Top 10 Countries with Best Work-Life Balance in 2025

Wondering which countries with best work-life balance provide the best work-life balance? In this article, we list the top 10 nations excelling in 2025. You’ll learn about the policies and cultures that help people balance their professional and personal lives.

New Zealand: Leading the Way in Work-Life Balance

New Zealand has long been celebrated for its stunning landscapes and rich cultural heritage, but it also leads the world in achieving a healthy work-life balance. With a remarkable work-life balance index score of 86.87, New Zealand sets the standard for integrating professional life with personal well-being.

One of the key factors contributing to this is the country’s high minimum wage of $16.42, which ensures financial stability for its workers. Additionally, employees in New Zealand benefit from 32 days of paid time off and a substantial 26 weeks of fully paid maternity leave, which is among the most generous in the world. This allows parents to spend quality time with their newborns without the stress of financial constraints, especially when considering the importance of full pay during maternity leave.

Moreover, the work culture in New Zealand emphasizes the importance of family life and recreation, with only 14% of employees working more than 50 hours per week. This cultural norm prioritizes well-being, ensuring that employees have ample time to spend with their families and engage in leisure activities, thereby promoting a healthy work-life balance.

Spain: Emphasizing Leisure and Personal Care

Spain’s approach to work-life balance is deeply rooted in its culture, which places a high value on personal time and leisure activities. This emphasis on leisure is a cornerstone of Spanish life, allowing individuals to enjoy a harmonious balance between their professional and personal lives.

With an average of 26 statutory annual leave days, Spanish employees have ample opportunity to rest and rejuvenate. The robust healthcare system ensures that citizens have access to comprehensive health services, further supporting their overall well-being and ability to maintain a balanced lifestyle.

Denmark: Prioritizing Family and Leisure Time

Denmark is often cited as one of Europe’s happiest nations, and its approach to work-life balance plays a significant role in this distinction. Key aspects include:

• The standard work week in Denmark is limited to 37 hours.
• Working late is generally discouraged.
• Employees are allowed to enjoy ample personal and family time.

Key points about Danish workers’ work-life balance include:

• Only about 2% of Danish workers engage in very long hours, compared to an OECD average of 11%, highlighting the country’s commitment to a healthy work-life balance.
• Danish employees are entitled to five weeks of paid vacation each year.
• They typically utilize their full vacation entitlement, ensuring they have the necessary time to recharge and spend with their loved ones.

The Danish model of work-life balance not only promotes time management and personal freedom but also contributes to a higher productivity factor and a better quality of life for its citizens in the future.

France: Balancing Work and Culture

In France, the pursuit of a balanced lifestyle is deeply embedded in the culture. French individuals enjoy an average of 16.2 hours of personal time each day, allowing them to engage meaningfully in activities outside of work. This substantial personal time reflects the country’s commitment to ensuring that work does not overshadow life and raises the question of how much time is dedicated to personal pursuits.

French employees are entitled to a generous statutory annual leave of 36 days, which they are encouraged to fully utilize. Additionally, only 8% of employees in France work more than 50 hours per week, underscoring the nation’s dedication to maintaining a healthy work-life balance.

Italy: High Productivity and Leisure Time

Italy offers a unique blend of high productivity and ample leisure time. Despite having a lower average salary compared to other OECD nations, Italian workers maintain high productivity levels, thanks to an emphasis on efficiency and effective time management.

Full-time employees in Italy spend approximately 69% of their day on personal care and leisure activities, highlighting the cultural importance placed on enjoying life and taking breaks. This approach ensures a healthy work-life balance, contributing to the overall quality of life in Italy.

Norway: Generous Parental Leave Policies

Norway stands out for its generous parental leave policies, which play a crucial role in promoting a healthy work-life balance. The country offers up to 49 weeks of paid maternity leave, which can be extended to 59 weeks at a reduced pay rate, providing significant maternity benefits. This extensive paid leave ensures that parents can spend significant time with their newborns without financial stress.

Both parents in Norway are entitled to share the parental leave, encouraging equal involvement in childcare and supporting family life. This approach not only enhances the quality of family life but also contributes to higher rates of workplace re-entry for mothers, boosting national productivity.

Norway’s robust support for parents, combined with flexible work arrangements, ensures a high quality of life and well-being for its citizens.

Luxembourg: High Quality of Life and Employee Wellbeing

Luxembourg is known for its high quality of life and commitment to employee well-being. As one of the wealthiest countries globally, Luxembourg offers a remarkable minimum wage of €2,638 per month, promoting financial stability for its workers.

The country has implemented flexible working arrangements, allowing employees to adjust their schedules to better accommodate personal responsibilities. Additionally, Luxembourg provides a substantial statutory annual leave of 37 days, ensuring that employees have ample time to rest and rejuvenate.

Luxembourg’s diverse workplace culture, with approximately 75% of the workforce consisting of foreign nationals, further enhances the overall work environment, making it one of Europe’s happiest nations.

Finland: Short Working Hours and Happiness Index

Finland’s approach to work-life balance is characterized by short working hours and a high happiness index. The average workday in Finland lasts about 7 hours and 44 minutes, which is shorter than in many other countries, promoting better personal time for individuals.

Finnish employees benefit from short commutes, averaging around 41 minutes, allowing them to allocate more time to personal activities. With a relatively high minimum wage in Europe, set at approximately $15.90 per hour, workers in Finland enjoy financial stability and the ability to maintain a healthy work-life balance, supported by the national minimum wage.

The combination of short working hours, high wages, and adequate rest significantly contributes to Finland completing its recognition as one of the happiest countries in the world, especially with the adoption of short working weeks.

Netherlands: Flexible Work Options and High Living Standards

The Netherlands is renowned for its flexible work options and high living standards. Dutch employees typically work between 36 and 40 work hours weekly, with many opting for part-time roles, fostering a less stressful work environment.

The country supports remote work and flexible hours, allowing employees to tailor their schedules to better suit personal needs. Additionally, the right to disconnect from work-related communications after hours further enhances the work-life balance in the Netherlands.

The Dutch emphasis on employee rights and flexible work arrangements creates a secure working environment, enhancing job satisfaction and retention.

Australia: Balancing Work and Outdoor Lifestyle

Australia is celebrated for its strong work-life balance and active outdoor lifestyle. Ranking 8th in the 2025 Life-Work Balance Index, Australia offers a robust combination of career opportunities and a high standard of living.

Australians often engage in outdoor pursuits like hiking, surfing, and mountain biking with locals, capitalizing on the nation’s diverse landscapes. This commitment to outdoor activities, combined with a solid work-life balance ranking, showcases the importance of an active lifestyle for overall well-being.

Why Work-Life Balance Matters

Work-life balance is fundamental to both physical and emotional wellbeing. Maintaining a good work-life balance reduces stress and prevents burnout, thereby improving quality of life. Countries like New Zealand and Luxembourg actively advocate for mental health support in the workplace, contributing to overall employee emotional wellbeing and helping them live healthier lives.

In France, employees have a legal right to disconnect from work communications after hours, which helps prevent burnout. The French also take an average of five weeks of paid vacation annually, encouraging time off and relaxation. For example, Finnish culture promotes a balance between professional and personal life, integrating both for a more harmonious connection.

Furthermore, policies that promote parental leave and childcare support, like those in Norway, often lead to improved health outcomes for both mothers and infants, thus enhancing overall productivity. Work-life balance efforts in Denmark also lead to higher productivity rates among workers.

How Countries Can Improve Work-Life Balance

Countries can enhance work-life balance by:

• Implementing flexible work arrangements, including remote and hybrid models.
• Promoting policies that support parental leave and childcare.
• Encouraging a ‘right to disconnect’ law to protect employees from after-hours work communications in countries for work life.

Successful countries often tailor their work-life balance strategies to local cultural norms and employee expectations. Flexibility in work arrangements has been a priority in Finland for nearly three decades, positively impacting employee happiness and productivity. Investing in mental health and well-being programs is increasingly crucial for companies aiming to support their employees’ work-life balance through a global hr platform.

Norway’s parental leave policies are part of a broader social safety net that includes universal healthcare and strong labor protections. Adopting similar policies can help other countries improve work-life balance and overall quality of life for their citizens.

Conclusion

The top 10 countries leading work-life balance in 2025 combine progressive policies and strong cultural values that prioritize citizen well-being. From New Zealand’s high minimum wage and generous paid leave to Norway’s extensive parental benefits, these nations exemplify balanced living. By adopting similar strategies, countries can foster environments where employees thrive both professionally and personally. Prioritizing work-life balance remains essential for building a healthier, happier, and more productive global workforce moving forward.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Country Has the Highest Work-life Balance Index Score in 2025?

New Zealand has the highest work-life balance index score in 2025, achieving a score of 86.87.

What Is the Average Statutory Annual Leave in Spain?

The average statutory annual leave in Spain is 26 days. This provides employees with a substantial opportunity for rest and recuperation.

How Many Weeks of Paid Maternity Leave Does Norway Provide?

Norway provides up to 49 weeks of paid maternity leave, extendable to 59 weeks at a reduced pay rate. This offers new mothers substantial support during the critical early months of childcare.

What Is the Standard Work Week in Denmark?

The standard work week in Denmark consists of 37 hours. This duration is designed to promote a healthy work-life balance.

How Does Finland Ensure a High Work-life Balance for Its Employees?

Finland ensures a high work-life balance by implementing short working hours, maintaining a high minimum wage, and providing adequate rest periods, which collectively enhance employee well-being and contribute to overall happiness.