Best country to raise a family

Best country to raise a family

The best country to raise a family is Finland, according to Global Citizens Solutions' Best Countries to Raise a Family 2025 guide, followed by Denmark, Sweden, the Netherlands, Norway, Canada, New Zealand, Switzerland, Germany and Portugal. 

Global Citizens Solutions is a specialist investment-migration group focused on residency and citizenship programmes. Founded in 2017, the company assists expats in relocating abroad and obtaining citizenship. Their methodology for the Best Countries to Raise a Family 2025 guide includes safety, education quality, healthcare access, accommodation affordability, childcare, cost of living, and work-life balance. 

Finland tops the 2025 guide for several reasons, including clear paths to residency via family unification, universal healthcare, and 160 paid workdays of parental leave (up to 90% of their wage) per parent, per child. What's more, the Land of a Thousand Lakes has more saunas than cars, ranks among the 10 safest nations worldwide, and holds the top position for happiest countries!

Children can grow with freedom and guidance in Finland. Their education system prioritises both the well-being and intellectual growth of each child, thanks to small class sizes and attentive teaching. There are endless options for outdoor exploration, from forest kindergartens to sprawling national parks. Family-friendly cities feature stroller-friendly public transport, wide walkways, and numerous libraries, play parks, and community centres. 

Best cities to raise a family

The best cities to raise a family are Stockholm, Paris, Tokyo, Sydney, and Helsinki, according to in-depth research by Compare the Market. The consumer comparison platform ranked 38 worldwide cities based on 12 data points, including safety and well-being, child vaccination rates, green spaces, outdoor family activities, GDP spent on education, cost of living, healthcare costs, and average incomes. 

European cities dominate the list, consistently appearing in the top and middle positions. Family-friendly hotspots such as Stockholm, Paris, Helsinki, Brussels, Amsterdam, and Vienna excel across multiple categories, including safety, education, and family activities. 

Asian cities show a mixed performance. Tokyo, Seoul, and Osaka appear in the top half for family activities and expenses, but scores for safety, wellbeing, and education vary. Mumbai and New Delhi rank significantly lower, with low safety and education scores partially offset by an affordable cost of living. 

In North America, cities such as New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Toronto are primarily located in the middle to lower tiers. While some perform reasonably well in education and family activities, lower scores in safety, wellbeing and living costs reduce their overall scores. 

Among the Oceanic cities, Sydney leads the way with high scores in safety and education. Auckland ranks in the top 10 thanks to balanced scores across all categories. Melbourne matches Sydney in safety and education, but lags in family activities. In contrast, Wellington achieves moderate scores in safety and education, but has limited family activities. 

South American and African cities are largely absent from the top half, reflecting challenging scores in safety, wellbeing, and family-friendly activities. Johannesburg, the only African city, ranks 23rd, due to low scores in safety and family activities. 

The following are the 5 highest-ranked locations in Compare the Market's Best Cities to Raise a Family report for you to consider if you're moving overseas with kids: 

1. Stockholm (6.57/10) 

Stockholm pips Paris to the top spot thanks to strong performances across all categories. The Swedish capital scores exceptionally high in education (10/10) and safety (7.6/10), reflecting its commitment to high-quality schooling and child wellbeing. While expenses are relatively high, the area offers an abundance of family-friendly activities, including numerous parks, museums, and child-friendly public spaces. 

2. Paris (6.55/10) 

Paris earns second place through consistently strong performances, particularly in family activities (7.7/10) and safety and wellbeing (7.2/10). Its cultural richness and endless recreational options make it an engaging environment for children and families alike. However, the city's cost of living (5/10) places it among the more expensive destinations on the list. 

3. Tokyo (6.41/10) 

Tokyo ranks third, driven in part by an excellent safety score (6.6/10) and over 300 family-friendly activities, including zoos, museums, shrines, and interactive science centres, such as the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation. Families benefit from impeccable infrastructure, cleanliness, and safe neighbourhoods. 

4. Sydney (6.19/10) 

Australia's most visited city places fourth due to its renowned education system and high safety and wellbeing score (7.5/10). Although its cost of living is on the higher end, the city boasts a good quality of life, year-round sunshine, outdoor-oriented family activities, and reliable public services. 

5. Helsinki (6.15/10) 

Helsinki rounds out the top five with the highest safety and well-being score (7.5/10) of all 38 cities. Family activities, especially outdoor pursuits, are plentiful, including ice skating on frozen lakes, scenic cycling trails, nature reserves, and interactive museums for children. 

Best places to live in UK for families in 2025*

The best places to live in the UK for families are Liverpool, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Leeds, and Coventry, according to Purplebricks' Top Family-Friendly Cities to Live Across the UK guide. Purplebricks is an established digital estate agency in the UK who provide property sales and lettings services online and via local property experts. 

*figures accurate as of 2025

Sources: numbeo.com, ons.gov.uk, coventry.gov.uk, visitcardiff.com, edinburgh.gov.uk, liverpool.gov.uk, payscale.com