Canada ranks among the top ten best countries in the world for families in 2020, according to a recent survey.
Daily Mail published an analysis of the Best Countries report conducted by U.S. News & World Report. The Best Countries report was created from a survey of 20,000 people from 36 countries around the world.
The 2020 report looked at 73 countries, and the rankings are based on, "how people's perceptions define countries in terms of a number of qualitative characteristics."
Scandinavian countries dominated the top of the rankings for families, with Denmark, Sweden and Norway clinching the first, second and third spots. Interestingly, Denmark and Sweden were also selected as the best countries in the world for women, too.
Daily Mail notes that Denmark was highlighted for its generous maternity and paternity leave policies, as well as free education and health care. Sweden was also praised for similar reasons, as well as the Nordic country's low crime rate.
Canada and the Netherlands rounded out the top five.
Canada was given a score of 10 for safety, as well as a 9.2 for being 'family-friendly.' Further, it scored a 10 for having a 'well-developed public health system' and a 9.8 for its 'well-developed public education system.'
Switzerland came in sixth followed by New Zealand in seventh. Australia and Austria came ninth and tenth, respectively.
Photo: Daily MailThe article adds that mounting racial tensions, coupled with an "increasingly polarised electorate," make the U.S. problematic for raising families. It also cities school shootings and gun deaths.
Top 10 best countries to raise a child:
1. Denmark
2. Sweden
3. Norway
4. Canada
5. Netherlands
6. Finland
7. Switzerland
8. New Zealand
9. Australia
10. Austria
Top 10 worst countries to raise a child:
1. Kazakhstan
2. Lebanon
3. Guatemala
4. Myanmar
5. Oman
6. Jordan
7. Saudi Arabia
8. Azerbaijan
9. Tunisia
10. Vietnam
The rankings are formed in partnership between U.S. News & World Report, BAV Group (a unit of global marketing communications company VMLY&R) and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. The rankings include 65 metrics.
- With files from Relax News.
