Denmark, Sweden, and Norway are the best countries to raise children according to a recent survey published by U.S. News & World Report. These three countries beat other large economies in the world for their generous paternal leave and maternal leave, free preschool, and reliable overall public education systems.
The three countries also scored high in safety, gender equality, green living, family-friendly laws, and human rights, according to the report. Canada was close at number four, the Netherlands at number five, and then Finland, Switzerland, New Zealand, Australia, and Austria. The United Kingdom at number 11 while the United States is at number 18.
Denmark gives parents a total of 52 weeks of paid parental leave. Mothers can use four weeks of those leaves ahead of her giving birth and then another 14 weeks after her labor. Fathers are also given the right to take two week-leave for the first 14 weeks after birth of his child. Parents can decide whether they can have parental leave at the same time or in periods after each other.
In Sweden, parental leave is for no less than 480 days in total or 16 months for each child. Ninety days out of the total 480 days are reserved for each parent; any of them can choose to use the other days. Single parents are entitled to have the full 480-days leave to them. They are paid for at least 240 days of the leaves. As for preschool, all children are entitled to free preschool for at least 525 hours per year when they turn three years old.
In Norway, mothers are entitled for 35 weeks at full pay or 45 weeks at 80% pay. Fathers can have up to 10 weeks of leaves if their income allows. Parents can choose to extend their leaves at 46 weeks or 56 weeks at 80% of their income.
The US, at only number 18, in the rank still wins as the most influential and powerful country. However, it flunked in trustworthiness rating with only 50% of participants of the survey saying they still trust America.
America also failed in ratings for citizenship, quality of life, and best place to visit, landing at number 15. The country ranked at number 17 in ranking for the greenest city, 18th in the most transparent nation, and 26th in best places to travel alone. It even faired low in gender quality, way below than Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
To conduct the survey, U.S. News & World Report assessed 73 nations and 20,000 people in the Americas, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
