Global Life-Work

Balance Index 2024

Thinking of relocating for better life-work balance in 2024? Find out which countries are leading the way.

Relocate with Remote

Why the top 10 countries stand out

At Remote, we’re firm in our belief that life-work balance isn’t just about the ability to work
remotely. It’s about rewarding results versus time spent at a desk, facilitating time off for
employees to recharge, and supporting parental life-work balance through fair leave policies.
These factors aren’t just crucial for employee wellbeing, either. Improving life-work balance
can help employers increase retention rates, and attract elite candidates from more diverse
global talent pools.
The 2024 update of our industry-leading 2023 study of global life-work balance introduce
additional metrics including employee safety. The Index reveals which of the world’s top 60
GDP countries have the best work-life balance in 2024. If you’re considering relocating to a
new country for work, these are the nations that lead the way.
 The 10 countries with the best
work-life balance in 2024
The 10 nations below scored highest out of 100 in our global study, based on a combination of important workplace factors such as statutory annual leave, paid maternity leave, and average
hours worked per employee.
To find out where other countries ranked, click “show more” to see the full data table featuring the top 60 nations.

Minimum Paid Average Safety:

2024 Statutory statutory maternity Minimum Happiness hours per LGBTQ+ Global Peace
Country & Index Score / Healthcare
Rank EU Region Country annual leave sick pay leave and wage index week per Inclusivity Index
Capital City 100 system
Population percentage payment rate employed Ranking
person

New Zealand, 26 universal

1
Wellington Oceania 5,269,939 80.76 32 80 $177.00 per week 16.1 government- 7.02 33 77 1.31
funded system
Ireland, 26 universal
2
Dublin Europe 5,089,478 77.89 30 70 27.3 13.96 government- 6.83 35.58 76 1.31
funded system
3
Belgium, Europe 11,715,774 73.45 30 100 15 12.15 universal public 6.89 35 77 1.52
Brussels 75 insurance system
Denmark, 18 universal
3
Copenhagen Europe 5,939,695 73.45 35 100 50 - government- 7.58 33.91 87 1.31
funded system
Canada, 17 universal
5
Ottawa Americas 39,107,046 72.75 17 100 0 11.6 government- 6.9 32.1 83 1.35
funded system
Germany, 14 universal public-
6
Berlin Europe 83,252,474 71.84 30 70 100 14.68 private insurance 6.71 34.24 79 1.46
system
Finland, 17.5 universal
7
Helsinki Europe 5,549,886 71.55 36 100 74.6 - government- 7.74 34.43 80 1.4
funded system
Australia, 12 universal public-
8
Canberra Oceania 26,699,482 71.35 30 100 National 17.47 private insurance 7.05 32.29 79 1.53
Minimum Wage system
Norway, 18 universal
9
Oslo Europe 5,514,477 70.85 35 100 94 - government- 7.3 33.68 88 1.55
funded system
Spain, 16 universal
10
Madrid Europe 47,473,373 70.6 36 60 100 8.39 government- 6.42 36.67 81 1.65
funded system
 Minimum Paid Average Safety:
2024 Statutory statutory maternity Minimum Happiness hours per LGBTQ+ Global Peace
Country & Index Score / Healthcare
Rank EU Region Country annual leave sick pay leave and wage index week per Inclusivity Index
Capital City 100 system
Population percentage payment rate employed Ranking
person

Netherlands, 16 universal private

11
Amsterdam Europe 17,671,125 69.1 28 70 100 11.98 health insurance 7.31 31.55 82 1.49
system
Portugal, 6 universal
12
Lisbon Europe 10,223,349 67.62 31 55 100 5.6 government- 6.03 38.17 75 1.33
funded system
France, Europe 64,881,830 66.62 36 50 16 13.33 universal public 6.6 35.9 77 1.94
13
Paris 91.4 insurance system
Sweden, 12.9 universal
14
Stockholm Europe 10,673,669 65.35 34 80 80 - government- 7.34 35.33 77 1.63
funded system
United Kingdom, 39 universal
15 Europe 67,961,439 65.12 28 £99.35 per week 14.27 government- 6.74 35.85 73 1.69
London 29.8 funded system
16
Czech Republic, Europe 10,503,734 64.9 33 60 28 4.79 universal public 6.82 37.68 69 1.38
Prague 70 insurance system
Poland, Europe 40,221,726 62.77 33 80 20 6.34 universal public 6.44 39.79 55 1.63
17
Warsaw 100 insurance system
Austria, 16 universal public-
18
Vienna Europe 8,977,139 61.87 38 50 100 - private insurance 6.9 33.34 75 1.32
system
Argentina, 12.9 universal public-
19
Buenos Aires Americas 46,057,866 61.26 29 100 100 11.12 private insurance 6.18 37.02 76 1.84
system
Greece, 43 universal
20
Athens Europe 10,302,720 61.08 29 50 65.1 6.21 government- 5.93 39.66 68 1.89
funded system
21
Romania, Europe 19,618,996 60.02 37 75 18 4.58 universal public 6.49 39.71 48 1.65
Bucharest 85 insurance system
Hungary, Europe 9,994,993 59.96 33 60 24 4.42 universal public 6.01 38.45 54 1.51
22
Budapest 70 insurance system
Italy, 21.7 universal
23
Rome Europe 58,697,744 59.83 32 50 100 - government- 6.32 36.25 69 1.66
funded system
24
Japan, Asia 122,631,432 57.61 26 - 14 8.14 universal public 6.06 36.25 64 1.34
Tokyo 67 insurance system
Brazil, 17.1 universal
25
Brasilia Americas 217,637,297 56.88 22 100 100 1.49 government- 6.27 38.95 79 2.46
funded system
Singapore, Asia 6,052,709 56.84 18 100 8 - universal public 6.52 42.6 51 1.33
26
Singapore 100 insurance system
Switzerland, 14 universal private
27
Bern Europe 8,851,431 56.51 27 80 80 - health insurance 7.06 35.65 69 1.34
system
Taiwan, 8 universal
28
Taipei Asia 23,950,214 53.09 15 50 50 5.76 government- 6.5 - 66 1.65
funded system
 Minimum Paid Average Safety:
2024 Statutory statutory maternity Minimum Happiness hours per LGBTQ+ Global Peace
Country & Index Score / Healthcare
Rank EU Region Country annual leave sick pay leave and wage index week per Inclusivity Index
Capital City 100 system
Population percentage payment rate employed Ranking
person

Saudi Arabia, 10 universal

29
Riyadh Asia 37,473,929 50.8 30 100 50 5.13 government- 6.59 - 14 2.26
funded system
Peru, 12.9 universal public-
30
Lima Americas 34,683,444 50.46 34 100 100 1.27 private insurance 5.84 43.12 60 2.13
system
Colombia, Americas 52,340,774 48.37 33 50 18 2.03 universal public 5.69 44.21 75 2.69
31
Bogota 100 insurance system
Ukraine, 18 universal
32
Kyiv Europe 37,937,821 48.04 37 50 100 1.42 government- 4.87 39 47 3.04
funded system
South Africa, 12 universal
33 Africa 61,020,221 47.88 27 75 1.57 government- 5.42 42.55 72 2.41
Pretoria 0 funded system
Israel, 14 universal private
34 Asia 9,311,652 47.29 21 37.5 9.48 health insurance 7.34 38.54 64 2.71
Jerusalem 100 system
Chile, 18 universal public-
35
Santiago Americas 19,658,839 47.22 30 - 100 2.77 private insurance 6.36 40.36 80 1.87
system
South Korea, Asia 51,741,963 46.62 30 - 8.6 7.08 universal public 6.05 38.58 44 1.76
36
Seoul 84.1 insurance system
Vietnam, Asia 99,497,680 46.4 23 75 17.2 1.97 N/A 6.04 41.62 55 1.75
37
Hanoi 100
Kuwait, 10 universal
38
Kuwait City Asia 4,349,380 45.88 43 25 100 0.96 government- 6.95 - 15 1.67
funded system
39
Thailand, Asia 71,885,799 44.64 19 100 12.9 1.5 - 5.97 42.26 62 2.06
Bangkok 100
Mexico, 12 universal public-
40
Mexico City Americas 129,388,467 42.97 19 60 100 1.8 private insurance 6.67 43.72 74 2.6
system
Russia, Europe 143,957,079 41.96 34 60 20 1.51 universal public 5.78 39.24 15 3.14
41
Moscow 100 insurance system
Algeria, 14 universal public-
42
Algiers Africa 46,278,751 41.42 41 50 100 0.85 private insurance 5.36 43.7 13 2.09
system
43
Indonesia, Asia 279,798,049 39.36 27 50 13 1.18 non-universal 5.56 40.04 16 1.83
Jakarta 100 insurance system
Iran, Asia 89,809,781 39.36 53 - 13 9.13 universal public 4.92 44.25 4 2.8
43
Tehran 24 insurance system
Kazakhstan, Asia 19,828,165 39.26 40 - 18 0.95 - 6.18 38 28 1.98
45
Nursultan 100
46
Hong Kong, Asia 7,496,681 39.25 24 80 14 5.15 universal public 5.31 43 - -
City of Victoria 80 insurance system
Malaysia, 8.6 universal
Asia 34,671,895 39.09 19 - 1.86 government- 5.97 44.7 13 1.51
47
Kuala Lumpur 100 funded system
 Minimum Paid Average Safety:
2024 Statutory statutory maternity Minimum Happiness hours per LGBTQ+ Global Peace
Country & Index Score / Healthcare
Rank EU Region Country annual leave sick pay leave and wage index week per Inclusivity Index
Capital City 100 system
Population percentage payment rate employed Ranking
person

India, 12 universal public

48
New Delhi Asia 1,441,719,852 38.83 35 50 - 0.27 insurance system 4.05 46.74 60 2.31

12.9
China, Asia 1,425,178,782 38.47 16 60 Allowance based 1.27 universal public 5.97 46.1 46 2.01
49
Beijing on Health insurance system
Insurance
Pakistan, Asia 245,209,815 36.29 29 100 12 0.52 - 4.65 46.93 30 2.75
50
Islamabad 100
United Arab 6.4
51 Emirates, Asia 9,591,853 35.95 40 50 50 - - 6.73 50.93 13 1.98
Abu Dhabi
52
Qatar, Asia 2,737,061 35.75 25 50 5.7 - universal public - 48 7 1.52
Doha 100 insurance system
Egypt, Africa 114,484,252 34.02 34 75 7.1 - non-universal 3.97 43 11 2.27
53
Cairo 75 insurance system
Bangladesh, Asia 174,701,211 31.97 21 50 12 0.08 non-universal 3.88 46.93 27 2.05
54
Dhaka 100 insurance system
55
United States, Americas 341,814,420 31.82 - - 12 7.25 non-universal 6.72 37.96 76 2.45
Washington, D.C. 0 insurance system
Turkey, 16 universal public-
56
Ankara Asia 86,260,417 31.35 26.5 - 66.7 2.97 private insurance 4.97 43.87 39 2.8
system
Iraq, Asia 46,523,657 31.22 20 100 8.9 0.99 N/A 5.16 31.72 14 3.01
57
Baghdad 100
58
Ethiopia, Africa 1,319,041 31.08 25 50 12.9 - non-universal 3.86 31.92 10 2.87
Addis Ababa 100 insurance system
Philippines, 8.6
59
Manila Asia 119,106,224 27.46 17 - - 1.45 - 6.04 40.63 57 2.23

Nigeria, Africa 229,152,217 16.15 5 20 12 0.31 - 4.88 - 4 2.71

60
Abuja 50