Countries with best work-life balance: Here’s where SA ranks
The Global Work-Life Balance Index rates the top 60 GDP nations and SA’s place may leave you stunned.
In 2025, achieving life-work balance involves more than just time management. Economic and societal factors impact workforces worldwide, which emphasises the need for personal and professional harmony.
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Remote's third annual Global Life-Work Balance Index highlighted the nations that are leading in life-work balance and those needing improvement.
The index assesses factors like statutory annual leave, minimum statutory sick pay, paid maternity leave, minimum wage, access to healthcare, Happiness Index, average hours worked per week, LGBTQ+ inclusivity and public safety to assign a life-work balance score out of 100 to the top 60 GDP nations.
Top 10 Countries for Life-Work Balance
The top 10 countries prioritise factors like time off and fair pay. According to Remote's Global Life-Work Balance Index, they are:
1. New Zealand – Score: 86.87
2. Ireland – Score: 81.17
3. Belgium – Score: 75.91
4. Germany – Score: 74.65
5. Norway – Score: 74.20
6. Denmark – Score: 73.76
7. Canada – Score: 73.46
8. Australia – Score: 72.10
9. Spain – Score: 71.94
10. Finland – Score: 70.86
South Africa ranked 33rd out of the top 60 GDP nations with a score of 52.17 out of 100, missing the top 30. In comparison, New Zealand tops the list with an impressive score of 86.87 out of 100.
SA has an average of 42.39 hours per week per employed person compared to New Zealand's 33 hours.
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