high – but the pay-off is living in a country that offers unlimited freedom to shape your child’s life.

Incentives for parents in France

France spends more public money on children than any other OECD country, but how does this impact individual parents? Well, first there is a €950/US$1,080 Prime à la Naissance or ‘birth grant’. This is then followed by multiple tiers of child benefits depending on the parents’ incomes, including an allocation forfaitaire (‘flat rate allowance’) and complément familial (‘family income supplement’), among many others. France also offers tax incentives and child care subsidies to parents.

Planning on starting a family abroad?

Check out our expat guide to giving birth abroad

10/ Estonia

Family Relocation Score: 5.56/10

Estonia is a storied and fascinating country that has come alive with technology in recent years, attracting a new breed of expat looking to marry a low cost of living with the opportunity to work in the fast-paced world of tech. But despite its rapid ascendancy, Estonia has held on to its cultural traditions around child rearing – particularly when it comes to equality between parents, and an emphasis on teaching children to become independent and sociable.

While perhaps not the first destination on everyone’s list, Estonia offers everything a new parent could ask for. It is among the least-stressed countries in the world, has one of the highest maternity leave allowances, and even provides a scheme to help expats marrying Estonian citizens to find a new career. While working life can be tougher in Estonia than in other countries, expat parents will find the low cost of living helps them to achieve a work-life balance that is rewarding nonetheless.

Incentives for parents in Estonia

Estonia goes all-out to help new parents with a comprehensive package of benefits. This includes a €320/US$363 birth grant, plus a €60/US$68 per month ‘mother’s salary’. There are then seven different types of parental leave and six different types of allowances that can be applied for from the state, with maternity leave beginning up to 70 days before the end of a pregnancy. Estonia is also making huge strides in breastfeeding equality, ending the taboo of breastfeeding at work or in public.

The full list of the best countries to live in the world for families

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Top tips from experienced expats relocating with their children

Moving abroad with children is one of the most rewarding experiences in life, and is becoming more common among families who see living abroad as an enriching and educational experience.

But moving abroad with children is not an easy task. Apart from financial factors, families must temper their emotions and expectations in order to ensure a successful transition to life abroad.

Where will your children go to school? How will they settle in? Will they make friends? How will relocation affect their mental health? And how can you make sure children get the most from their expat experience, whether you’re moving permanently or temporarily?

To provide inspiration and reassurance, we’ve spoken to several experts to glean some top tips for families relocating with kids. These expats have done it before, and so can you – but as you’ll see, it all comes to down to effective planning and the right mindset.

Clara Wiggins Author of the Expat Partner’s Survival Guide	Theodora Sutcliffe Freelance journalist and nomad	Jaimie Seaton Writer, journalist and editor from USA

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Top tips for expats relocating with kids

1. Involve your children when researching places to live
2. Understand how healthcare works in your new country
3. Find out more about education and schools in the area
4. Be aware of safety in your new neighbourhood
5. Make your new house feel like home
6. Keep in touch with friends and create a routine to help settle in

Tip 1/ Getting ready to move

Ask any seasoned expat and they’ll agree it’s important to get the kids involved in researching and preparing to live abroad. 

Therefore, it’s important to talk to your children while you are researching places to live and understand their feelings. They might be excited about the move, but if they’re worried, listen to what they have to say and discuss the issues with them.

• If at all possible, visit the place you’re moving to ahead of time – you can even give older children the chance to give their input when choosing a home.
• Try to research the weather patterns of your chosen destination – moving abroad where it is sunny can be more appealing to younger members of the family!
• We also recommend researching local and traditional celebrations in your new destination. Christmas and New Year is traditionally a time to be spent with friends and family. If it is the most celebrated time of year in your family, imagine your first Christmas in your new country where you do not know anybody, you may not even be able to buy a Christmas tree and all the gifts sent by post have not yet arrived.

Clara Wiggins, along with her husband and their two daughters, have lived in a host of locations around the world. She suggests preparing children for moving by involving them in home searches and school visits. Google Earth and Streetview can be useful too, she says.

If you are not able to take children on a look-see, I would recommend doing a video for them, or even a live Facetime or Skype so they can get an idea of where they are going.

Clara Wiggins

Author of the Expat Partner’s Survival Guide

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Tip 2/ Research children’s healthcare

Concerns about your children’s health will be one of the items at the top of the agenda when you move to a new country. It’s important to research what’s available when you choose your location:

• Will your child be able to access state healthcare and what is the standard of that healthcare?
• Will you be living within easy reach of doctors’ surgeries and hospitals?
• If your child needs specific medication or access to ongoing treatments, how accessible will these be?
• If the company you’re working for is providing health insurance, will it cover your children?

Once you get to your new country, be aware that many health issues can be prevented by using common sense. Make sure that your children understand safety rules about drinking water; for example, can they brush their teeth with tap water? The same applies to food safety, especially at street stalls and markets. Call local hospitals or doctors, and seek advice from other expats via online forums and Facebook groups.

But given the incredibly varied quality and availability of public healthcare from country to country, not all expats will move to a location that offers reliable local medical services. You may even be expected to foot the bill for private healthcare, so having international health insurance cover in place is vital before you go anywhere.

While her family was posted in St. Lucia, Clara knew that if there was a serious health incident, they would be medically evacuated under the terms of her private insurance plan. But she also suggests preparing for the unexpected. Clara points out that it is also important to know what the procedure is when you arrive at the hospital, for example, do you need to pay for treatments up front?

I always recommend doing a ‘dry run’ to your local emergency department or hospital and making sure its location is in your GPS and the number is in your phone.

Clara Wiggins

Author of the Expat Partner’s Survival Guide

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Learn more about the differences between healthcare systems

Tip 3/ Education for expat children

Expat parents have a couple of choices for education for school-age children:

• Local schools
• International schools

Again, it’s important to do your research before making a decision on where to live. Whether you choose to send your child to a local school may depend on the standard of state education in the country you’re moving to.

However, one advantage of doing this is that it will undoubtedly help your child learn the language of their new home – something that will stand them in good stead in the future.

On the other hand, an international school will enable your children to meet others in a similar situation to them, which may help them settle in.

Also consider schools when deciding what time of year to make the move – it may be difficult for your child to start their new school in the middle of a year, so you might want to arrange your move to coincide with the start of a new school year.

Research school term times and enrolment procedures. Even in your home country, starting a child in a new school in the middle of the school year can be challenging. Imagine starting them in a new school in a new country in the same circumstances. Try to make it easier for your kids to feel at home in the new country.

Which country has the best education system?

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Tip 4/ Think of safety

Make sure your children understand safety issues in their new home, for example, which neighbourhoods are safe, whether it’s safe to travel alone and any natural hazards to watch out for. 

In Bali, where Theodora and her son are based, the beach is a great place to meet other kids but there are dangers to be aware of. “Make sure you and your children understand water safety: the currents in the sea are no laughing matter,” she says.

Finding a place to live in the right neighbourhood is an exercise in patience. It’s also an investment in time that many people simply do not have when they arrive. But it need not be a minefield. It’s far easier to have all the data presented as a clear comparison of available properties in your city. Services vary by country, but many real estate websites have robust search engines that allow you to customise your search for a home.

With the right pre-move preparations and support from relocation agents, most expats settle in well during their first year; the majority go on to enjoy a richly rewarding experience. But the importance of finding the right place to live in the right neighbourhood cannot be overstated.

Also make your kids aware of any cultural issues that could get them into tricky situations. Seaton also ensured that her children understood cultural differences before they moved to Thailand from the US.

Frame the move as a great opportunity and adventure, not as a challenge. Do research as a family of your new home, teach your kids about the culture and look up fun things to do together in the new country.

Theodora Sutcliffe

Freelance journalist and nomad

“The main things we had to discuss with them were the strict rules around the royal family. It’s against the law to insult the royals, especially the then-king, who has since passed away.” When it comes to healthcare, Jaimie found local services to be excellent. “The medical care in Singapore (and Thailand) is far superior to the US.”

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Tip 5/ Make your new house a home

Before you ship your possessions to a new country, even letting your children make small decisions about what to take helps them feel in control and a part of the move. Younger children may become distressed seeing all their toys and possessions being taken away; make sure to explain to them that they’re just being moved to their new bedroom.

When packing your survival bags for the move, ask your kids to pack their three desert island essentials to keep them entertained on the journey or while they await the delivery of the rest of their belongings. You can also ease the transition by bringing familiar things from home on the plane, rather than waiting for them to arrive later.

We brought my younger son’s fairy lights for his bedroom, and we also brought his duvet and pillow covers. The first few nights in a new place can be hard, so making their rooms feel like home is one way to help.

William Cooper

Marketing Director at William Russell

When you finally arrive at your destination, catch up on some sleep, take some time to relax, and explore your new surroundings. You can now concentrate on making your new house a home and settling back into family life.

You’ll need your energy for when your belongings arrive; it’s a good idea to get the children’s rooms sorted first. Fill these rooms with familiar things to make them feel more comfortable in their new environment. Get older children and teenagers involved in unpacking their own belongings.

By allowing them to decide where their belongings go and decorate their own room, they can build some excitement and feelings of positivity about being in a new city. And don’t forget to celebrate the move as a family. You can even create a new family ritual to mark the happy day.

 

Tip 6/ Settling in and enjoying your new life

While some children will adapt easily, others may need more time. If your child is missing friends back home, video calls are good ways of keeping in touch.

Writing letters helped Clara’s daughter. “Very few of these got sent, so what I actually think she was doing was just processing her feelings and this is the best way she could do it.”

To keep a familiar routine, Clara’s tip is to continue doing sports and hobbies your child already enjoys, “In our case this has been football and swimming, which has also given them a chance to meet children away from the school environment.”

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Start your new life abroad with confidence

Moving to another country can be challenging. Moving with children is an even greater challenge. That’s why it helps to be prepared for your big move.

At William Russell, we specialise in providing international health insurance to expat families like yours. With over 30 years’ experience working in over 180 countries, we can help to ensure you and your family have access to the medical care you need, wherever you choose to settle.

And, if you’re thinking of starting a new family abroad, our Gold plan includes cover for private maternity treatment to help you get the best care for you and your newborn.

Speak to us today to find out more about how international health insurance could support you, or get a quote online in under two minutes.

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Terms & conditions apply to our insurance products and services. You can find full details of what our plans cover (and what they don’t cover) in our plan agreements.

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Methodology

We used Google Flights to find the cheapest one-way ticket from London to each country. We filtered the results by economy for one person and used the 24th of November as the flight date. Data was collected on 24/01/2024.

We used Numbeo to find the following data for each country: monthly rent for three bedroom apartment in the city centre, monthly rent for three bedroom apartment outside the city centre, cost to buy an apartment in the city centre (per square feet), cost to buy apartment outside the city centre (per square feet), and average price of essential utilities.

We used the OECD to find each country’s average net childcare cost as of 2022. We filtered this data by ‘Couple, average wage’ and ‘% of household income’.

We used Webometrics to find the number of top 500 universities in each country as of the July 2023 edition.

We used the OECD to find the total length of paid maternity, parental and home care leave for each country as of 2022. We also used OECD data to find the attainment levels in science, reading and mathematics among 15-year-olds in each country, taking an average across these subjects.

The annual work hours in each country were also taken from OECD data.

We used Tripadvisor to find the number of attractions in each country listed as “good for kids”. We normalised this against the population of each country using data from the CIA World Factbook for a rate per 100,000 people.

Data was collected between 25/01/2024 and 08/02/2024.

Finally, we used the factors (childcare costs, top universities, maternity and paternity leave, average working hours, child-friendly attractions, educational attainment, cost of a one-way flight, rental price in and out of the city centre, apartment price in and out of the city centre, average utility price). We normalised each factor out of 10 before taking an average of those scores to get an overall score for each country.

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