By Priyanka Roshan | June 23, 2025
In 2025, work-life balance goes beyond time management—it’s about well-being in a changing world. Remote’s annual index highlights countries leading the way with fair pay, time off, and quality of life. Ready to relocate? Here are the top nations for balance this year.
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Retaining its top position, New Zealand offers a fair wage structure, generous holidays, and low working hours—all against a backdrop of awe-inspiring landscapes and an ethos that champions living over labour.
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Marked by safety, convivial communities, and a generous maternity policy, Ireland combines economic stability with a cultural temperament that favours conversation over competition and connection over constant hustle.
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With 34-hour workweeks and one of Europe’s highest happiness scores, Belgium blends practical workplace benefits with a cultural rhythm that respects the boundaries between occupation and leisure.
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Germany’s rise in rank reflects societal refinements—enhanced parental leave, trimmed working hours, and a robust public health system—supporting a citizenry encouraged to pursue productivity without personal compromise.
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Leading in parental leave provisions and LGBTQ+ inclusivity, Norway tempers its Arctic setting with progressive policies and a deep-seated cultural appreciation for time spent in familial or solitary reflection.
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Though nudged out of the top three, Denmark maintains its reputation through equitable workplaces, succinct hours, and a national character invested in quality of life and collective contentment.
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Still the Americas’ torchbearer, Canada excels with government-funded healthcare, reliable sick pay, and a cultural approach that honours dependability at work without displacing domestic priorities.
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Australia continues to balance economic rigor with casual confidence—its high minimum wage and relaxed professional tempo making it a steady presence in the global life-work conversation.
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Spain’s modern workforce values downtime, even if the famed siesta has faded. The country offers strong LGBTQ+ protections, annual leave, and a professional tempo that’s rarely in overdrive.
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Though slipping slightly in rank, Finland still outpaces most, thanks to its world-leading happiness rating, strong worker protections, and a national disposition grounded in trust, nature, and introspection.
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