In this article, we will be navigating through the parental leave system across the world while covering the 25 countries with the best maternity and paternity leave. If you wish to skip our detailed analysis, you can move directly to the 5 Countries with the Best Maternity and Paternity Leave.
Parental Leaves Across the World
In order to transition to parenthood in the smoothest possible manner, employees around the world are granted leave. While maternity leave is granted to mothers around the time they give birth, paternity leave is reserved for fathers. Once these leaves end, parental leave is given to the new parents so they can look after their children during their early years.
Several countries in Northern and Eastern Europe ensure a full year of paid maternity leave. On the other extreme, some nations do not give paid family leave for both men and women. These include the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Suriname, and Tonga.
US Leave System for New Parents at a Glance
Back in 1993, The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) was introduced in the US to ensure job security while employees were on unpaid leave in situations such as serious illness, childbirth, care for a family member, or placement of one’s child in foster care or for adoption.
In the current scenario, the country is lagging behind other developed nations in this regard since there is no paid maternity or paternity leave at the federal level. In 2022, The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that only about 1 in 4 employees in the private sector workforce have access to paid family leave. More than 3 in 4 private sector employees do not have access to paid family leave. Furthermore, full-time employees tend to have better access to paid family leave than part-time workers.
However, the states within the US have passed paid family and medical leave laws including California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Washington. Other states such as Vermont and New Hampshire offer a voluntary opportunity to purchase insurance coverage rather than granting a right to paid leave. This allows employees in family raising.
The paternity leave scenario is still not in place since American fathers are not guaranteed paid paternity leave. While 12 weeks of unpaid leave are granted by FMLA, many of these fathers take off only 10 days or less after childbirth. At times, employers also require new fathers to work the same hours as before. An increasing emphasis has been placed on paid parental leave since it is expected to lower financial stress while ensuring gender equality as the father shares in childcare responsibilities. You can also look at some of the best long-term investments for a child.
Companies Easing the Transition to Parenthood
Many companies around the globe stand out by offering comprehensive employee benefits. Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS), Alphabet Inc.’s (NASDAQ:GOOG) Google, and PayPal Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:PYPL) facilitate employees along their work-life journey through such benefits.
Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) is a multinational investment bank and financial services company. The company grants a paid leave of 16 weeks for all parents. 6 to 8 additional weeks of medical leave following pregnancy are also allowed. Other childcare benefits include lactation rooms, breast milk shipping, and dependent daycare flexible spending accounts to help cover the cost of childcare and preschool, before and after school programs. Counseling for children with special needs is also available. Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) updated its parental leave in 2021 from 16 weeks of parental leave for primary caregivers and 6 weeks of parental leave for non-primary caregivers thereby making the policy more holistic and neutral. In July, Dr. David Stark, Morgan Stanley’s Chief Medical Officer, reported this change as being a part of long-term thinking. Paid parental leave and family support were areas that were previously pointed out as opportunities for improvement during an employee survey.
Alphabet Inc.’s (NASDAQ:GOOG) Google has also been known as a leader in workplace benefits. Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) supports its employees at every point of their life, especially for raising a family. Back in 2022, Reuters reported that the company extended parental leave to 24 weeks off compared with 18 weeks for parents who give birth while the employees have been granted 8 weeks of caregiver leave. Parental leave has also been expanded from 12 weeks to 18 weeks for all parents.
PayPal Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:PYPL) is a leading financial technology company. As a part of its employee benefits, the firm offers 16 weeks of paid maternity leave for mothers who have been working with PayPal for at least 3 months. Fathers with at least 3 months of employment are also eligible for 2 weeks of paid paternal leave which can be availed within 12 months of the child’s birth. This leave is granted for the birth and adoption of every child. Additionally, the leave policy for new parents is flexible as fathers are capable of sharing 4 weeks of their spouse’s 16 weeks of maternity leave. Every year, 6 days of paid childcare leave is also given to parents with children under the age of 13.
Without further ado, let’s move to the 25 countries with the best maternity and paternity leave.
25 Countries with the Best Maternity and Paternity Leave
Our Methodology:
In order to compile a list of the 25 countries with the best maternity and paternity leave, we sourced data from the OECD’s family database. In the section ‘child-related leaves’, we found the duration of leaves for mothers and fathers following childbirth. The most recent data for child-related leaves for all countries was available from 2022. Moving on, we calculated the average leaves dedicated to parents by averaging the maternity and paternity leaves for the respective countries. A higher average score as represented by ‘average paternal leave’ depicts a country that has a better policy for maternity and paternity leaves combined.
All statistics related to maternity and paternity leaves are mentioned as recorded by OECD in 2022. Finally, we ranked the 25 countries with the best maternity and paternity leave in ascending order of their average parental leave.
25 Countries with the Best Maternity and Paternity Leave
25. Switzerland
Maternity Leave: 16 Weeks
Paternity Leave: 2 Weeks
Average Parental Leave: 9 Weeks
With a maternity leave of 16 weeks and a paternity leave of 2 weeks, Switzerland ranks as one of the 25 countries offering the best leaves to parents post-childbirth. The country is also deemed a good place to raise children.
24. Belgium
Maternity Leave: 15 Weeks
Paternity Leave: 3 Weeks
Average Parental Leave: 9 Weeks
Belgium ranks as one of the countries with the best maternal and paternal leave. The state allows for 15 weeks of leave for new mothers while fathers can avail of a paternity leave of 3 weeks. The maternal leave is divided into prenatal and postnatal periods while the father can take the leave following childbirth.
23. Estonia
Maternity Leave: 14.3 Weeks
Paternity Leave: 4.3 Weeks
Average Parental Leave: 9.3 Weeks
With a maternity leave of 14.3 weeks and a paternity leave of 4.3 weeks, Estonia makes it to the 25 countries with a well-established leave system for those who have just given birth. The Social Insurance Board is responsible for sending maternity benefits and relevant maternity leave offers to the mother.
22. Costa Rica
Maternity Leave: 17.3 Weeks
Paternity Leave: 1.6 Weeks
Average Parental Leave: 9.45 Weeks
Costa Rica grants a maternity leave of 17.3 weeks and a paternity leave of 1.6 weeks thereby ranking as one of the countries offering the best leave policies for new parents. This leave supports working parents while they take their time off work for their newborn.
21. Romania
Maternity Leave: 18 Weeks
Paternity Leave: 1 Week
Average Parental Leave: 9.5 Weeks
Romania makes it to the list of the countries with the best maternity and paternity leave by allowing for 18 weeks of leave for mothers and 1 week of leave for fathers. Hence, Romania qualifies as one of the most accommodating countries for new parents in Europe.
20. Chile
Maternity Leave: 18 Weeks
Paternity Leave: 1 Week
Average Parental Leave: 9.5 Week
Chile allows for a maternity leave of 18 weeks and a paternity leave of 1 week. The mother can also transfer a part of her maternity leave to the father. Hence, Chile is one of the countries with the most established maternity and paternity leaves.
19. Slovenia
Maternity Leave: 15 Weeks
Paternity Leave: 4.3 Weeks
Average Parental Leave: 9.65 Weeks
Slovenia ranks as one of the 25 countries with the best maternity and paternity leave. The country offers a leave of 15 weeks to mothers and 4.3 weeks to fathers in this regard. Parental leave can also be extended in cases of premature birth, multiple births, or the birth of a child who requires special care and assistance.
18. Denmark
Maternity Leave: 18 Weeks
Paternity Leave: 2 Weeks
Average Parental Leave: 10 Weeks
With a maternity leave of 18 weeks and a paternity leave of 2 weeks, Denmark ranks as the country with one of the best leave policies for new parents. The parental benefit is given by the state in Denmark.
17. Cyprus
Maternity Leave: 18 Weeks
Paternity Leave: 2 Weeks
Average Parental Leave: 10 Weeks
Cyprus also provides leaves after childbirth to facilitate child-rearing. The maternity leave is granted for 18 weeks while the paternity leave lasts for 2 weeks. The Social Insurance Fund pays for 8 of the 18 weeks of leave that are given to every working parent for every child turning 8.
16. Colombia
Maternity Leave: 18 Weeks
Paternity Leave: 2 Weeks
Average Parental Leave: 10 Weeks
The maternity leave is granted for 18 weeks in Colombia. The paternity leave has also been extended from 8 days to 2 weeks in the country. These durations make Colombia one of the 25 countries with the best maternity and paternity leave.
15. Austria
Maternity Leave: 16 Weeks
Paternity Leave: 4.3 Weeks
Average Parental Leave: 10.15 Weeks
With a maternity leave of 16 weeks and a paternity leave of 4.3 weeks, Austria ranks as one of the countries with the best leave system for those giving birth. The employer has to be notified by both the mother and father regarding the leave they require.
14. Finland
Maternity Leave: 17.5 Weeks
Paternity Leave: 3 Weeks
Average Parental Leave: 10.25 Weeks
Finland qualifies as another country with a good leave scheme for new parents. Mothers are given 17.5 weeks of leave while fathers get 3 weeks in total. The pregnancy allowance leave is 40 working days in Finland.
13. France
Maternity Leave: 16 Weeks
Paternity Leave: 5 Weeks
Average Parental Leave: 10.5 Weeks
The 25 countries with the best maternity and paternity leave include France as well. Maternity leave lasts for 16 weeks while paternity leave is granted for 5 weeks. This allows new parents to maintain job security while they are looking after the child.
12. Poland
Maternity Leave: 20 Weeks
Paternity Leave: 2 Weeks
Average Parental Leave: 11 Weeks
Poland allows a maternal leave of 20 weeks and a paternal leave of 2 weeks. The parents’ employment contract can only be terminated in limited cases for instance gross misconduct on behalf of the employee.
11. Netherlands
Maternity Leave: 16 Weeks
Paternity Leave: 6 Weeks
Average Parental Leave: 11 Weeks
The Netherlands provides a maternity leave of 16 weeks and a paternity leave of 6 weeks thereby ranking as one of the countries with a quality leave policy for new parents. Both the pregnancy leaves before childbirth and the leave period following it are paid in the country.
10. Luxembourg
Maternity Leave: 20 Weeks
Paternity Leave: 2 Weeks
Average Parental Leave: 11 Weeks
Luxembourg is another European country that has a good maternal and paternal leave system to offer. The maternal leave lasts for 20 weeks while the paternal leave is given for 2 weeks. These parental leaves serve as an individual right and cannot be transferred between parents.
9. Lithuania
Maternity Leave: 18 Weeks
Paternity Leave: 4 Weeks
Average Parental Leave: 11 Weeks
Lithuania makes it to the list of the countries with the best maternity and paternity leave. Maternity leave is also increased in situations including multiple or complicated childbirths. The country offers a maternity leave of 18 weeks and a paternity leave of 4 weeks.
8. Italy
Maternity Leave: 21.7 Weeks
Paternity Leave: 2 Weeks
Average Parental Leave: 11.85 Weeks
Italy allows 21.7 weeks of maternity leave and 2 weeks of paternity leave. The parental leave provides for an allowance until the child turns 12. Hence, Italy ranks as one of the countries with the best maternity and paternity leave.
7. Hungary
Maternity Leave: 24 Weeks
Paternity Leave: 1 Week
Average Parental Leave: 12.5 Weeks
Hungary qualifies as another country with a well-developed leave policy related to childbirth. The maternity leave is 24 weeks while the paternity week lasts for 1 week. Each employed parent with at least 1 year of service is entitled to 44 working days of employer-paid parental leave until the child’s third birthday.
6. Czech Republic
Maternity Leave: 28 Weeks
Paternity Leave: 2 Weeks
Average Parental Leave: 15 Weeks
The Czech Republic allows a maternity leave of 28 weeks and a paternity leave of 2 weeks. This makes it one of the 25 countries with the best maternity and paternity leave. Mothers can avail the first 6 weeks before and 22 after the expected due date while fathers can avail 2 weeks after the child is born.
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Disclosure: None. 25 Countries with the Best Maternity and Paternity Leave is originally published on Insider Monkey.