[theList] South Korea Ranks 21st in 'Best Countries to Raise Children'... 1st Place Goes to the Land of Windmills

UNICEF Report on 'Children's Quality of Life'
Nordic Countries and Switzerland Sweep Top 5
South Korea 21st... "Excellent Education, Poor Quality of Life"

'Proper child-rearing' is emerging as a major concern among leading developed countries. This is because while the number of adolescents is decreasing due to the worsening low birthrate problem, aging is intensifying. South Korea, which recorded a total fertility rate of 0.78 last year, continuously setting a new record for the 'world's lowest birthrate,' is no exception.

Amid this, the 'Report Card' report, a 2022 child welfare research material recently compiled by UNICEF, is gaining attention. This report annually scores children's ▲mental health, ▲physical health, and ▲educational level to rank 43 developed countries worldwide on how good they are for children to grow up in.

In this survey, South Korea ranked 34th in ▲mental health, 13th in ▲physical health, and 11th in ▲educational level, placing 21st overall in the mid-range. In South Korea's case, the overall quality of public education was high, but many children reported academic stress and competitive pressure.

So, how did the countries that ranked at the top in this survey perform?

5th - Finland

Finland / Photo by Pixabay

Finland, a Nordic country ranked 5th overall, is already famous for its excellent education system. It consistently ranks at the top in the international Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), in which South Korea also participates.

However, Finland's success in child policy is not limited to education. According to UNICEF, the mortality rate of children aged 5 to 14 in Finland is less than half that of the United States and is among the lowest levels by developed country standards.

Childcare welfare is also very generous; paid maternity leave totals 8 weeks, and parents can share up to 14 months of parental leave. Applications can be made until the child turns 3 years old.

Additionally, Finland has the largest amount of urban green space per capita among developed countries. This means children can safely play and live in nature. This feature is reported to greatly help not only the physical health of adolescents but also their emotional stability.

4th - Switzerland

Switzerland / Photo by Pixabay

Switzerland, a Central European country ranked 4th, has a clause in its Civil Code stating that society is responsible if parents find it difficult to raise children. This indicates that it has well-developed child and childcare welfare and protection policies.

However, unlike typical European countries where the central government takes the lead in welfare responsibility, Switzerland traditionally has strong local governments (cantons). Local governments and cities are responsible for policies related to children and youth, while the federal government plays a supplementary role and coordinates efforts. In particular, the federal government is involved in protecting socially vulnerable groups and youth outdoor activities, areas that local governments find difficult to manage individually.

3rd - Norway

Norway / Photo by Pixabay

Norway, another Nordic country ranked 3rd overall, also ranked high in all three indicators.

The high quality of life for Norwegian youth can be found in various indicators. According to UNICEF, the suicide rate per 100,000 youth in Norway is 5.1, lower than most developed countries such as South Korea (7.3), Japan (7.5), and the United States (8.7).

Norway also provides a safe environment where youth can play without worry. The number of traffic accidents per 1,000 children aged 1 to 15 is only 0.71, about half of South Korea's 1.4.

2nd - Denmark

Denmark / Photo by Pixabay

Denmark, ranked 2nd overall, also achieved excellent results in mental health (5th), physical health (4th), and educational level (7th). Denmark is famous for its welfare policies that systematically support childcare from early childhood ages 1 to 7.

Parents can use guaranteed paid maternity leave, and kindergarten fees are subsidized by central and local governments, with parents paying only about 30% of the total cost.

1st - Netherlands

Netherlands / Photo by Pixabay

The Netherlands, ranked 1st overall in this report, received high scores in mental health (1st), physical health (9th), and educational level (3rd). Especially, the quality of life for Dutch youth was significantly higher compared to other developed countries.

Nine out of ten 15-year-old Dutch adolescents responded that they are 'satisfied' with their lives. Regarding this, the British media BBC viewed that the Netherlands' excellent child policies could positively affect adolescents' mental health. The Netherlands guarantees 16 weeks of mandatory paid maternity leave, and men can also take up to 6 weeks of paternity leave. With relatively more free time, parents can devote more effort to child-rearing.

Another advantage is active interaction among youth through group activities such as clubs and community service. According to UNICEF, 8 out of 10 15-year-old Dutch adolescents answered that they can easily make friends. This means they are likely to receive emotional support from their peers.