Australia Dominates 2026 Global Child-Rearing Rankings with Four Cities in Top Ten
On.cc · 1 SOURCESabout 4 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
A comprehensive global study has ranked Brisbane, Australia as the most suitable city for raising children in 2026, with a score of 6.457 out of 10. Australian cities dominate the top ten, claiming four positions amid strong performances from cities in the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and Finland. The study by Compare the Market Australia evaluated 50 cities worldwide using nine weighted indicators related to childcare, revealing that Australia's extended parental leave policies and high vaccination rates set it apart from competitors.
Key Points
- Brisbane leads with 6.457 points, followed by London (5.992), Auckland (5.46), Helsinki (5.305), Sydney (5.239), Perth, and Melbourne in seventh
- Australia provides up to 54 weeks of combined statutory parental leave, significantly exceeding the United States' 12 weeks, which contributed to lower US city rankings
- Monthly cost of raising a family of four in Brisbane is approximately $3,390.7 (HK$26,400), compared to London's $5,037.8 (HK$39,200)
- Brisbane ranks second globally for safety (index score: 90) and has the highest per capita parks and green spaces (84.89 per 100,000 people)
- Seoul (4.904 points) secured the final top-ten position as the highest-ranked East Asian city, while Tokyo placed 22nd and Osaka 32nd
Why It Matters
The dominance of Australian cities in this parenting-friendliness ranking reflects how government policies—including parental leave duration and child vaccination programs—directly influence urban liveability for families. For Hong Kong families considering emigration, the findings underscore that cities combining affordable living costs, strong safety infrastructure, and generous family support policies may offer superior environments for raising children compared to expensive metropolitan hubs like London or San Francisco .
The dominance of Australian cities in this parenting-friendliness ranking reflects how government policies—including parental leave duration and child vaccination programs—directly influence urban liveability for families. For Hong Kong families considering emigration, the findings underscore that cities combining affordable living costs, strong safety infrastructure, and generous family support policies may offer superior environments for raising children compared to expensive metropolitan hubs like London or San Francisco .