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Elevate Magazine
July 22, 2024

New Zealand is Officially the World’s Best Country for Work-Life Balance

world’s best country for work life balance

New Zealand has once again been ranked as the world’s best country for work-life balance, Remote’s 2024 Global Life-Work Balance Index reveals. The country garnered a score of 80.76 out of 100, higher than the 79.35 it received in last year’s report.

The higher score can be attributed to New Zealand’s strong performance in the new employee safety metric that was introduced this year. Its high minimum wage, generous annual leave entitlement of 32 days, and good score on the happiness index also contributed to its top ranking.

Following New Zealand, the next best country for work-life balance is Ireland, with a 77.89 score in the index.

“Backed by a universal government-funded healthcare system, Ireland also offers one of the highest minimum wages in our index. This country of just over five million people is also considered one of the safest in the world.

The global perception of the Irish is that they tend to be warm, friendly, and casual, and this attitude generally extends to the workplace. Hierarchy is not typically seen as overly important, and it’s common for work colleagues to socialise together. Family values also play an important role in Irish culture,” Remote said.

The third slot goes to Denmark and Belgium, which both received a score of 73.45. According to Remote, Denmark offers its workforce a 35-day statutory annual leave entitlement and implements one of the world’s most parent-friendly leave policies. Additionally, Denmark is considered one of the safest places to live and is one of the leading supporters of LGBTQ+ inclusivity.

Meanwhile, Belgium is known for its “work to live” attitude and high rate of pay, with its minimum wage considered among the highest in Europe.

Canada follows Denmark and Belgium, with an overall index score of 72.75. Other countries included in the top ten are: 

  • Germany 71.84
  • Finland 71.55
  • Australia 71.35
  • Norway 70.85
  • Spain 70.60

The Remote Global Life-Work Balance Index 2024

To understand the different work attitudes across the world, human resources company Remote conducted its annual Global Life-Work Balance Index. The Index unveils which of the world’s top 60 GDP countries have the best work-life balance based on factors such as sick leave, parental leave, minimum wage, public happiness, healthcare, global peace index ranking, and LGBTQ+ inclusivity. 

“At Remote, we are driven to promote the value and importance of a strong work-life balance and sustainable workplace culture. This inspired our Global Life-Work Balance campaign. We chose to conduct an index study to compare statutory benefits and core metrics across the globe, providing an equal comparison which evaluates each country against the same criteria,” Remote chief people officer Barbara Matthews said. 

The Remote Global Life-Work Balance Index 2024 sheds light on the need for organisations to prioritise the symmetry between life and work and implement policies that enable workers to keep their personal and professional interests healthy and in harmony.