The five countries emigrating families love

For families considering emigration, the question of where the best places to raise children are is paramount. While rankings of the world's most liveable countries can provide some guidance, when children are involved, there are additional factors to consider. These may include the health and happiness of local children, the quality of education, family leave policies, and the availability of green spaces or playgrounds. Unicef, in its 'report cards' on child wellbeing, focuses on these factors. It's worth noting that their rankings only consider the world's wealthiest countries, and not all of the data may be relevant to expat families. However, their findings do provide a valuable snapshot of what it's like to raise children in different countries around the globe.

Japan, for instance, ranks highly in Unicef's 2020 analysis of children's wellbeing, coming in first for physical health, which considers child mortality and obesity rates. In Unicef's most recent report card in 2022, which specifically examined the environments children grow up in, Japan ranked second for the 'world around the child'. This category includes factors such as urban green space and traffic safety. Japan also boasts the lowest rate of child obesity, low child mortality, and extremely low levels of air or water pollution affecting children. Furthermore, it's one of the safest countries for families, not just in terms of road accidents. Japan's overall murder rate is the lowest of any of the countries Unicef examined. This safety factor doesn't just provide peace of mind for families, it also significantly impacts the freedom children can enjoy, according to Mami McCagg, a Tokyo native who now resides in London. 'Kids go to school on their own from the age of six or so. They take the bus or the train if it's not just walking distance,' she said. 'Even in the middle of Tokyo, kids just walk around and go to school on their own. It's completely normal because it's really safe. No one is really worried about their kids because we don't have to be.

In addition to high scores for health and safety, Japan also has one of the world's top educational systems, ranking 12th among 76 countries and regions, according to OECD assessments that Unicef used for its data. The country also provides generous entitlements for paid parental leave, with each working parent offered around 12 months. However, despite the many benefits Japan offers families, locals may seem critical, says McCagg. 'You might hear a lot of pessimism, because we always hear about all the positive sides of other countries and compare that to Japan,' she explained. 'It's also a cultural thing, where you're supposed to 'talk down' about something that you identify with to seem humble. But I would say that Japan is a really nice place to raise children.