Singapore has climbed to third place among Asia Pacific (APAC) countries in the Global Life-Work Balance Index 2025, published by Remote, a leading global HR platform. The city-state improved its global ranking to 25th, attributed to an increase in statutory maternity leave and a high happiness index score.
The index, which evaluates 60 countries based on factors such as statutory leave, work hours, and LGBTQ+ inclusivity, saw New Zealand maintaining its top position globally with a score of 86.87. Singapore’s rise in the rankings is part of a broader trend in the region, with Malaysia also making significant strides, moving up 20 places to rank fourth in APAC.
Barbara Matthews, Chief People Officer at Remote, commented on the importance of life-work balance, stating, “By promoting life-work balance, we acknowledge that work is a means to support life and not its defining purpose.”
Despite improvements, challenges remain for some APAC countries. Japan, for instance, fell to fifth place in the region, hindered by limited statutory annual leave. Meanwhile, China ranked lowest among APAC countries, with workers averaging 46.10 hours per week, the longest in the region.
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