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In a world where more people are choosing life over hustle, a new global survey has revealed which countries are doing the best at helping people strike a healthy balance between work and personal life. 

The 2025 Global Life-Work Balance Index, released by Remote, ranks New Zealand at the top for the third year in a row with a score of 86.87 out of 100. Its strong public policies, shorter working hours, and improved minimum wages played a major role in its top performance.

India, meanwhile, has been ranked 42nd out of 60 countries, scoring 45.81. While India does offer 35 days of statutory annual leave, challenges such as poor healthcare access and longer working hours have pulled down its score.

The United States came in second-last at 59th, largely due to limited paid leave and increasing burnout. Pakistan was placed 54th with a score of 38.27, reflecting similar struggles across parts of Asia and the Middle East, as per report.

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The rankings come at a time when there is a shift in work culture occurring globally. According to the 2025 Workmonitor from Randstad, a survey of over 26,000 employees across 35 nations, work-life balance has, for the first time, taken precedence as worker priority over pay.

The survey indicates that 31 percent left jobs where they felt stuck with no career growth. Also, about 50 percent of respondents said they would refuse to work for an organisation whose values did not synch with their own. Learning would be another major factor: 44 percent said they would not accept a job if it did not offer opportunities to learn skills relevant in the future.

On the other hand, a toxic culture is still pushing people away. Roughly 44 percent of respondents claim they have already quit a job because of toxicity, and more than half stated that they would leave if they did not feel a sense of belonging at work, as per Randstad's survey report.

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European nations dominated the top ranks, with seven of the top 10 countries coming from the region. Countries like Ireland, Belgium, Germany, and Norway scored high due to their strong social safety nets, comprehensive healthcare, and shorter workweeks. 

Here are the top 10 countries for life-work balance in 2025:

New Zealand – 86.87

Ireland – 81.17

Belgium – 75.91

Germany – 74.65

Norway – 74.20

Denmark – 73.46

Canada – 72.10

Australia – 71.94

Spain – 70.86

Finland – 69.68

The study introduced the term “life-work balance” to highlight the changing priorities of today’s workforce, where work is seen as a support system for life rather than the other way around. As expectations shift globally, the findings underline the importance of investing in inclusive policies, equitable skilling, and meaningful workplace cultures.

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