Global life-work balance index 2025

Overall index score: 86.59

If you’re planning to move overseas for work in 2025, few places rival New Zealand. 'The Land of the Long White Cloud' (the English meaning of the country’s Māori name Aotearoa) keeps the top spot in our index for a third consecutive year, improving on its 2024 score in part because of a small rise in the minimum wage.

What makes New Zealand so strong for life-work balance? Scenic variety helps, but while the country isn’t number one on every measure, it posts consistently high scores across the study — especially for statutory annual leave, public happiness, safety and minimum wage (where it ranks second among the countries assessed).

Hard work is valued in Kiwi culture, but as the New Zealand government’s guide to the NZ way of working points out, 'Life is for living and employers generally respect that.'

Overall index score: 81.17

Ireland remains at number two in 2025. Renowned for its friendly people, the nation associated with St Patrick’s Day — alongside Austria — ranks as one of the safest countries in our analysis.

The Emerald Isle performs strongly across many measures, with a relatively high minimum wage and a generous maternity leave policy compared with many other countries (26 weeks at a 70% income payment rate). Irish work culture tends to balance hard work with a strong sense of community and camaraderie.

Overall index score: 75.91

Belgium cements a top-three position after sharing third place with Denmark last year. Life-work balance is becoming as emblematic of Belgian culture as chocolate, waffles and beer — not least because it has one of the highest minimum wages in Europe, topped only by the United Kingdom and Germany.

Belgium also performs well for statutory sick pay and maternity payment rates, and its happiness score is among Europe’s best at 6.91/10. Belgians tend to work relatively short weeks on average (34.1 hours) compared with many other countries.

Overall index score: 74.37

Germany has climbed two places since 2024 to reach fourth in our 2025 index. Punctuality and professionalism are often cited as "German values," yet there’s also a strong focus on working smarter rather than harder — which helps explain Germany’s strong life-work balance.

Several factors have driven Germany’s improved score in 2025, but a key change is an increase in statutory sick pay, particularly for parents. We also noted a small rise in overall happiness, a reduction in average weekly hours, and improved LGBTQ+ inclusivity since 2024.

Overall index score: 74.20

Norway makes the largest leap among our top ten, rising from ninth in 2024 to fifth in 2025. This improvement is largely down to an extension of parental leave options (Norway offers the most generous parental leave of the countries we studied), and a slight fall in working hours. At 32.6 hours, Norway has one of the shortest average work weeks in Europe.

Norwegian work culture emphasises equality and cooperation, which helps explain why it’s rated the most LGBTQ+-inclusive country on our list. Like many Nordic neighbours, Norway is also seen as one of Europe’s happiest nations.

Overall index score: 73.76

Danes are long associated with a healthy separation between work and life. Many point to Denmark’s focus on balance as a reason it consistently ranks among the world’s happiest countries — and the Danes’ fondness for the hygge lifestyle may also play a part.

Although Denmark fell out of the top three this year (it shared third with Belgium in 2024), the country still offers a high quality of life, second only to Finland for public happiness. It also has one of the shortest average working weeks (32.5 hours) and is considered very safe and LGBTQ+-friendly.

Overall index score: 72.89

Canada dropped two places this year, yet it remains the only country from the Americas in the top ten for life-work balance. In sharp contrast to its southern neighbour (the United States placed 59th of 60), 'The Great White North' records solid results across many metrics in our 2025 study.

Canada ranks highly for statutory sick pay and scores well for public safety and LGBTQ+ inclusivity. Unlike the US, Canada also has a universal, government-funded healthcare system.

Workplaces in Canada value punctuality and dependability, and employees typically maintain a healthy separation between work and family life.

Overall index score: 71.53

Australians are widely seen as laid-back, often embracing a 'no-worries' outlook. Workplaces generally reflect this, favouring openness and egalitarian values. The country keeps a strong focus on employee wellbeing and remains eighth for life-work balance for a second consecutive year.

Although Australia trails its Antipodean neighbour New Zealand in most categories, it has the highest minimum wage of any country in our study — the equivalent of $18.12 in US dollars. Unsurprisingly for a nation with a relaxed culture (and plenty of sunshine), Australians tend to work relatively short hours (32.29 per week) compared with many other countries.

Overall index score: 71.42

Rounding out the top ten is Finland, named the world’s happiest country in 2025 in a recent study. The Finns have topped happiness rankings for eight years running, which is often linked to high levels of social trust and freedom, together with strong access to nature and the outdoors.

Finland slipped two places in this year’s global life-work balance ranking (partly due to a small decline in LGBTQ+ inclusivity) but keeps its top-ten position thanks to its leading happiness score, generous statutory annual leave, strong sick-pay rates and a relatively short average work week.

Overall index score: 70.53

Has the traditional Spanish 'siesta' become an outdated national stereotype? Possibly (it’s thought that most Spaniards never take a midday nap), but the country still maintains a generally healthy attitude to work and life, holding onto its top-ten place for a second year.

Although Spain’s public happiness rating is lower than some European peers, it performs well across the measured factors. Spain is considered the second-most LGBTQ+-friendly country of the 60 we analysed. Spanish workers also benefit from generous annual leave entitlements and maternity payment provisions.