When you start to think about having a family of your own, you’ll notice that your perspective changes and you begin to think about life in a different way. You’re no longer enticed by the prospect of a vibrant nightlife scene or competitive job market. You may be more inclined to look at areas with impressive schools and safe neighbourhoods instead.
It’s completely normal to experience this shift in attitudes. You may feel like the country you currently reside in is no place to start a new life or raise a family in. To help you find a better place to call home, we’ve listed six of the best countries to start a family below.
Denmark
Unsurprisingly, the country that sits at the top of our list is Denmark. This country ranks close to the top for many international standards, such as childcare, safety, and social infrastructure. Working hours aren’t too long, allowing you to spend as much time as possible with your kids. There’s also a lot of help granted to parents, such as home nurse visits and childcare options. In terms of gender rights, you can rest assured your little girl will be raised feeling equal. Men are granted up to six months of paternal leave, which is extremely uncommon in other parts of the world.
New Zealand
Parents love raising their children in New Zealand because they enjoy an extremely high quality of life and education. It’s one of the world’s safest, most peaceful, and stable countries in the entire world. If your family loves adventures and the outdoors, you can explore its vast and beautiful landscapes for hours on end. The nation is very respectful when it comes to sticking to work hours, so you can rest assured that you won’t have to spend many late nights in the office.
Netherlands
In the Netherlands, kids get plenty of time to spend with their parents also thanks to the importance they place on a work-life balance. However, just make sure you check out policies from the best international health care provider before you move, as you’ll need to have your medical care covered in the Netherlands. All in all, this country is very forward thinking and environmentally conscious, which is an important thing to consider when raising children. This country has also scored considerably well in the areas of mental and emotional wellbeing, two indicators that are linked to high-quality relationships with family members.
Singapore
This country is particularly recognised for being very family friendly and it’s one of the leading destinations for expats more generally. If you’re looking for an exciting new job as well as a safe place to raise your kids, Singapore is the place for you. There’s a great climate, incredibly diverse population, and an important emphasis on innovative thinking. There are tons of activities that you can do with your kids, including museums, zoos, theme parks, and plenty of green places. When it comes to education, you have lots of great options to choose from.
Costa Rica
If you’re looking for more of a tropical lifestyle, we suggest looking at Costa Rica – one of the most biodiverse countries in the world. It has coastlines on both the Caribbean and the Pacific, so you can hop between the two whenever you deem fit. Although some expats prefer home-schooling, there are various types of schools that you could enrol your children in. There’s plenty of public, private, and bilingual schools that you can visit. If you want to raise your children with a deep appreciation for nature and the outdoors, this is the perfect place to do so.
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates, or U.A.E for short, is one of the safest countries in the Middle East. It has very low crime rates and amazing education facilities for kids. However, you will need a job or sponsor in order to move to this country. It’s also a great place to save money for your kid’s future as any income you earn won’t be taxed. It’s also an incredibly international place, so you can rest assured that your children will grow up alongside people from across the world.
We’ve covered almost every region so that you can still stay near your friends and family. Raising a family is an important milestone in anybody’s life, so make sure to ponder this decision seriously before you make the move.
Moving homes can be expensive, so you can only imagine the costs of moving countries or continents. We also recommend that you spend a few months or more visiting your desired country. This way you can truly get to know the place, the people, and the culture before you take a leap of faith.