Estonia has been ranked the best country in the world for single parents, according to a June 2026 report by family location-tracking app, iSharing.

The study examined 30 countries to determine where raising a child alone is most supported by policy, affordability and access to care.

At a time when single-parent families are becoming more visible across the world, the report places Estonia at the top with a perfect Single-Parent Support Score of 100.

According to the findings, Estonia stands out for its subsidised childcare, strong employment rate among single parents and one of the most generous paid leave systems in the world.

The country offers up to 82.1 weeks of paid leave in full-rate equivalent terms.

It also recorded zero annual childcare cost in the report, making it easier for lone parents to return to work or remain employed without spending a large part of their income on care.

The study found that 81.1 per cent of single parents in Estonia are employed, while 91 per cent of children aged three to five are enrolled in formal childcare.

These figures helped push the country ahead of Lithuania, Slovenia, Latvia and Austria, which completed the top five.

For many single parents, the challenge is not only about money.

It is also about time, care, work and emotional pressure.

Raising a child alone often means doing the job of two people with one income, one schedule and one body.

That is why policies around childcare, housing, paid leave and employment can determine whether single parenting feels manageable or overwhelming.

In Lithuania, which ranked second with a score of 93, nearly 78 per cent of single parents are employed.

The report puts the country’s average annual wage at $52,898, while annual childcare cost stands at about $2,645.

Housing costs also remain relatively low, taking up 12.7 per cent of income.

Lithuania also spends 2.8 per cent of its GDP on family benefits, giving lone-parent families a stronger support base.

Slovenia came third with a score of 91.

The country recorded the highest single-parent employment rate in the top 10 at 83.4 per cent.

With an average annual wage of $61,776 and childcare costs of about $3,089, the report suggests that childcare takes only a small share of income.

Slovenia also offers over 52 weeks of paid leave in full-rate equivalent terms, giving parents more time to care for their children without completely losing income.

Latvia ranked fourth with a score of 89.

The country combines relatively affordable childcare with lower housing pressure.

According to the report, lone parents in Latvia spend about $2,734 yearly on childcare, while housing costs take up only about 10 per cent of income.

Its single-parent employment rate stands at 73 per cent, while paid leave reaches 44 weeks in full-rate equivalent terms.

Austria completed the top five with a score of 87.

Although its childcare cost is about $2,273 yearly, the country’s average annual wage is much higher at $75,767.

Austria also commits 3.4 per cent of its GDP to family benefits, more than countries such as Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States, according to the report.

Other countries in the top 10 include Sweden, Germany, Japan, Luxembourg and Norway.

Sweden ranked sixth with a score of 86, supported by high childcare enrollment and a strong employment rate among single parents.

Germany followed with a score of 85, helped by low childcare costs of about $694 yearly and a 96 per cent enrollment rate for children aged three to five.

Japan ranked eighth with a score of 81.

Its childcare cost was listed at about $494 yearly, while 92 per cent of children aged three to five are enrolled in formal care.

Luxembourg came ninth with a score of 79, boosted by zero childcare cost and the highest average annual wage in the top 10 at $94,447.

Norway ranked tenth with a score of 78.

The report also highlighted the pressure faced by single parents in Ireland, where annual childcare costs average about $7,000.

This makes Ireland one of the more expensive countries for lone-parent families in the study.

A spokesperson for iSharing said the company’s interest in single-parent families is tied to its wider mission of helping families feel safer and more connected.

“At iSharing, supporting single parents is close to our heart. Our app is designed to give families peace of mind. That’s part of why we’re actively partnering with single-parent organisations; the families who need support the most are often the hardest to reach,” the spokesperson said.

The report shows that single parenting becomes easier when countries treat childcare as public support, not just a private family burden.

It also shows that paid leave, affordable housing and stable employment are not small benefits.

For single parents, they can be the difference between surviving and actually raising children with dignity.