Sweden named as best country in the world to move to and raise children

'The children spend the majority of the day outside and have fresh food prepared on-site every day,' says one parent. 'For now I’m not sure I could ask for much more'

(Ola Ericson/imagebank.sweden.se)

Sweden has been named as the best country for expat families to raise children in, according to a new poll.

Three-quarters of respondents to the HSBC Expat Explorer Survey said their children’s quality of life had improved since making the move to the Scandinavian nation.

The Czech Republic and Singapore came second and third place respectively as the best places for expat families.

The UK languished in 29th place, below Russia, the Philippines, Mexico and Poland.

A healthy lifestyle and was seen as a major factor for Sweden’s high ranking in the survey, which questioned 26,871 expats in 45 countries around the world.

Sixty-nine per cent of expat parents said their children’s health and wellbeing had improved since moving to Sweden, compared with a global average of 49 per cent.

Childcare was also a prominent factor, with 75 per cent of participants rating the quality of childcare in Sweden as better than what was available at home, compared to just 47 per cent of expats elsewhere.

“Our daughter goes to a small preschool in the suburbs with a class of ten other kids,” Jill Leckie, a Scottish expat to the country, told The Local.

“They spend the majority of the day outside and have fresh food prepared on-site every day. For now I’m not sure I could ask for much more.”

Ms Leckie also cited cheap childcare costs as a factor which “crystallised” the “huge advantages” of moving to Sweden with a family.

Overall, Singapore was listed as the best place for expats, taking into account other factors such as income, work life, property, healthcare and integrating and meeting people.

The survey also found that moving aboard can make it easier for young professionals to get on the property ladder, with 41 per cent of respondents saying their move helped accelerate their progress towards buying a first or next property.

In addition, 40 per cent of expats said living abroad helped saving for their retirement.

Forty-four per cent of entrepreneurial expats said emerging economies offered more opportunities to start of grow a business, compared to just 35 per cent of expats living in developed countries.