The 8 best countries in the world for raising a family

Raising a family is expensive — and depending on where you live, it can be simply unaffordable. However, parents know that cost is just one factor in their decision on where to bring up their children.

Deluxe Holiday Homes, a vacation rental company based in Dubai, analyzed 50 countries to find out which were the best and most affordable to raise a family in.

It looked at six key indicators: safety rate, cost of living for a family of four, average rent, average monthly net salary, education index, and healthcare quality.

“Finding the right environment to raise a family is about much more than just affordability,” a spokesperson for Deluxe Family Homes said. “Choosing a family-friendly country means looking at the bigger picture—how well a place can support a high quality of life while being financially accessible. Every family deserves a home where they can grow, connect, and thrive.”

Check out which countries made the top 8.

Denmark ranked eighth on the list, with strong scores for monthly salaries and education, but a high cost of living.

The Czech Republic came in seventh place with good education and affordable rents.

Norway’s high cost of living prevented it from ranking higher, but the country received high marks for average salaries and education quality.

Finland received strong marks for education quality and high salaries, with a slightly lowered cost of living than other Nordic countries.

High rents in the Netherlands didn’t prevent it from taking the top spot, largely because they’re offset by good salaries and great schools.

Japan came in third thanks to extremely affordable rents and quality education offerings, although salaries there are lower than in many other countries on the list.

UAE ranked second with solid salaries and good schools.