Sweden

Sweden's combination of a strong welfare state, competitive innovation economy, and progressive social policies placed it sixth in 2025 quality of life rankings, yet it remains cheaper than the typical rival in healthcare costs per capita at $5,000 annually. Stockholm's status as one of Europe's leading tech startup hubs, home to Spotify, Klarna, and King, delivered strong economic dynamism alongside social security. Sweden's parental leave system, offering 480 days shared between parents, remains one of the world's most generous, 30% longer than Australia's paid parental leave, contributing to consistently high child wellbeing scores.