Remote Working Country Index - Best Countries for Remote Working in 2026
Not every country treats remote work the same way. We looked at a wide range of data on adoption rates, legislation, infrastructure, work-life balance, job markets, and nomad appeal to see how each country stacks up for remote and flexible workers.
United Kingdom
Our Score: 74/100
The UK is one of the world's strongest countries for remote and flexible work. Workers here average 1.8 work-from-home days per week, putting it in the top tier globally alongside the US, Canada, and Australia. There are real reasons for that: flexible working has been part of UK work culture for a while now, the digital infrastructure is mostly in place, and since 2024, every employee can request remote work from their first day on the job. It is not without problems; broadband outside cities can be hit-or-miss, and living costs are high. But the mix of legal backing, widespread adoption, and a deep job market puts the UK ahead of most countries.
Ireland
Our Score: 78/100
As seen on the graph, Ireland does well globally in terms of remote work. It shares a time zone with the UK, English is the native language, and the tech industry is massive relative to the country's size. Dublin is the European headquarters for Google, Meta, Salesforce, and many others (out of tax reasons of course). Stanford data puts Irish workers at about 1.5 WFH days per week, and Remote.com ranked Ireland second in the world for work-life balance in 2025. Since March 2024, every employee has the legal right to request remote working, as the UK has done. The cost of living in Dublin is steep, but outside the capital, things are more manageable, and the government has actively pushed remote work as part of its rural development strategy.
Netherlands
Our Score: 77/100
The Netherlands is one of the most remote-work-friendly countries in the world by almost any measure. It ranked 2nd on NordLayer's Global Remote Work Index, scores consistently high on infrastructure and social safety, and has a long-established framework for requesting flexible work, even though working from home is not a legal right. Dutch workers average about 1.4 WFH days per week, according to Stanford data, not the highest, but the legal and cultural framework around flexible work is among the strongest anywhere. English proficiency is extremely high, and the country sits just one hour ahead of the UK, making it a natural fit for cross-border remote teams.
Spain
Our Score: 75/100
Spain has a different kind of remote work story. The raw WFH adoption numbers are not spectacular. Stanford data shows about 1.2 days per week, which is right around the European average. But what Spain offers is one of the most complete packages for people who want to move somewhere and work remotely. It has a proper digital nomad visa with a path to residency, a generous tax regime for qualifying employees (the Beckham Law), a right to disconnect that has been law since 2018, and a cost of living that is noticeably lower than the UK, France, or Germany. Add the climate, the healthcare system, and the quality of life, and it is easy to see why Spain topped the 2025 Global Digital Nomad Report.
Portugal
Our Score: 73/100
Portugal has become one of Europe's most popular destinations for remote workers, and the numbers tell you why. Stanford data shows 1.5 WFH days per week, higher than most of continental Europe. NordLayer ranked it 6th globally in its Remote Work Index, and it was the best value-for-money country in the entire top 10. The D8 digital nomad visa offers a clear path from temporary residency to permanent settlement. Lisbon has been one of Europe's most established digital nomad hubs for years, with a large and active remote worker community. Portugal lost one of its biggest selling points when the NHR tax regime closed to most new applicants in 2024. Even so, the cost of living, weather, safety, and overall quality of life keep it near the top of the list. The main catch is that the domestic job market is small and salaries are low if you are looking for local work.
Germany
Our Score: 76/100
Germany is Europe's largest economy and one of the strongest countries for remote work in practice, even though the legal framework has not yet caught up. Stanford data shows German workers averaging 1.6 WFH days per week, well above the European average and just behind the UK. About 24% of all employed people in Germany worked from home in 2024, nearly double the pre-pandemic level. NordLayer ranked Germany 3rd globally in its Remote Work Index, with especially strong scores on cyber safety and economic safety. But here is the odd bit: Germany still has no statutory right to request remote work. Proposals have been floated since 2020, but nothing has passed. In practice, remote and hybrid work are widespread because employers have adopted them voluntarily, not because the law requires it.
Canada
Our Score: 76/100
Canada tops the Stanford WFH chart at 1.9 days per week, the highest of any country in the world. The hybrid model is deeply embedded, particularly in tech, finance, and professional services. Remote.com ranked Canada 7th globally for work-life balance in 2025, making it the only country in the Americas in the top 10. The legal picture is more fragmented than it first appears: employment law is mostly provincial, so the rules depend on where you live. Ontario is the only province with a formal right-to-disconnect policy requirement for larger employers. Canada ranked 14th on NordLayer's Global Remote Work Index. The catch for UK workers is the time zone; Canada is 5 to 8 hours behind, which makes real-time calls with a UK team difficult unless your role is flexible on hours.
Denmark
Our Score: 80/100
Denmark is the top-ranked country on NordLayer's Global Remote Work Index, and for good reason. The infrastructure is excellent, the social safety net is among the strongest in the world, and the Danish work culture is built around trust, autonomy, and going home on time. The average working week is just 32.5 hours. But here is the thing that might surprise you: Denmark's actual WFH adoption rate is not that high. Stanford data shows about 0.9 days per week, which is below the European average. Danes do not work from home as much as the British or Americans; they just have better working conditions overall. Denmark scores highest not because everyone works remotely, but because when they do, the infrastructure, culture, and protections around it are among the best anywhere.
Want us to cover another country? Let us know and we will add it to our list.
Frequently asked questions
Have more questions? Get in touch with Frederic, Founder of RemoteCorgi.
- How are the country scores calculated?
- Each country is scored across six pillars: WFH adoption, digital infrastructure, legislation and policy, work-life balance, the depth of the remote job market, and nomad or expat appeal. The scores are our editorial assessments based on the most credible public data we could find, including Stanford's Global Survey of Working Arrangements, NordLayer's Global Remote Work Index, and Remote.com's Life-Work Balance Index. Where a source gives a direct ranking, we calibrated against it. Where no single metric exists, we made a judgement call and tried to be transparent about it.
- Why should I care about how other countries score?
- Even if you are not planning to move, understanding how your country compares can be useful. It provides context on what a good remote work policy looks like, the rights you might be missing, and where the job market is heading. If you are considering working abroad or hiring internationally, this data is even more directly relevant.
- How often are the scores updated?
- We aim to update the scores when major new data is released. The Stanford G-SWA survey typically publishes new data in Q1 each year, and Remote.com and NordLayer update their indices annually. We also track legislative changes as they happen. Each country page shows when it was last updated.
- Can I suggest a country to add?
- Yes, we would like that. We are building this out over time and prioritising countries that are most relevant to UK-based remote workers. If there is a country you want us to cover, let us know via our contact page.