Global life-work balance index 2025: nations leading in life and work harmony

Overall index score: 86.59

If you are considering relocating to another country for work in 2025, few places compare to New Zealand. Indeed, the “Land of the Long White Cloud” (the English translation of the Māori name Aotearoa) retains the top spot in our index for a third consecutive year, improving on its 2024 score in part due to a modest rise in the minimum wage.

What makes New Zealand so favourable for life-work balance? Its varied and breathtaking scenery certainly helps, but although it does not lead every metric we measured, the country posts consistently strong results across the study—especially for statutory annual leave, public happiness, safety, and minimum wage (where it ranks second among the nations assessed).

Hard work is regarded as important in Kiwi culture, but as the New Zealand government’s guide to the NZ way of working notes, “Life is for living and employers generally respect that.”

Overall index score: 81.17

Ireland keeps its number two position in 2025. Known globally for its warm hospitality, the country often associated with St. Paddy’s Day is—alongside Austria—one of the safest places to live and work among the nations we studied.

The Emerald Isle performs well across many measures, with a relatively strong minimum wage and a comparatively generous maternity leave policy (26 weeks at a 70% income payment rate). Ireland’s work culture tends to balance diligent effort with a genuine sense of community and camaraderie.

Overall index score: 75.91

Solidifying its place among the top three after sharing the spot with Denmark last year, life-work balance is fast becoming as emblematic of Belgian culture as its chocolate, waffles, and beer—not least because Belgium has one of the highest minimum wages in Europe (surpassed only by the United Kingdom and Germany).

Belgium also scores well on other measures, including statutory sick pay and maternity payment rates, while its happiness rating is among the highest in Europe 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

Climbing two places from the 2024 ranking, Germany rises to fourth in our 2025 life-work balance index. Punctuality and professionalism are often cited as core German values, but there is also a strong focus on working smarter rather than harder—one reason Germany is viewed as having one of Europe’s better life-work balances.

Several factors helped Germany improve its 2025 score, including an increase in statutory sick pay—notably for parents. We also observed a small rise in overall happiness, a reduction in average weekly hours, and improved LGBTQ+ inclusivity compared with 2024.

Overall index score: 74.20

Making the largest leap among our top ten, Norway jumps from ninth in 2024 to fifth this year. This rise is largely attributable to an extension of parental leave options (Norway now has the most generous parental leave policy among the countries we studied), along with a slight reduction in working hours. At 32.6 hours, Norway is among the European countries with the shortest average work week.

Norwegian work culture emphasises equality and cooperation, reflected in its ranking as the most LGBTQ+-inclusive country on our list. Like many Nordic peers, Norway is also regarded as one of Europe’s happiest nations.

Overall index score: 73.76

The Danes are long associated with a harmonious separation between personal and professional life. Many attribute Denmark’s consistent presence among the world’s happiest countries to this strong emphasis on balance—alongside a cultural appreciation for the hygge lifestyle.

Although Denmark fell out of the top three this year (it shared third place with Belgium in 2024), the country remains synonymous with high quality of life—second only to Finland in public happiness measures. Denmark also posts one of the shortest average working weeks (32.5 hours) and is widely regarded as safe and LGBTQ+-friendly.

Overall index score: 72.89

Canada slips two places this year but remains the only country from the Americas in the top ten for life-work balance. In contrast to its southern neighbour (the United States placed 59th of the 60 countries reviewed), “The Great White North” performs strongly across many of the metrics in our 2025 study.

For instance, Canada ranks highly for statutory sick pay and also scores well for public safety and LGBTQ+ inclusivity. Additionally, Canada offers a universal government-funded healthcare system—something the U.S. lacks.

Workplaces in Canada tend to value punctuality and reliability, while employees generally keep a healthy boundary between work and family life.

Overall index score: 71.53

Australian culture is widely perceived as relaxed, with a “no worries” outlook that often reflects in the workplace through openness and egalitarianism. The country continues to prioritise employee wellbeing and holds its number eight position for life-work balance for the second consecutive year.

While Australia trails its Antipodean neighbour New Zealand in several categories, it has the highest minimum wage among the countries we studied—the equivalent of $18.12 in U.S. dollars. Perhaps unsurprisingly for a sunny, easygoing nation, Australians tend to work relatively short weeks (32.29 hours on average) compared with many other countries.

Overall index score: 71.42

Rounding out the top ten is Finland, recently identified as the happiest country in the world in 2025 by a recent study. The Finns have topped the global happiness rankings for eight consecutive years—often attributed to high societal trust and freedom, plus a close relationship with nature and outdoor life.

Although Finland drops two places in our 2025 life-work balance index (partly due to a small decline in LGBTQ+ inclusivity), it remains in the top ten thanks to its happiness score, generous statutory annual leave, substantial sick pay, and a relatively short average work week.

Overall index score: 70.53

Has the traditional idea of the Spanish “siesta” become an outdated stereotype? Possibly (it is believed that most Spaniards never take a midday nap), yet Spain retains a generally healthy attitude to work and life, holding onto its top-ten position for a second year.

While Spain’s public happiness score is lower than some other European nations, it performs well across many measured factors. Spain ranks as the second-most LGBTQ+-friendly country of the 60 we analysed, and Spanish workers benefit from generous annual leave entitlements and maternity payment provisions.