A new report from UNICEF has ranked Switzerland as one of the best countries in the world for childhood wellbeing. While the alpine nation was highly rated for child physical health and academic performance, its children continue to struggle with their mental wellbeing.
Child wellbeing heavily impacted by the "three Cs", say UNICEF
To create the ranking, UNICEF assessed the wellbeing of children in 43 of the most affluent nations on Earth, including members of the European Union, OECD and the G7. Using data provided by the PISA academic study and UN and OECD institutions, each of the countries was rated through factors related to skills, physical and mental health.
In their report for 2025, UNICEF noted that children across the world have been adversely affected by the "three Cs", namely conflict, COVID and climate. Among the most affluent nations, while child mortality, adolescent suicide and school dropout rates are on the decline, young people are increasingly unsatisfied with their lives, and obesity is on the rise. Likely as a consequence of COVID-related disruption to school systems, academic skills are also beginning to decline.
The Netherlands places first for child wellbeing
However, the turmoil of the last few years has not affected the top performers. Like the last report in 2020, the Netherlands has been ranked as the best country in the world for child wellbeing.
The country took the top spot once again thanks to excellent scores for child mental and physical health. 87 percent of Dutch 15-year-olds reported being satisfied with their lives, while just 12,6 percent experience bullying at school, the best and second best scores on the list, respectively. Denmark, France, Portugal and Ireland rounded out the top five.
Switzerland goes from 8th to 6th in childhood wellbeing ranking
For 2025, Switzerland was ranked as the sixth best nation for childhood wellbeing, an improvement of two places compared to 2020. The country was propelled forward in the ranking largely by other countries dropping down the order, most notably Germany, which went from sixth place in 2020 to 25th in 2025.
Switzerland performed best when it came to the skills it provides young people and the quality of the school system, coming in sixth place in the category. 79,5 percent of 15-year-olds reported that it was easy to make friends in school, while Swiss students were named as the 10th most academically proficient in the world.
The alpine nation also ranked highly for physical health, placing 7th overall. Child mortality remains the joint third best on the list, while the country performed well for rates of obesity among young people.
However, what truly held the country back from the top five were ratings for mental health, with the country placing 13th. Despite 78 percent of young people reporting being satisfied with their lives, the seventh best score on the list, satisfaction has declined, and rates of young suicide have remained stubbornly above average since 2020.
Nevertheless, Switzerland ranked comfortably above the bottom of the list. For 2025, Chile, Türkiye and Mexico were rated as the worst places for childhood wellbeing.
The best countries for childhood wellbeing revealed
In all, here are the top 10 countries to raise children, according to UNICEF:
- The Netherlands
- Denmark
- France
- Portugal
- Ireland
- Switzerland
- Spain
- Croatia
- Italy
- Sweden
For more information about the study and to see the full ranking, visit the UNICEF website.