Where the world works best: Clickout Media reveals top remote work countries for 2025

Think remote work ended with the pandemic? Think again. As the global workforce continues to embrace remote work, the question remains: where does the world work best? In its groundbreaking Remote Work Index 2025, Clickout Media, a leader in remote-first culture, reveals the top 40 countries for remote employees based on a detailed analysis of metrics such as internet speed, cost of living and work-life balance.

Norway takes the top spot in the rankings, followed closely by Denmark, Canada, the United States, and Sweden. The index highlights a diverse array of global destinations, offering valuable insights for digital nomads, remote workers, and borderless workplaces.

Key findings

• Norway ranks #1 overall thanks to its affordable rents, high average salaries, and excellent quality of life.
• Regional trends:Scandinavia excels in work-life balance, taking three out of the five top spots.Asia is also a standout, with Taiwan (#6) and Japan (#9) offering affordability and advanced digital infrastructure.North America boasts high salaries and top-tier internet speeds, with Canada and the US both making the top five.
• Outside the box: Argentina (#12) and Portugal (#14) emerge as popular, yet budget-friendly options for digital nomads.

"This index reflects the changing priorities of modern workers who value flexibility, affordability, and quality of life,” said Clickout Media head analyst Neil Roarty. “At Clickout Media, we’ve long recognised that the future of work isn’t tied to a single location. We empower our employees to live and work anywhere, and this report celebrates the opportunities remote work brings to individuals and organisations alike.”

The Remote Work Index: By the numbers

The Remote Work Index analysed 40 countries across six key metrics, blending economic, social, and digital infrastructure variables to rank the best nations for remote workers. Each variable was scored out of 100, with higher scores indicating better conditions. Here’s a breakdown of the findings:

• Number of remote jobs available (per 100,000 people):Remote work opportunities were evaluated based on availability per capita. Canada leads this category with 2,637 jobs per 100,000 people, followed by the US with 2,435, and Ireland with 819.
• Average weekly hours worked:A shorter workweek contributes to better work-life balance. Ireland excelled, with an average of just 15.6 hours worked weekly—the lowest of all nations surveyed.
• Average annual salary (GBP):Higher salaries naturally attract remote workers. Norway topped this metric, offering an impressive average of £81,193 per year, followed by Switzerland (£75,408) and the US (£63,632).
• Average internet speed (Mbps):Seamless connectivity is essential for remote work. South Korea dominated with lightning-fast speeds of 316.99 Mbps, while Singapore (253.34 Mbps) and Hong Kong (296.97 Mbps) also ranked highly.
• Electricity costs (GBP per kWh):Affordable energy is a key factor in reducing living expenses. Argentina offered the cheapest electricity at just £0.016 per kWh, followed by Iran (£0.002) and the UAE (£0.063).
• Average rent prices (GBP per month):Housing affordability played a significant role in rankings. Argentina emerged as the most affordable, with average rents of just £383 per month, closely followed by Vietnam (£371) and Bangladesh (£97).

Overall quality of life:Scandinavian countries dominated this category thanks to their exceptional healthcare, safety, and leisure options. Norway, Sweden, and Denmark ranked in the top five, offering unparalleled work-life balance and social benefits.

This data-driven approach combines economic factors like salaries and costs with quality-of-life metrics, presenting a comprehensive view of the best destinations for remote workers globally.

Scandinavian countries, particularly Norway and Denmark, consistently ranked among the top for their balance of affordability, work-life harmony, and digital infrastructure, making them ideal for remote professionals.

“Clickout Media is a remote-first employer on a global scale,” said Roarty. “Our top 20 regions for employees span five different continents, in Europe, North America, South America, Asia and Africa. We are focused on getting the top talent into the business and this approach empowers quality candidates to be able to work from anywhere in the world.”