Last updated on December 25, 2025
SINGAPORE: Singapore has been ranked the best country in Asia for work-life balance and 25th in the world, according to the 2025 Global Life-Work Balance Index published by Remote.com.
The index, which assessed 60 countries worldwide, gave Singapore a score of 57.85 out of 100. While Asia generally scored lower on the list, Singapore came out ahead of Malaysia (57.03), Japan (56.54), Taiwan (54.61), South Korea (53.42), and Indonesia (52.07).
Globally, the top three spots went to New Zealand (86.87), Ireland (81.17), and Belgium (75.91).
Measuring ‘Life-Work Balance’
Launched in 2023, the study measures “important work-related factors” such as statutory annual leave, access to healthcare, public safety, and average weekly working hours. The report reframes the traditional “work-life balance” concept into “life-work balance” to reflect how businesses prioritise the lives of employees over their work commitments.
Data was collected and analysed in April 2025, with index weights applied to reflect the importance of each metric.
For Singapore, the findings highlighted:
- Healthcare: Public insurance healthcare system and minimum statutory sick pay between 80% and 100% of wages.
- Safety: Global Peace Index score of 1.34 (lower scores indicate higher safety).
- Working Hours: Average of 42.6 hours per week, higher than New Zealand (33.0), South Korea (37.9), and Japan (36.6).
- Annual Leave: 18 days — among the lowest globally, compared to UAE (44), Ireland (32), and South Korea (30).
- Happiness Index: 6.57 out of 10.
While Singapore excels in healthcare and safety, the study noted that long working hours and relatively low annual leave allocations are areas for improvement.
Not Previously Ranked
Interestingly, Singapore did not feature in Remote.com’s previous reports in 2023 and 2024, which only listed the global top 10 countries. The 2025 edition marks the first time Singapore has entered the rankings, making its position as Asia’s top country a notable achievement.
2025 Global Life-Work Balance Index
| Rank | Country | Index Score |
|---|---|---|
| Global Top 3 | ||
| 1 | New Zealand | 86.87 |
| 2 | Ireland | 81.17 |
| 3 | Belgium | 75.91 |
| Top Asian Countries | ||
| 25 | Singapore | 57.85 |
| 26 | Malaysia | 57.03 |
| 28 | Japan | 56.54 |
| 33 | Taiwan | 54.61 |
| 36 | South Korea | 53.42 |
| 40 | Indonesia | 52.07 |
Disclaimer: This article may include information sourced from official statements, regulatory filings, public disclosures, or third-party reporting. The Ledger Asia provides editorial context and regional relevance where applicable. While efforts are made to ensure accuracy, not all data or claims cited may be independently verified at the time of publication.
