While happiness is subjective, countries like the Netherlands, Finland, and Denmark consistently rank high for overall family well-being, offering strong social support, work-life balance, and independence for children, leading to satisfied parents and kids. Specifically, studies suggest Portugal, Hungary, and Spain have parents who report being happier than non-parents, often supported by strong family networks and cultural emphasis on family time.
The Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Switzerland, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Canada, and the UK are among the best countries for living with a family. They constantly rank as the safest, child-friendliest, greenest, and happiest countries worldwide.
Best Countries for Raising Kids
Dutch kids are the happiest kids in the world, according to a 2025 UNICEF report.
Norway. Norway ranks as the best country to be a mother due to its wonderful health care and education systems. Mothers enjoy substantial maternity leave and childcare provisions. The country offers low cost day care and flexible schemes that allow mothers to return back to work while collecting maternity leave.
While parenting challenges vary, research and parent surveys often point to the middle school years (ages 12-14) as the hardest due to intense physical, emotional, and social changes, increased independence, hormonal shifts, and complex issues like peer pressure and identity formation, leading to higher parental stress and lower satisfaction compared to infants or older teens. Other difficult stages cited include the early toddler years (ages 2-3) for tantrums and assertiveness, and the early teen years (around 8-9) as puberty begins, bringing mood swings and self-consciousness.
1. Norway tops the list of Save the Children's 2015 Mothers' Index, which ranks the well-being of mothers and children around the globe. 2. Finland came in second place in the global report, which ranks countries on maternal health, children's well-being, educational status, economic status and political status.
Japanese schoolchildren are some of the healthiest in the world
Top 20 Best Education Systems in the World
Chinese parenting has a reputation for being tough. Parents often plan their children's lives — from education to career and even marriage — believing that strict discipline and clear direction will secure an easier path to a better future.
Most of the data used came from previous research, including some UNICEF resources. Overall, the report found that the top 10 rankings on the child flourishing index were the countries of: Norway, ranked first overall.
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).
Scandinavian countries, such as Sweden and Norway, are renowned for their permissive parenting style, which is characterized by an emphasis on children's rights and equality.
Ranking of the least happy countries worldwide 2024, by score. Afghanistan was ranked the least happy country in the world, according to the World Happiness Report from 2025. The country scored only 1.36 on a scale from 0 to 10.
In a region fraught with conflict, Israel consistently ranks as one of the happiest nations on Earth. Bound by family, united through community, and strengthened by a shared resilience, Israelis embrace life amid adversity.
Eldest Children: A Small Advantage in IQ
Several studies suggest that eldest children tend to score slightly higher on IQ tests compared to their younger siblings. One well-known study from the University of Edinburgh found that first-borns often perform better in cognitive tasks.
The highest prevalence among children is recorded on the Pacific island states of Nauru and Palau (both >30%), Tonga, Kiribati and the Marshall Islands (all above 23%). Kuwait, Samoa, the United States and Micronesia all have an obesity prevalence of more than 20%.
The 5-2-1-0 rule is a simple guideline for kids' healthy habits: 5 or more servings of fruits/veggies daily, 2 hours or less of recreational screen time, 1 hour or more of physical activity, and 0 sugary drinks, with water and milk being the best choices. It's a strategy to combat childhood obesity by promoting balanced nutrition, activity, and less screen time, often with an added focus on good sleep (sometimes as "9-5-2-1-0").
The Finnish people have a close connection with nature, enjoying clean air, pure water and walking in the woods. These simple pleasures create a peaceful type of happiness, and an appreciation for the little things in life. All of these things are linked to lower stress levels and increased well-being.
2021 World Happiness Report
Finland holds the rank of the happiest country in the world for the fourth consecutive year. It is followed by Denmark, Switzerland, Iceland and Netherlands.
🇨🇦 Canada ranked #1 most loved country in the world 🌍✨ Out of 48,000+ global respondents, Canada topped the international reputation list with a score of 78.1.
Most Attractive Nationalities In The World
Filipino girls are known for all their loyalty and commitment for their partners. They also have a strong perception of relatives loyalty. Their particular values will be rooted in the theories of Betty Clara. This will make them suitable candidates for matrimony.
60% of Gen Z plans to parent using an authoritative style, which balances structure and support. That's a noticeable shift from the 34% who say they were raised this way. Gentle parenting is gaining ground. 28% plan to use this approach, compared to just 7% who say they experienced it themselves.