[Singapore] Top country in Asia for work-life balance

A new index has named Singapore the best country in Asia for work-life balance in 2025, Time Out reports.

The Global Life-Work Balance Index by Remote.com considered a number of factors, including working hours, statutory annual leave, minimum statutory sick pay percentage, paid maternity leave, and minimum wage, among others.

In Singapore, the minimum statutory annual leave entitlement reportedly begins from seven days into the first year of employment, and increases with each year until it hits 14 days after eight years or more. However, the majority of companies are more generous, offering 14 to 21 days of paid leave per year. 

Medical leave is fixed at 14 days of outpatient leave and 60 days of hospitalisation leave per year. 

Globally, Singapore ranked 25th out of 60. New Zealand, Ireland, and Belgium took the top three spots, with Germany, Norway, and Denmark following closely behind in that order.

In Asia, Malaysia ranked second (and 27th globally), while Japan surprisingly took third place (29th globally) despite its notoriously intense work culture.

The Index’s Top 10 countries in Asia for work-life balance were:

1. Singapore

2. Malaysia 

3. Japan

4. Taiwan 

5. South Korea 

6. Indonesia

7. Vietnam 

8. Thailand 

9. India 

10. Hong Kong 

Source: Time Out

A new index has named Singapore the best country in Asia for work-life balance in 2025, Time Out reports.

The Global Life-Work Balance Index by Remote.com considered a number of factors, including working hours, statutory annual leave, minimum statutory sick pay percentage, paid maternity leave, and minimum wage, among others.

In Singapore, the minimum statutory annual leave entitlement reportedly begins from seven days into the first year of employment, and increases with each year until it hits 14 days after eight years or more. However, the majority of companies are more generous, offering 14 to 21 days of paid leave per year. 

Medical leave is fixed at 14 days of outpatient leave and 60 days of hospitalisation leave per year. 

Globally, Singapore ranked 25th out of 60. New Zealand, Ireland, and Belgium took the top three spots, with Germany, Norway, and Denmark following closely behind in that order.

In Asia, Malaysia ranked second (and 27th globally), while Japan surprisingly took third place (29th globally) despite its notoriously intense work culture.

The Index’s Top 10 countries in Asia for work-life balance were:

1. Singapore

2. Malaysia 

3. Japan

4. Taiwan 

5. South Korea 

6. Indonesia

7. Vietnam 

8. Thailand 

9. India 

10. Hong Kong 

Source: Time Out