Raising kids abroad means selecting a place that’s safe, affordable, and already set up for family life. This guide to the best countries to raise a family in 2025 brings together all the factors that matters most, including safety, schools, healthcare, parental leave and childcare, cost of living, and work-life balance, so you can compare real-world trade-offs, not just headlines. We also highlight the best cities to raise a family in the world for those who prefer an urban shortlist.

Our rankings synthesize trusted benchmarks (peace and safety indices, PISA education results, liveability scores, and so forth) and pair them with on-the-ground details like rent ranges, childcare availability, and language considerations. We also take into consideraton the available visas and residency options that accommodate spouses and dependent children, so you’ll know how to move legally and access schools and healthcare from day one.

How do we measure the best countries to raise a family?

We focused on what most families actually care about when thinking about a place to relocate to or settle in:

What we looked at:

  • Safety and stability: feeling secure where you live.
  • Education: how well school systems help young kids and teens thrive.
  • Healthcare access and quality: getting medical care when you need it at an affordable cost.
  • Parental leave and childcare: time at home to bond with your children and to have support when you do end up returning to work.
  • Affordability: accommodation and other daily costs for a family.
  • Liveability: cities and suburbs that are well-run and clean with reliable infrastructure.
  • Work-life balance: time for family life in between managing a career.

Sources we referenced include:

14 Best Countries to Raise a Family in 2025

1. Finland

Helsinki Cathedral in Autumn Sunset - best countries to raise kids in
  • Safety: Top 10 (GPI 2025).
  • Education: Above-OECD in science. Strong reading. Resilient schooling system (PISA 2022).
  • Healthcare: Universal, publicly funded via the national Kela system (Finland’s Social Insurance system).
  • Parental leave: 160 workdays per parent (320 total), with flexible sharing.
  • Happiness: #1 globally (2025).
  • Cost of living: Moderate to high by EU standards, especially in Helsinki (Numbeo 2025).
  • Best cities for families: Helsinki and Tampere.
  • Family-friendly visas: Straightforward family reunification routes via Migri (the official Finnish immigration service). Work-to-residence pathways for skilled talent.

Why it works for families: Finland makes everyday parenting feel unhurried and safe. Primary schools emphasise curiosity over cramming, with small class sizes and supportive teachers, and teens have clear routes into well-regarded universities in Helsinki and Tampere. Weekends are simple to plan: forest kindergartens are common, Nuuksio National Park is a short hop for lakes and trails, and city libraries like Oodi double as community hubs with maker spaces and story hours. Helsinki Regional Transport Authority’s (HSL) integrated metro–tram–rail keeps commutes short, pram-friendly, and predictable. Healthcare is universal and straightforward to navigate for paediatrics and vaccinations, and subsidised daycare softens the cost curve in the early years. If you relocate on a work or startup permit, family reunification is clearly signposted so spouses and children can access schools and healthcare from day one.

2. Denmark

Nyhavn, København, Denmark - best family-orientated countries to live in
  • Safety: Top 10 (GPI 2025).
  • Education: Solid PISA outcomes; strong student well-being measures.
  • Healthcare: Tax-funded, universal access.
  • Parental leave: Up to 52 weeks total. 11 weeks non-transferable per working parent.
  • Happiness: #2.
  • Cost of living: High in specifically Copenhagen and Aarhus (Numbeo 2025).
  • Best cities for families: Copenhagen tops the list.
  • Family-friendly visas: Pay Limit Scheme and skilled worker routes. Spouses and children can accompany.

Why it works for families: Denmark is built for childhood independence: quiet streets, protected bike lanes, and playgrounds on nearly every block. Schools prize well-being alongside academics, and there’s a deep bench of English-taught options at secondary level. Families spend summers at Amager Strandpark’s city beach, rainy Saturdays at the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, and zip across Copenhagen on the driverless Metro with a stroller in tow. Daycare quality is high and fees are capped; parental leave is long and shareable so both parents can be present in the first year. The culture of on-time departures (and on-time dinners) keeps evenings calm. Skilled routes like the Pay Limit Scheme make it easy to bring partners and kids, with quick registration for schools and healthcare.

3. Sweden

Semi-cloudy day over a Swedish city alongside a river - family-friendly countries
  • Safety: High (GPI 2025 – European upper tier).
  • Education: Above-OECD in math, reading, science (PISA 2022).
  • Healthcare: Follows the Nordic model of universal coverage funded by taxes. Medical care is delivered by regional/municipal services with low out-of-pocket costs.
  • Parental leave: 480 days per child. Recent flexibility allows some transfer to relatives.
  • Happiness: #4.
  • Cost of living: High in Stockholm/Malmö; plan for premium childcare options (Numbeo 2025).
  • Best cities for families: Stockholm and Gothenburg.
  • Family-friendly visas: Standard work permit with family migration (spouse/children).

Why it works for families: Sweden gives kids room to grow: inclusive, well-resourced schools; widespread preschool places; and a long, flexible parental-leave model that families actually use. Stockholm mixes culture and nature. Visit the Vasa Museum for awe or ferry across the archipelago for low-effort adventures. Tickets bought via the country’s official transport system, Storstockholms Lokaltrafik, cover metro, buses, and boats so activities stay manageable. Healthcare is universal; children’s dental and preventive care are well covered, and English is widely spoken while you ease into Swedish. After-school clubs, music schools, and municipal sports programmes make socialising easy. Standard work permits include family migration, letting spouses and dependent children join with access to schools and paediatric care.

4. Netherlands

A scenic view of Amsterdam's iconic canals lined with historic buildings and boats under a clear blue sky - best countries for families
  • Safety: High (GPI 2025; top 20).
  • Education: Strong math skills and average science with reading slightly below OECD mean (PISA 2022).
  • Healthcare: Mandatory basic expat health insurance for residents (Zvw).
  • Parental leave: Up to 26 weeks parental leave, 9 weeks paid at 70% in the first year.
  • Happiness: #5 (tied).
  • Cost of living: High in the Randstad region (which includes Amsterdam, Utrecht, the Hague and Rotterdam). (Numbeo 2025).
  • Best cities for families: Amsterdam, Utrecht and The Hague.
  • Family-friendly visas: Highly Skilled Migrant and EU Blue Card (also known as the EU residence permit). Partners/children can join with a path to permanent residency and citizenship.

Why it works for families: Few places are as child-centred as the Netherlands. School runs by bike, pocket parks everywhere, and a culture that expects kids to move around safely. Public schools are strong, with many bilingual tracks; international schools are plentiful in Utrecht, The Hague and Amsterdam. Weekends swing between the Rijksmuseum/Van Gogh Museum and fresh-air escapes to Hoge Veluwe National Park or Scheveningen beach. The country’s national rail (called the NS) makes day trips realistic without a car, and cities are compact enough to keep after-school activities close. Expanded paid parental leave and kinderopvangtoeslag (childcare benefits) reduce pressure on the family budget. The Highly Skilled Migrant and EU Blue Card routes are well-trodden and family-friendly.

5. Norway

Green hills in Norway - best family-friendly countries
  • Safety: Top 15 (GPI 2025, consistently scores very high).
  • Education: Solid OECD performer with strong English proficiency in schools.
  • Healthcare: Universal system funded by taxation and robust primary medical care.
  • Parental leave: 49 weeks at 100% or 59 weeks at 80% pay.
  • Happiness: #6.
  • Cost of living: Very high in especially Oslo and Bergen (Numbeo 2025).
  • Best cities for families: Oslo and Stavanger.
  • Family-friendly visas: Skilled Worker and EU/EEA rules. Family immigration for spouse/kids.

Why it works for families: If you want an outdoors-first childhood with serious state support, Norway delivers. Babies arrive to some of the world’s longest paid-leave options; toddlers head into high-quality preschools; and older kids spend weekends hiking city forests like Marka or exploring fjords and mountains. In Oslo, modern museums (like MUNCH) sit minutes from trailheads, and Ruter’s unified tickets cover metro, trams, buses and ferries so school, sports, and music lessons are easy to juggle. Healthcare is universal and predictable, and social trust keeps neighbourhoods calm. Skilled Worker routes include family immigration provisions that give spouses and children clear access to schools and healthcare.

6. Canada

Reflective view of mountain on Moraine Lake, Canada - best family-friendly countries
  • Safety: Top 15 (GPI 2025).
  • Education: Above the OECD average in all three domains of reading, math and writing (PISA 2022).
  • Healthcare: Universal, publicly funded (“Medicare”).
  • Parental leave: Employment Insurance (EI) parental benefits (standard or extended), with job protection.
  • Happiness: #15.
  • Cost of living: High in Toronto and Vancouver but moderate in mid-sized cities (Numbeo 2025).
  • Best cities for families: Vancouver, Ottawa and Calgary.
  • Family-friendly visas: Express Entry allows spouse/dependents; family sponsorship pathways to Canada permanent residency.

Why it works for families: Canada’s family rhythm is gentle: safe suburbs and leafy neighbourhoods, big public libraries, and community sports that don’t require heroic commutes. Public schools are strong, with bilingual (English/French) tracks in many districts; University of Toronto and McGill anchor higher-ed aspirations. Kids grow up outdoors, tackling city parks like Stanley Park during the week and national parks like Banff on long weekends. Urban transit keeps improving (SkyTrain, TTC), and paediatric care is predictable under the publicly funded system. Many families arrive via Express Entry with spouse and children included; founders can pursue the Start-Up Visa, a direct PR route that brings family along.

Turn your venture into Canadian residency for you and your family with the Canada Startup Visa.

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7. New Zealand

Mount Taranaki in New Zealand - best countries for families
  • Safety: Top 5 (GPI 2025).
  • Education: OECD average-plus in reading. Strong outdoor-learning culture.
  • Healthcare: Public system with subsidized care. Private healthcare insurance top-ups common.
  • Parental leave: Paid parental leave scheme with job protection and partner leave available.
  • Happiness: #11.
  • Cost of living: High in Auckland and Wellington specifically (Numbeo 2025)
  • Best cities for families: Auckland and Wellington.
  • Family-friendly visas: New Zealand Active Investor Plus Visa, an investment-based pathway with options for accompanying family members. The Skilled Migrant/Residence permit also allows you to bring along your spouse and kids.

Why it works for families: New Zealand offers a slower, outdoorsy childhood with strong community schools and kind teachers. Families head to Abel Tasman National Park for gentle coastal tracks, learn hands-on science at Te Papa, and spend after-school hours in city green belts and on easy beach walks. Auckland Transport ties buses, trains, and ferries together, so club sports and music lessons are simple to reach. Healthcare is public with low costs for kids, and early-childhood education is widely available. Skilled Migrant resident visas let you include partner and dependents in one application. Investors can look at the New Zealand Active Investor Plus Visa for a family-friendly residency track.

8. Switzerland

Zürich, Switzerland at sunrise - best countries for raising kids
  • Safety: Top 5 (GPI 2025).
  • Education: Above-OECD in math and science (PISA 2022).
  • Healthcare: Compulsory basic insurance alongside universal access.
  • Parental leave: Federal paternity leave and maternity leave is approximately 14 weeks but tends to vary by canton.
  • Happiness: #10.
  • Cost of living: Very high in Zurich and Geneva (Numbeo 2025).
  • Best cities for families: Zurich and Geneva.
  • Family-friendly visas: Family reunification (spouse/kids) for both temporary residence permits (B permit) and permanent settlement permit (C permit).

Why it works for families: Switzerland blends squeaky-clean cities with alpine weekends. Families love reliable playgrounds and lakeside paths, and teens can choose between academic schools, bilingual streams, or outstanding vocational tracks that lead to real careers. Top universities like ETH Zurich and EPFL headline higher-ed options, while museums like Kunsthaus Zürich and the Swiss National Museum make rainy days easy. The Swiss rail network (the SBB) is famously punctual, pram-friendly, and discounted for kids, so you can live car-light even outside city cores. Healthcare is mandatory and high quality, and paediatric care is excellent. Non-EU families typically come on B permits with family reunification; services are structured and efficient from sign-up to school placement.

9. Germany

Castle on a hilltop in Germany - best countries to raise a family in
  • Safety: Top 15 (GPI 2025).
  • Education: Mixed PISA picture; strong science and STEM tracks regionally.
  • Healthcare: Statutory health insurance (SHI) covers approximately 90% of residents.
  • Parental leave: Elterngeld (parental leave allowance) of up to 12 months (14 if shared).
  • Happiness: #23.
  • Cost of living: Moderate in many regions but high in Munich and Frankfurt (Numbeo 2025).
  • Best cities for families: Munich and Hamburg.
  • Family-friendly visas: EU Blue Card and skilled worker routes with family reunification being widely used.

Why it works for families: Germany is all about structure that helps families thrive. Affordable daycare (called a Kita) is expanding and schools are steady – Germany ranks fourth among the top countries for education in the 2025 Global Education Report, released by Global Intelligence Unit. Teens can follow academic pathways or the dual system that blends study and paid apprenticeships. City life is practical with dense U/S-Bahn transit networks for school and clubs, and high-speed ICE trains that turn regional tournaments and weekend trips into easy wins. Culture, featuring Berlin’s Museum Island and the Deutsches Museum in Munich, runs deep. Forests and lakes are never far away to explore. Healthcare under statutory medical insurance covers children comprehensively. EU Blue Card and skilled routes are clear, and family reunification is well established.

10. Portugal

People walking on the promenade on Madeira Island in Portugal - best countries to raise kids in
  • Safety: Top 15 (GPI 2025).
  • Education: Improving outcomes; strong international school network in Lisbon/Porto.
  • Healthcare: SNS public system with low-cost access; private top-ups common.
  • Parental leave: EU-aligned protections; paid maternity/paternity; expanding benefits.
  • Happiness: #60.
  • Cost of living: Lower than most of Western Europe but Lisbon and Porto are rising. (Numbeo 2025).
  • Best cities for families: Lisbon, Porto and Cascais.
  • Family-friendly visas: The investment-based Portugal Golden Visa, Portugal D7 Visa (passive income) and Portugal Digital Nomad Visa (D8) popular; family reunification after main applicant’s approval.

Why it works for families:

Portugal is a warm, low-stress option with good safety and a gentler price tag than Northern Europe. International schools are growing fast around Lisbon, Cascais and Porto, and public schools are steadily improving. Families divide time between the Gulbenkian’s gardens and galleries, beaches from Carcavelos to Guincho, and waterfalls in Peneda-Gerês National Park. Metro de Lisboa and suburban trains keep travel easy without a car. Healthcare through the SNS is accessible and affordable, with private top-ups common. Relocation is family-friendly via D7 (passive income), D8 (digital nomad), or Golden Visa routes, each with clear family reunification steps.

The Portugal Golden Visa is a family-friendly option that offers increased travel access to Europe.

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11. Italy

Aerial view of coastal town of Cinque Terre in Italy - best countries for families
  • Safety: Approximately 33/163 (GPI 2025).
  • Education: Reading above OECD avg. Math around average and science slightly below average (PISA 2022).
  • Healthcare: Universal SSN (tax-funded; residents covered).
  • Parental leave: Maternity 5 months and paternity leave 10 paid days (parental leave now up to 3 months as per new 2025 law).
  • Happiness: #40.
  • Cost of living: Family of four around €4,0k/mo (ex-rent). You tend to pay a premium in big cities (for example, Milan’s rent is higher than other areas).
  • Best cities for families: Bergamo, Trento, Bolzano and Lecco.
  • Family-friendly visas: Investor Visa for Italy. Elective Residence (no work but dependents allowed) and Digital Nomad Visa. EU Blue Card comes with favourable family reunification.

Why it works for families: Italy layers everyday culture over four-season outdoors. School runs pass piazzas and playgrounds; rainy days go to the Uffizi or Capitoline Museums; and weekends rotate between the Dolomites and the coast. Milan’s metro keeps expanding, and high-speed Frecciarossa/Italo trains stitch big cities together for easy family trips. Healthcare under the SSN is universal and, nurseries and after-school programmes are growing, especially in the North. Families often choose mid-sized cities (Trento, Bergamo, Bolzano) for walkability and schools. Visa routes, such as the Investor Visa (also known as the Italy Golden Visa), Italy Digital Nomad Visa, Elective Residence, EU Blue Card, are all viable and come with straightforward family reunification provisions.

12. Iceland

Green countryside in Iceland - best countries to raise a family
  • Safety: Safest globally (GPI 2025, longest-running #1).
  • Education: Small, inclusive system; strong student support.
  • Healthcare: Universal public cover after approximately 6 months’ legal residence.
  • Parental leave: 12 months total (6 months per parent; part transferable).
  • Happiness: #3.
  • Cost of living: Very high (especially Reykjavík).
  • Best cities for families: Reykjavík and Akureyri.
  • Family-friendly visas: Work/residence routes with family reunification; EEA/EFTA free movement.

Why it works for families: Iceland offers ultra-safe independence and tiny, supportive schools where teachers know every child due to a good teacher-student ratio. Reykjavík keeps life compact and you can explore science at the Perlan Museum, history at the National Museum of Iceland and go swimming at geothermal pools. Weekends people tend to head to Þingvellir or view glaciers in Vatnajökull National Park. Commutes are short, bus networks simple, and communities close-knit. Parents appreciate generous, gender-equal parental leave and straightforward access to paediatric care once settled. Non-EEA families typically move on a work or residence permit with family reunification; EEA/EFTA (European Free Trade Association) citizens benefit from free movement.

13. Ireland

City of Dublin with a reddish purple sunset - best countries to raise a family
  • Safety: Top 3 (GPI 2025).
  • Education: Strong reading results; robust tertiary pipeline (PISA 2022).
  • Healthcare: Mixed public/private; expanding access.
  • Parental leave: EU-aligned with solid paid leave plus job protection.
  • Happiness: #15.
  • Cost of living: High in Dublin but lower in regional cities (Numbeo 2025).
  • Best cities for families: Dublin and Cork.
  • Family-friendly visas: Critical Skills Employment Permit with fast family reunification and Stamp 4 pathway. If you have a good business idea and want to operate in a supportive business environment, the Ireland Startup Entrepreneur Visa is another option for residency

Why it works for families: Ireland feels familiar for English-speaking families: friendly schools, straightforward communication with teachers, and community sports through local GAA clubs. Dublin offers a huge green lung in Phoenix Park, coastal walks on the DART (Dublin Area Rapid Transit) line, and museums from the National Museum to the interactive EPIC Museum. The Luas, the mass transportation system, keeps city travel smooth, and regional towns offer calmer, more affordable alternatives. Healthcare access is improving, and parental supports have expanded in recent years. The Critical Skills Employment Permit is popular with tech, engineering and healthcare hires and streamlines spousal access to work and residence.

14. Austria

Aerial view of Vienna in Austria at dusk - best countries to raise kids in
  • Safety: Very high (GPI top tier).
  • Education: Solid public schools and renowned apprenticeship tracks with strong international school options in Vienna.
  • Healthcare: Statutory social health insurance with broad medical access.
  • Parental leave: Generous, flexible parental allowance/leave schemes with protected maternity leave.
  • Happiness: #17.
  • Cost of living: Moderate–high. Vienna comparatively affordable vs other DACH (the German-speaking region of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland) capitals.
  • Best cities for families: Vienna, Graz and Innsbruck.
  • Family-friendly visas: Red-White-Red Card and EU Blue Card routes. Clear family reunification for spouse/children.

Why it works for families: Vienna is consistently near the top of liveability rankings because it works for families: spotless parks, immaculate playgrounds, and a U-Bahn/tram network that arrives when it says it will. Schools are solid, vocational pathways respected, and international schools plentiful. Culture is a weekly habit at the Belvedere or Kunsthistorisches, while weekends head to the Alps or the Danube Island. Healthcare is reliable under the statutory system; childcare places are expanding. The Red-White-Red Card and EU Blue Card are structured, with clear family reunification and access to services from day one.