There's no single "best," but Iceland, Sweden, and Denmark consistently rank highest for quality, affordability, and universal access, thanks to strong government investment, generous parental leave, and low fees based on income, making childcare highly accessible and integrated. Iceland leads in quality, Sweden offers famously low income-based fees, and Denmark provides high-quality, subsidized care with excellent leave policies, though systems vary in specific strengths.
Singapore: unmatched school performance with global universities. No country outperforms Singapore when it comes to school results. In PISA 2022, its students placed first in all three domains — math, reading, and science — with scores far ahead of the OECD average.
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare reports for children aged 0-3, high-quality childcare can promote advanced expressive vocabulary, social competence, and intellectual development, with those from disadvantaged backgrounds showing the greatest gains.
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Finland, Sweden, Norway, and New Zealand lead with universal access, play-based learning, and strong government support for early childhood education. Montessori, Reggio Emilia, Waldorf, HighScope, and Forest Schooling emphasize independence, creativity, nature, and research-backed learning.
Australia ranks highly globally for education, particularly in higher education where its system is considered third strongest (after the US & UK), with many universities in top 100/50 subject rankings. For K-12, Australian students perform well in PISA tests, ranking in the top 10 for reading, science, and math in recent assessments, though system-wide proficiency varies, notes the ABC News. Overall, Australia is a top destination for international students and boasts a highly educated population, per the Australian Government DFAT and Secret Brisbane.
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Australia offers exceptional quality of life for families. Your kids will grow up outdoors, active, and healthy. The education system is excellent, communities are welcoming, and the lifestyle is genuinely transformative.
Scientific studies have even shown that growing up in rural areas means that kids may have fewer hypersensitivities and allergies as well as better mental health.
in an Psychology Today article, for the first three years, infants and toddlers do best in home-based settings. They tend to experience less stress, less illness and fewer behavioural problems. She then notes that if you do require the use of child care in those first three years, that fewer days are better than more.
The Child Care Subsidy (CCS) is the main government payment available to families to help with the cost of childcare. This payment is made directly to your childcare provider, meaning you benefit from lower childcare fees. To receive the CCS, you must meet the eligibility requirements.
This makes the UK the fourth most expensive country for childcare, based on data collected by the OECD in 2022; and well above the OECD average of 10 per cent. The most expensive country is New Zealand, with childcare costs eating up 37 per cent of the average income; followed by the United States at 32 per cent.
Finland: home to the smartest kids in the world
📚 The 10 Most Educated Countries in the World (2025) Based on tertiary education attainment among adults (ages 25–64) As of 2025, Canada leads the world in education, with 63% of its adult population holding a post-secondary qualification — the highest among OECD nations.
The Finnish education system has garnered widespread acclaim for its progressive and inclusive practices, which prioritize individualized learning, student well-being, and overall holistic development. At the heart of Finland's education system is the principle of equity.
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Finland is the world's happiest country, according to the World Happiness Report, offering retirees (and others) peace, safety, and balance. You can collect U.S. Social Security benefits while living in Finland.
Switzerland tops the list of countries with the highest monthly salaries in 2025, offering an impressive average of USD 8,247. Luxembourg follows in second place with USD 6,764, driven by its strong financial sector and high standard of living.
Yes, $100k is generally considered a strong salary in Australia, placing you above the average (which hovers around $90k-$108k for full-time, but median is lower) and allowing for a comfortable life, though its impact depends heavily on location (major city vs. regional) and personal expenses like housing and dependents, as high living costs in cities like Sydney can stretch this income further than in regional areas.
The 7-7-7 rule of parenting generally refers to dedicating three daily 7-minute periods of focused, undistracted connection with your child (morning, after school, bedtime) to build strong bonds and make them feel seen and valued. A less common interpretation involves three developmental stages (0-7 years of play, 7-14 years of teaching, 14-21 years of advising), while another offers a stress-relief breathing technique (7-second inhale, hold, exhale).
Hobart, Tasmania, is widely recognized as the cheapest major city, but smaller regional towns in Queensland and South Australia can offer even lower living costs.
Parents who use a nanny vs. daycare agree that the greatest perks of hiring one include convenience and flexibility. For starters, parents don't need to worry about adding a school schedule into their already busy routines, as nannies come to your home, which eliminates the need for drop off and pick up.
Childcare in general is not free in Japan. However, For children aged 3 to 5 years, the cost of yochien (7), hoikuen (1, 2, 3) and nintei kodomo en (4) is free. For children aged 0 to 2 years from households exempt from residential tax, up to 42,000 JPY per month can be covered.