The Top 10 European Countries for Remote Working in 2024

The rise of remote work has revolutionised the way professionals across the globe approach their careers. As technology continues to advance and connectivity becomes increasingly seamless, remote work has emerged as a viable option for people seeking flexibility, autonomy, and a better work-life balance.

For many, the allure of remote work extends beyond their home country. From picturesque landscapes and vibrant cultural scenes to thriving startup environments and advanced digital infrastructure, European countries offer a diverse array of opportunities for remote workers to thrive and flourish.

The Global Remote Work Index (GRWI) from NordLayer ranks the best European countries for remote working, scoring them based on categories including Cyber Safety, Economic Safety, Digital & Physical Infrastructure, and Social Safety. We investigate the best countries in Europe for remote work below to see what makes them so appealing.

Denmark is found to be the best European country for remote working, with a GRWI score of 0.847. Denmark was in the top 10 for the Social Safety and Digital & Physical Infrastructure categories, and the top 20 for Cyber Safety and Economic Safety.

Denmark’s strong digital infrastructure is a huge draw for remote workers. It has fast internet speeds across both mobile internet and fixed broadband as well as widespread availability, making it a breeze for remote workers to connect wherever they may be.

Denmark also enjoys a flexible work culture, with a focus on a healthy work life balance. This mirrors the appeal of remote work, which values flexibility and the ability to fit work around life, and not the other way around.

Denmark also has various policies that support remote working. Whilst it doesn’t have a specific digital nomad visa in place as yet, it does have long stay visas that are ideal for remote workers who want to submerse themselves in Danish culture.

The Netherlands comes second in the rankings of best European countries for remote working. It has a GRWI score of 0.843 and ranks in the top 10 for Social Safety and Digital & Physical Infrastructure, and the top 20 for Cyber Safety and Economic Safety.

Like Denmark, the Netherlands takes a flexible approach to work, with a focus on a good work life balance. Many companies already offer employees remote working opportunities, giving them more freedom over their working hours and also their working locations. As such, the Netherlands has many co-working spaces across the country, creating welcoming environments for remote workers to be productive, collaborate, and network.

The Netherlands also places high value on personal rights and inclusivity, as demonstrated in it coming second in Social Safety in the rankings. It has a multicultural society and well-developed infrastructure, which all make it an attractive location for remote workers.

Germany is the third best European country for remote working, with a GRWI score of 0.842. Germany came in the top 10 for Cyber Safety and Economic Safety, the top 15 for Social Safety, and the top 25 for Digital and Physical Infrastructure.

Germany has one of the largest and most stable economies in Europe, creating a lucrative environment for remote workers. Berlin is particular is a hotspot for startups and technology companies, so it can be the perfect destination for those in the tech industry.

Germany doesn’t have a specific digital nomad visa, but it does have a visa designed for self-employed people that encompasses remote workers and freelancers. This makes it simple for those who want to work remotely in Germany to live and work there, and fully experience the culture.

Spain is the fourth best European country for remote workers. It has a GRWI score of 0.825, ranking in the top 10 for Economic Safety, and the top 20 for Cyber Safety, Digital & Physical Infrastructure, and Social Safety.

Spain offers remote workers a great quality of life, with a laidback lifestyle, temperate climate, and ample outdoor activities. There is a rich cultural heritage to be found in Spain, with remote workers having plenty of opportunities to explore historic sites, and enjoy the beautiful surroundings. The country also offers a lower cost of living than some of the other countries on the list, meaning remote workers can often find their money goes further in Spain than elsewhere in Europe.

Spain offers a specific digital nomad visa, which allows non-EU citizens to live and work remotely in Spain for up to five years. Whilst applying can be complex, once approved it’s the perfect way for remote workers to enjoy the Spanish lifestyle while working.

Sweden is the fifth best country in Europe for remote workers, scoring 0.824 in the GRWI. Sweden comes in the top 10 for Economic Safety and Digital & Physical Infrastructure, the top 15 for Social Safety, and the top 25 for Cyber Safety.

Sweden places a strong emphasis on work life balance. As such, flexible working is seen as standard, and employee wellbeing is seen as a priority. Many jobs already offered remote working as an option, even before the pandemic made it a global norm. Sweden has a strong welfare system, with great quality public healthcare, affordable childcare, and generous parental leave, which can al make it attractive to remote workers.

Many people find accommodation in Sweden to be small, especially in cities such as Stockholm. However, there is an abundance of co-working spaces, giving people the option to work remotely from a focused, dedicated environment, rather than attempting to work from a small space at home.

Portugal is the sixth best country in Europe for remote working. It has a GRWI score of 0.824 and ranks in the top 10 for Social Safety and Economic Safety, the top 20 for Cyber Safety and the top 25 for Digital and Physical Infrastructure.

Like Spain, Portugal offers remote workers a low cost of living and high quality of life. There is generally a laid-back approach here, and this is reflected in a flexible attitude to working hours and remote working. Portugal has a warm climate and stunning landscapes, offering ample outdoor activities and plenty to see and do.

Portugal offers a dedicated digital nomad visa designed for remote workers. It gives applicants the chance to live and work in Portugal for 12 months and up to five years, offering plenty of opportunities for people to experience the culture.

Estonia is the seventh best European country for remote working, with a GRWI index of 0.818. The country scored especially highly for Cyber Safety, coming second overall, and ranked in the top 20 for Social Safety, the top 30 for Digital and Physical Infrastructure, and the top 40 for Economic Safety.

Estonia has a culture that values startup and entrepreneurship. It has a supportive environment for startups and innovation, particularly in the tech industry in Tallinn, making it a great location for remote workers in technology.

Estonia also has a relatively low cost of living and high quality of life, with picturesque landscapes and a rich cultural heritage. Estonia also benefits from a government that has pioneered digital services, meaning public services such as filing taxes and accessing healthcare can all be done easily online.

Lithuania is the eighth best country in Europe for remote working, with a GRWI score of 0.808. Lithuania scored highly in Cyber Safey, ranking third, in the top 30 for Social Safety and Digital and Physical Infrastructure, and in the top 45 for Economic Safety.

Lithuania has one of the best infrastructures among the Baltic countries, with access to good internet speeds and wide coverage. Cities such as Vilnius and Kaunas are particularly popular with remote workers, with growing startup cultures and supportive business policies. For example, Nord Security, a Lithuanian VPN service and leader in digital security, provides members of Startup Lithuania with free cybersecurity tools and training.

Ireland is the ninth best European country for remote working. It has a GRWI score of 0.802, ranking in the top 20 for Cyber Safety, Economic Safety and Social Safety, and the top 30 for Digital and Physical Infrastructure.

Ireland has a strong economy and is a global hub for international business, providing ample career and networking opportunities for remote workers. The country offers a good quality of life, with stunning countryside and a rich culture. Barring some of the more remote, rural areas, individuals can find fast, reliable internet speeds, covering both broadband and mobile internet.

Ireland has a thriving startup culture, which includes over 240 digital co-working hubs across the country. This provides the perfect location for remote workers to find a place to focus and work, as well as collaborate with fellow remote workers.

Slovakia is the tenth best country in Europe for remote working. It has a GRWI score of 0.802, ranking first overall for Cyber Safety, in the top 30 for Economic Safety and Social Safety, and top 45 for Digital and Physical Infrastructure.

Slovakia has a strong focus on cybersecurity, with policies put in place to improve the infrastructure and cyber resilience. This can make it attractive to remote workers, as there will be structures in place to keep them and their work protected. In addition, Slovakia offers a good quality of life with a rich and unique cultural heritage.

Whilst Slovakia doesn’t offer a dedicated digital nomad visa, it does provide a temporary residence for business purposes, which can include remote workers and self-employed people. This allows individuals to work and live in Slovakia for up to three years.

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