Best Countries To Raise a Family (Top Picks for American Expats)

While education is only mandated for ages six through 15 in Sweden, as a resident, you can take advantage of publicly funded preschool — called Förskola — for children between one and five. Individual municipalities offer Förskola programs, which are subsidized depending on a child’s age and the number of working parents.

If you’re worried about your kids having to learn a new language, rest easy knowing English is a required subject throughout Sweden.

College or university studies are free for Swedish and European Union (EU) citizens. In 2011, Sweden began requiring non-permanent residents to pay full tuition and fees to attend college within its borders. According to Study.Eu, these range from $9,000–$17,000 per year — markedly lower than the average annual cost of college in the US ($10,940–$39,400, according to Coursera.org).

While healthcare isn’t necessarily free in Sweden, it is relatively low-cost compared to American consumer medical costs. It also comes with some built-in protections and yearly spending caps.

In the US, adults can stay on their parents’ healthcare plans until age 26. Swedish citizens have access to free general healthcare until age 20 and free dental care until age 23. While private healthcare options exist in Sweden, most healthcare is government-subsidized and paid for by taxes.

Swedish citizens enjoy cost protections under this healthcare system, which include the following caps:

• Hospitalization: 130 SEK ($11.90 USD) per day for the first 30 days and 65 SEK ($5.95 USD) per day after this mark within a 12-month period
• Outpatient care: 1,400 SEK ($128.19 USD) per year
• Primary medical care: 1,150 Swedish Krona (SEK), or $105.30 USD per year

This area is one of the key differences between the US and Sweden. While the US has no federally-mandated paid time off, Swedish workers are guaranteed 25 days of leave per calendar year.

Some states have parental leave policies and protections in place, but the United States has no blanket parental leave mandate. By comparison, Sweden’s 480 days of paid parental leave per child greatly reduces the pressure of finding daytime care during early development.

Swedish is the primary language spoken throughout Sweden, but most residents are at least somewhat fluent in English. In fact, the country ranks fourth out of 116 nations for English skills, according to the English Proficiency Index.

All primary and secondary education is free in Norway. This right is available to both Norwegian and EU citizens and Americans living abroad. Private schooling options are available for international students, but the fees can be high. For example, the Oslo International School has a tuition of 264,200 Norwegian Krone (NOK), or $23,671 USD.

University studies are only free for Norway and EU citizens. International college students often pay yearly tuition fees between $11,500 and $36,000.

All Norwegian public schools teach mandatory English as a secondary language courses to all students, so integration for your kids won’t be difficult.

Norway’s healthcare system is almost entirely subsidized by taxes and government funding. According to the International Trade Administration, Norway spent 8.1% of its GDP — $8,637 per citizen — on healthcare in 2021.

This means foreign permanent residents get free general, pregnancy, childbirth, and child healthcare. Some services result in small fees, but these are capped at $250 per year.

Like in the US, citizens have access to private insurance options but insurance is not required for general health coverage.

Norway’s mandated vacation and parental leave makes it a great place to raise a growing family. According to the mandate, Norwegian employers must offer at least 25 days of paid vacation annually.

In addition, parents each get 48 weeks of paid parental leave. Mothers can take nine weeks of paid maternity leave ahead of this as well. For comparison, the US has no such federal mandates. While some employers may offer this, it is far from a guarantee.

Norway’s two official languages are Norwegian and Sami. Both are widely spoken, with most citizens and permanent residents also fluent in English.

Similar to the US, Germany offers free compulsory education starting at age six and for at least nine years from that point. You’ll need a residence permit to qualify for this benefit, but you won’t need to be a full citizen or have permanent resident status.

Aside from primary and secondary education, Germany’s universities are free for all residents, including EU and non-EU transplants.

Health insurance is a requirement for all who live in Germany, with most residents covered by statutory or state-sponsored plans. The US and Germany are each among the highest health spending per capita — $12,555 and $8,011, respectively. However, most people living in Germany have the majority of their expenses covered through state insurance.

Anyone making more than $69,600 annually can pursue their own insurance coverage through a third-party insurer. Residents over that income threshold can stay on state insurance, but will have to pay the maximum premiums, which are currently $760 per month.

Germans working a standard five-day week are entitled to at least 20 days of paid time off per year, with many employers offering more. This is in addition to 10–14 paid holidays, depending on which of the 16 German states you live in. .

Parental leave in Germany is among the most comprehensive and flexible available. Each parent can take 24 months off with the birth or adoption of a child. This can begin immediately after the addition of a new child, and can be taken in different increments up until a child’s eighth birthday.

German employers don’t provide paid leave, but the government offers an allowance for new parents on leave (called “Elterngeld”). Through this, parents can claim a portion of their previous salary for the length of their leave, which usually amounts to 60%–65% of full pay.

German is the official language of Germany, but other commonly-spoken languages include French, English, and Russian. English is taught in all schools in the country, so proficiency rates are high.

Private options are available to all, but public education is free and required for children aged six to 18. English is a required subject from age eight onward.

International schools are also an option for expats and their children, although this can cost anywhere from $420 to $1,900 per month, depending on your location and choice of school.

College is not free in Portugal. However, tuition fees are low — often ranging between $1,550 and $4,250 per year.

All primary healthcare is free for Portuguese citizens and legal residents. All EU citizens have access to care in Portugal by presenting proof of citizenship or their European Health Insurance Card.

You’ll still be obligated to pay small co-pays (typically $5–$21) for basic services like doctor appointments. Similar to the US, you’ll also have the option of purchasing private insurance coverage, which ranges between $440 and $1,100 per year in most cases.

Unlike the US, Portugal offers a generous guaranteed PTO of at least 22 days per year. Some employers provide more, but this is the minimum you will be entitled to when working here.

Parental leave is equally competitive with many other countries, as it mandates a minimum of 120 days per parent after birth or adoption. These 120 days are fully paid, with additional leave available in special circumstances.

Portuguese is the primary language spoken throughout the country. English, French, and Spanish are also commonly spoken, with English being taught in all public schools.

Education is free for all Danish and EU citizens, and is compulsory between ages six and 16. While this is comparable to the public school system you may enjoy in the United States, all Danish and EU citizens also have access to free advanced education via the many universities in the country.

You can also go to college for free if you have permanent residential status. If you fall outside this category, university costs typically range from $6,317–$16,847 per year. This compares favorably to annual US education expenses, which can range as high as $17,600 for in-state public universities and upwards of $53,000 for private institutions.

Denmark provides free basic healthcare to all citizens and permanent residents. This includes:

• Primary care
• Specialist visits
• Hospital visits
• At-home nursing services

You may incur some out-of-pocket costs within this program, however. Dental care is only free until you turn 18, and some prescription medication is not fully covered.

Denmark’s national paid-time-off policy isn’t as straightforward as some other countries, but it still offers more guaranteed vacation and sick leave than the US as a whole. Employees accrue a little over two days off per month of employment, which equals 25 days per year.

Danish citizens and permanent residents also have access to longer periods of parental leave after the birth or adoption of a child. After an initial 10-week stint of maternal leave, each parent can take up to 32 weeks off when a new child has been added to the family. As a bonus, one parent can transfer up to 13 of these weeks to the other if circumstances require it.

Denmark’s official language is Danish, with Dutch and Icelandic also being spoken. As a bonus for American transplants, 86% of Danish citizens speak English as a second language.

Iceland is the safest country in the world, according to Global Peace Index rates. Iceland has earned the index’s most favorable ratings for violent crime, access to weapons, political stability, and many other key factors. Of the countries that made our list, Portugal and Denmark are also in the top 10 on the Global Peach Index.

Due to proximity, Canada is the easiest country to immigrate to from the US. While immigration to any country is complex and involves lots of paperwork, you can apply for Express Entry into Canada if you work in specific skilled trades — like healthcare — and  meet certain eligibility requirements.

Planning your move well in advance and getting multiple quotes from top providers is the best way to book with the right international mover. When you get quotes, consider a mover’s added benefits and convenience factors like assistance with customs clearance and partnerships with companies in other countries.

Sweden has the best child benefits, due in large part to its parental leave allowance. At 480 days, it offers the longest fully paid time off for new parents.

To access healthcare in a new country, you may need to first rely on your current private insurance from a US provider. If your new country offers state-sponsored healthcare, then you should be able to enroll in such a program after establishing residency. This process will vary, depending on the country you choose.