City in Scotland named best in world ‘to raise a family’ in 2024

A Scottish city has been named as the best in the world to raise a family.

Choosing where to settle down is a major decision, and there is a lot to consider. While many parents and carers prefer to move to the suburbs or countryside for peace and quiet, others want the convenience and amenities that city living provides.

To help families choosing the latter option, language learning platform italki has ranked cities around the world by looking at factors such as safety, things to do, cost of living, maternity leave policies, and quality of education. Coming in as the number one city to raise a family is Edinburgh.

According to the experts, the Scottish capital offers the most paid maternity leave at 39 weeks. With a high quality of life index score of 187.7, it also ensures a thriving environment for families.

The study also found that Edinburgh boasts 32.8 things to do per 10,000 people, with an impressive 1,833 activities overall. With highlights including the iconic Edinburgh Castle, the picturesque Arthur’s Seat, and its wealth of fascinating museums and galleries, the city provides endless opportunities for family bonding.

With Edinburgh being the only UK city to feature in the top 10, Amsterdam in the Netherlands comes in at number two. The city ranked highly when it came to safety in particular, while it ranked third in the world for education according to the experts.

Rounding out the top five cities to raise a family are Seville in Spain, Helsinki in Finland, and Copenhagen in Denmark. The cost of living in Spain especially was found to be lower than other cities on the list, making it easier to stretch your budget.

More information about the best cities in the world to raise a family can be found on the italki website.

The 10 best cities in the world to raise a family

1. Edinburgh, Scotland
2. Amsterdam, Netherlands
3. Seville, Spain
4. Helsinki, Finland
5. Copenhagen, Denmark
6. Munich, Germany
7. Madrid, Spain
8. Tokyo, Japan
9. Wellington, New Zealand
10. Vienna, Austria

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