Family Life Around The World: Cultural Differences

Family matters almost everywhere, but what family life looks like can vary considerably between cultures.

Ideas about parenting, marriage, childcare, education, family values and relationships with older relatives are shaped by a mixture of history, religion, social expectations and individual circumstances. These attitudes can also change over time, and families within the same country may have very different experiences.

For people living abroad, these differences can become part of everyday life. A move to another country may introduce your family to new traditions, different approaches to raising children and unfamiliar expectations around family relationships.

In this article, we explore how family culture differs around the world, and some of the things expat families may notice when living abroad.

In this article on family culture around the world

What is family culture?
Family life around the world
What cultural differences might expat families experience?
Raising children across cultures
How can expat families adapt to a different family culture?

Mother and father standing next to the lake with their two daughters, they are playing with seaweed and having a fun time together in Scotland

What is family culture?

Family culture describes the values, traditions, expectations and everyday behaviours that shape how a family lives and relates to one another.

It can influence everything from how children are raised and how families spend time together to attitudes towards marriage, education, independence and caring for older relatives. Family culture can be shaped by a person’s country, religion, community, family history and individual experiences.

Family culture can also evolve as families and their circumstances change. Moving abroad, for example, may introduce new traditions and experiences while families continue to maintain some of their existing customs.

Family culture is not the same everywhere

It is important to remember that cultural attitudes are not fixed rules. Family life can vary considerably between countries, regions, generations, religions and individual households.

Urban and rural communities may have very different experiences, while migration and international families can bring several cultural traditions together.

Family life around the world

What might family life look like when you move to another part of the world? The answer can differ in everything from the role of extended family to expectations around marriage, independence and raising children.

The examples below offer a snapshot of family life in different regions and some of the influences you may encounter as an expat.

Western Europe and North America

Family life across Western Europe and North America is diverse, with households ranging from couples and children to single-parent, multigenerational and same-sex families.

Ideas about individual independence have traditionally played an important role in some Western societies, although Western family values vary considerably between countries, generations and individual families. Children may be encouraged to develop independence from a relatively young age, including making decisions about education, work and where they live.

However, the idea that Western families are universally individualistic or less connected to extended relatives is too simplistic. Family relationships remain important, while the way those relationships are maintained can vary considerably between households and generations.

Attitudes towards marriage and parenting have also changed. Cohabitation, single parenthood and same-sex marriage are more widely accepted in many Western countries than they were in previous generations, while expectations around sharing paid work and childcare have also evolved.

For example, the UK has seen changes in household and family structures over the past decade. In 2025, cohabiting couples accounted for 17.6% of families, while lone-parent families accounted for 16%. Young adults aged 20 to 34 were also more likely to live with their parents than they were in 2015. These changes illustrate why even within Western countries, ideas about independence and family life continue to evolve.

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Latin America

Family relationships are central to life in many Latin American communities, with extended family often playing an important role alongside parents and children.

Grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins may be closely involved in family life, while major events such as weddings, birthdays and religious celebrations can bring large groups of relatives together.

The importance of family does not necessarily mean that every household follows traditional family roles. Attitudes towards marriage, work, parenting and gender roles have also changed across the region.

For families moving to Latin America, one noticeable difference may be the role that extended family and wider social networks play in everyday life.

Mexico provides one example of the variety of family structures found in the region. Research into Mexican families has identified both nuclear and extended family households, with extended family arrangements remaining an important part of family life.

East Asia

Family life in countries such as China, Japan and South Korea has been influenced by long-standing traditions around respect for older generations, education and family responsibility.

These influences remain important, although household structures and expectations are changing. Urbanisation, lower birth rates, changing attitudes towards marriage and increased participation by women in the workforce have all contributed to changes in family life across the region.

For expat families, differences may be particularly noticeable around education, children’s independence and expectations of family responsibility.

Japan provides a clear example of how family life can change over time. The country’s marriage rate has fallen substantially since the 1970s, while people are marrying later and the proportion of people who remain unmarried has increased. The OECD also reports that Japan’s fertility rate has remained below the OECD average for decades.

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South Asia

In countries such as India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal, family relationships and extended kinship networks can play an important role in social and cultural life.

Multigenerational households remain part of family life in many communities, although nuclear households are also increasingly common, particularly in urban areas.

Marriage, religion, education and relationships between generations can carry significant cultural importance. At the same time, attitudes differ considerably between countries, communities and generations.

Families moving to South Asia may find that extended family relationships and community connections play a more visible role in everyday life than they are accustomed to.

India highlights how varied these experiences can be. Pew Research Center found that 54% of people in India lived in extended-family households, although living arrangements vary considerably between communities and regions.

Middle East

Family and community relationships are important across many Middle Eastern societies, although family life varies significantly between countries and communities.

Extended family networks can play an important role in social life, while religion and cultural traditions may influence marriage, celebrations, parenting and expectations around family responsibilities.

At the same time, family life across the region is changing. Urbanisation, international migration, higher levels of education and changing working patterns have all influenced household structures and expectations.

Expat families may find that family gatherings, hospitality and relationships with relatives form a particularly visible part of social life.

The UAE provides a useful example for expat families. Its large international population means families may find themselves navigating several cultural approaches to family life at the same time. Research into expatriate families in the UAE highlights how families can combine aspects of their home culture with experiences of living in the host country.

Africa

Africa contains an enormous range of cultures, languages and family traditions, so there is no single African approach to family life.

In many communities, however, extended family and wider social networks can play an important role. Grandparents and other relatives may be closely involved in childcare, while elders can have an important role in passing on knowledge, traditions and family history.

In some communities, family support extends beyond the immediate household, with relatives and neighbours playing an important role in everyday life.

For families moving to an African country, understanding local customs and building relationships within the community can be an important part of settling into everyday life.

South Africa illustrates how varied family and household structures can be. Statistics South Africa found that, in 2023, 33.6% of households were classified as extended households, while 41.5% were nuclear households. Three-generation households accounted for 13.6% of households.

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Family culture changes over time

Cultural attitudes towards family life can change considerably over time. Urbanisation, migration, education, economic changes and changing attitudes towards marriage and parenthood can all influence how families live.

Research from Pew Research Center shows that these changes don’t happen in the same way everywhere. Across 27 countries surveyed, a median of 58% of people said family ties had become weaker over the previous 20 years. But this wasn’t universal: majorities in Indonesia and the Philippines said family ties had become stronger.

This is one reason why it is difficult to describe a country’s family culture as one fixed set of values. Family life can change between generations and differ significantly between households, even within the same community.

Areas where family culture can differ

Family culture isn’t simply about where someone comes from. Families in the same country can have very different traditions and expectations. However, there are some areas of family life where cultural differences may be particularly noticeable.

These differences are not rules that apply to every family. They are useful areas to consider when you’re getting to know family life in another country.

Family structure

Whether nuclear, extended or multigenerational households are common

Childcare

The role played by parents, grandparents, relatives or the wider community

Independence

When children are expected to become independent and how much freedom they have

Education

Expectations around academic achievement and parental involvement

Marriage

The roles of individuals, families and religious traditions in relationships and marriage

Gender roles

Expectations around work, childcare, household responsibilities and the roles of different family members

Caring for older relatives

Expectations around supporting older family members, including whether they live independently, with relatives or receive support from family

Religion and traditions

The influence of religious beliefs, ceremonies and cultural traditions

Family gatherings

How often extended families meet and the importance placed on family events

Community

The role of relatives, neighbours and wider social networks

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What cultural differences might expat families experience?

The differences above can become particularly noticeable in everyday family life. Here are some of the areas where expat families may notice a different approach than they’re used to:

1/ Parenting

You may notice different expectations around children’s independence, discipline, behaviour and relationships with adults. In some families and cultures, children may be expected to show greater respect towards parents, teachers or older people, while other families may encourage children to question adults and express their opinions more openly.

2/ Grandparents and extended family

In some cultures, grandparents may play a major role in everyday childcare and family life. For an expat family living thousands of miles from home, that support network may no longer be available, which can change how families manage childcare and spend time together. Expectations around how often children see grandparents and other relatives can also vary between cultures.

3/ Education

Expectations around academic achievement, homework, school discipline and the role of parents in education can differ considerably. You may also encounter different school structures, curricula and teaching methods, with some placing greater emphasis on exams and academic achievement, while others focus more on creativity, collaboration or independent learning. For expat families, these differences may be particularly noticeable when choosing a school.

4/ Mealtimes and family time

Something as simple as what families eat, when they eat and how much time they spend together can feel different. In some cultures, meals may be an important opportunity for the wider family to come together, while in others, family time may be more focused on the immediate household. Expectations around food, hosting, visiting relatives and celebrating special occasions can also vary.

5/ Privacy and independence

Expectations around independence can also vary. In some families, young adults may be encouraged to move out and live independently at an earlier age, while in others, living with parents into adulthood is a normal and valued part of family life.

6/ Religion and traditions

Religious festivals, ceremonies and family traditions can shape how people celebrate important occasions, spend time with relatives and mark milestones such as marriage and the birth of a child. Moving abroad may also mean adapting to unfamiliar holidays, customs or expectations around family celebrations.

How migration changes family life

Moving abroad can change more than your address. It can change the way your family spends time together, the support network around you and even the expectations placed on parents and children.

For families who have previously lived close to grandparents, siblings or other relatives, relocating overseas can mean losing the informal support that comes with having family nearby. Childcare, school runs, family celebrations and everyday advice may suddenly look very different when relatives live thousands of miles away.

At the same time, living abroad can introduce families to different approaches to childcare, education, independence, marriage and family responsibilities. You may find that some traditions from home remain important while others naturally change as your family settles into its new surroundings.

For some families, this creates a blend of cultures. Parents may maintain customs from their home country while children grow up speaking another language, attending an international school or forming friendships across cultures.

Migration can therefore change not only where a family lives, but also how it understands and expresses its own family culture.

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Raising children across cultures

Children who spend a significant part of their childhood growing up outside their parents’ home culture are sometimes referred to as third-culture kids. Their experiences can involve elements of both their parents’ culture and the culture of the country where they live, alongside a shared international culture developed through their experiences abroad.

Settling into a new country can take time, particularly for children. Research into third-culture kids has found that family relationships, cohesion and support can be associated with how children adjust to life in a new country.

Parents can help by involving children in the move, maintaining familiar routines where possible and giving them opportunities to ask questions about their new surroundings.

Adapting to a new culture doesn’t mean abandoning the family’s original culture. Many international families find their own way of combining traditions from home with new experiences abroad.

Family culture shock when living abroad

Some cultural differences are easy to notice when you move abroad. Others can take longer to recognise because they relate to expectations you may have always considered normal.

Family life can be one of these areas. You may find that people have different expectations around how children should behave, when young adults should become independent, how much involvement grandparents have in childcare or how often extended family members spend time together.

These differences can feel particularly challenging when they affect your own family. A parenting approach that seems perfectly normal to you may be viewed differently by teachers, relatives or other parents. Similarly, expectations around family gatherings, children’s independence or caring for older relatives may not match what you are used to.

These differences don’t necessarily mean that one approach is right and another is wrong. Understanding the cultural context can make unfamiliar situations easier to navigate.

For families preparing to move abroad, it can help to learn about local customs before they arrive, while also recognising that their own family may develop a combination of traditions from home and their new country.

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How can expat families adapt to a different family culture?

Adapting to a different family culture doesn’t mean changing everything about your own family life. There is no single way to define family, so it can help to approach unfamiliar customs with curiosity and decide what works for your family.

Learn before you judge: A family structure, parenting approach or behaviour that seems unusual may have a different cultural context. Learning about local expectations can help you understand the reasons behind it.
Talk to your children: Children may notice differences at school or among friends before their parents do. Give them space to talk about what feels familiar or unfamiliar, and help them see cultural differences as something they can learn from.
Keep important traditions from home: Familiar celebrations, food, language and routines can help children maintain a sense of continuity after a move. At the same time, respecting local traditions can help the whole family settle into their new surroundings.
Build a local support network: Friends, neighbours, school communities and other expat families can all help you understand how everyday life works in your new country, including expectations around parenting, education and family relationships.
Expect your family to develop its own culture: International families don’t have to choose between two cultures. Over time, you may create new traditions that combine elements of both.

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Frequently asked questions about family culture around the world

How does family culture differ around the world?

Family culture can differ in areas such as household structure, parenting, childcare, marriage, gender roles, education and relationships between generations.

However, cultural differences should not be treated as fixed rules. There can be considerable differences between families in the same country, and family life can change significantly between generations.

What are some common family values across cultures?

Values such as caring for children, supporting relatives, maintaining family relationships and celebrating important milestones are found across many cultures.

The way these values are expressed can differ. For example, caring for an older relative might mean living in the same household in one family and providing regular financial or practical support from a distance in another.

How does culture affect parenting?

Culture can influence expectations around children’s independence, discipline, education, communication and relationships with adults.

Parents living abroad may notice that practices they consider normal are approached differently in their new country. Understanding the cultural context can help families adapt while deciding which traditions they want to maintain from home.

How does moving abroad affect family life?

Moving abroad can change a family’s routines, support network and relationships with relatives. Families may need to adjust to a new school system, language, social environment and cultural expectations.

It can also create opportunities for families to experience new traditions, learn languages and develop a broader understanding of different cultures.

What is a third-culture kid?

A third-culture kid is generally someone who spends a significant part of their childhood growing up outside their parents’ home culture. They may develop a sense of identity influenced by both their parents’ culture and the different cultures in which they have lived.

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Moving abroad with your family?

Understanding your new country’s culture is only one part of preparing for life overseas. Families relocating abroad also need to think about practical considerations such as healthcare, schooling, visas and staying connected with family back home.

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In this article on family culture around the world