Singapore ranked first in Asia and 25th globally for work-life balance with an overall score of 57.85 out of 100, according to Remote.com's 2025 Global Life-Work Balance Index which assessed factors including statutory leave, sick pay, maternity benefits, healthcare, safety, and working hours.
The city-state offers an average of 18 days annual leave and 14 days outpatient sick leave plus 60 days hospitalization leave annually, though employees work an average of 42.6 hours weekly—higher than Japan's 36.6 hours and South Korea's 37.9 hours.
Malaysia climbed 20 places to rank second in Asia at 27th globally due to improvements in maternity leave and work-hour regulations, while Japan placed third regionally at 29th worldwide despite its reputation for long working hours and unpaid overtime.
New Zealand topped the global rankings for the third consecutive year with a score of 86.87, followed by Ireland and Belgium, with Singapore cited as one of the safest places to live and work alongside New Zealand and Switzerland.
Despite Singapore's positive policies and top Asian ranking, two in five Singaporeans report waking up tired daily, highlighting a gap between official policies and lived experiences as the nation's hustle culture may prevent employees from fully utilizing available benefits.
