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The Global Life-Work Balance Index 2025 is the third annual index report published by Remote, the global authority on remote employment. The company has ranked the top 60 GDP nations based on several workplace factors like statutory annual leave, paid maternity leave, sick leave, healthcare, public safety, public happiness, LGBTQ+ inclusivity, and average work hours per employee.
New Zealand has been ranked first globally in the 2025 Global Life-Work Balance Index, outperforming European nations and neighbouring Australia, marking its third consecutive year at the top.
The 2025 Index assesses each country using a ‘life-work balance score’ out of 100 and New Zealand scored 86.87, followed by Ireland and Belgium at 81.17 and 75.91 respectively.
Neighbouring country Australia retained its spot in the Top 10 and ranked eighth globally with a score of 72.1.
Key global findings:
- New Zealand tops Remote’s Index once again thanks to a high minimum wage, a generous annual and maternity leave entitlements, and high overall happiness scores.
- Australia and Singapore round out the top three APAC countries for life-work balance.
- While Australia trails behind New Zealand in most categories, it boasts the highest minimum wage of any country studied (US$18.12). Australians also tend to work short hours (32.29 per week on average) compared to most other countries.
- Singapore improved by one position to rank third of the APAC countries, owing partly to an increase in statutory maternity leave. The city-state also ranks fourth highest of the APAC countries on the happiness index.
- Notable riser: Malaysia increased its ranking by 20 places compared to 2024. It now ranks fourth of the APAC countries, where previously it stood at 11th. Improved statutory maternity leave is one of the reasons for Malaysia’s improved performance. Still, compared to the other APAC countries, Malaysians tend to work longer hours (44.70 per week on average), and are the least LGBTQ+ inclusive.
- European countries continue to rank consistently well. 16 European nations appear in the top 20, while Ireland, Belgium, Germany, and Norway round out the top five.
- The United States has dropped even further down the list. The country with the largest economy ranks 59th out of the top 60 GDP nations for life-work balance.
“By promoting life-work balance, we acknowledge that work is a means to support life and not its defining purpose,” says Remote chief people officer at Barbara Matthews.
“At Remote, our Global Life-Work Balance study is more than just a comparative table. It’s a reflection of our core belief that people perform their best when they’re trusted to live fully outside of work, not just within it.
“We advocate for life-work balance because flexibility and wellbeing are more than just perks. Our mission is to build a future where global talent thrives not just professionally, but personally too.”
1. New Zealand — 86.87
Holding its place at the top of Remote’s life-work balance index for the third year in a row, New Zealand has significantly improved its score by over six points compared to the previous year. The country doesn’t rank number one for every factor assessed, but scores consistently well across the study, particularly in areas like statutory annual leave, public happiness, safety, and minimum wage (where it is ranked the second-highest of all countries assessed).
