Parental leave

Maternity leave by country, with paternity leave

The statutory maternity leave of 129 countries, each linked to the law that sets it. It runs from 6 weeks↗ in Papua New Guinea to 58.6 weeks↗ in Bulgaria; the United States grants no paid statutory maternity leave.

Every country

Statutory maternity leave, longest first

Weeks of leave as the law states them; the wording beside them, linked to its source, says who pays and how much. Paternity leave has its own source.

#CountryMaternityAs the law states itPaternity leaveRead at source
1Bulgaria58.6 weeks↗410 days (~58.6 wks) at 90% (NSSI)↗15 days at 90% (NSSI)↗Oct 29, 2026
2Albania52 weeks↗Up to 365 days (~52 wks); 80% then 50%↗3 days paid↗Oct 29, 2026
2Bosnia and Herzegovina52 weeks↗12 months (RS: 18 for twins or 3rd+ child); pay: FBiH by special law, RS average wage↗Up to 7 paid days/yr incl. spouse's childbirth (FBiH; 5 in RS)↗Oct 30, 2026
2Serbia52 weeks↗365 days (~52 wks) for 1st/2nd child, state-paid↗Up to 5 working days paid leave a year (spouse's childbirth, employer-paid)↗Oct 28, 2026
2United Kingdom52 weeks↗52 weeks (39 paid: 6 wks at 90%, then flat rate or 90% if lower)↗2 weeks (Statutory Paternity Pay)↗Oct 4, 2026
6Norway49 weeks↗49 wks at 100% or 61 wks 1 day at 80% (shared parental, one child)↗15 weeks at 100% or 19 weeks at 80% (fathers' quota)↗Oct 29, 2026
7North Macedonia39 weeks↗9 months (~39 wks) paid↗Up to 7 working days paid family leave (birth of a child for fathers; exact days set by collective agreement)↗Oct 29, 2026
8Slovakia34 weeks↗34 weeks (maternity benefit)↗2 weeks (paternity benefit)↗Oct 28, 2026
9Croatia30 weeks↗28 days pre-birth to child's 6 months, 100% (HZZO)↗20 working days at 100% (HZZO)↗Oct 1, 2026
10Czechia28 weeks↗28 weeks at ~70%↗2 weeks (14 days) at ~70%↗Oct 28, 2026
10Denmark28 weeks↗28 weeks (4 pre + 24 post), barselsdagpenge↗24 weeks (2 at birth + 9 earmarked + 13 transferable), barselsdagpenge↗Oct 29, 2026
12Australia26 weeks↗Up to 26 wks govt-paid (min wage) + 12 mo unpaid↗Shared gender-neutral parental leave/pay↗Oct 3, 2026
12Iceland26 weeks↗6 months (individual) at 80% (capped)↗6 months (individual) at 80% (equal, capped)↗Oct 29, 2026
12India26 weeks↗Up to 26 weeks at average daily wage↗None (no private-sector statute)↗Oct 1, 2026
12Ireland26 weeks↗26 weeks (State Maternity Benefit) + 16 wks unpaid↗2 weeks (State Paternity Benefit)↗Oct 29, 2026
12Israel26 weeks↗26 weeks (up to 15 paid by NI if eligible; 8 if partly eligible)↗7 days paid at birth (from mother's 15 weeks) + shareable maternity↗Oct 29, 2026
12New Zealand26 weeks↗26 weeks paid primary carer leave (govt)↗None paid; 1-2 wks unpaid partner's leave↗Oct 28, 2026
12Venezuela26 weeks↗26 wks paid (6 pre/20 post)↗14 days paid↗Oct 30, 2026
12Vietnam26 weeks↗6 months (~26 wks) at 100% (social insurance)↗5 working days (7-14 special cases), social insurance↗Oct 28, 2026
20Hungary24 weeks↗24 weeks (CSED) at 100%↗10 working days (5 at 100%, 5 at 40%) (employer)↗Oct 28, 2026
20Turkey24 weeks↗24 weeks (8+16) at SGK benefit↗10 days paid (employer)↗Oct 1, 2026
22Cyprus22 weeks↗22 weeks (26 from third child)↗2 weeks (Social Insurance Fund)↗Oct 1, 2026
22Italy22 weeks↗5 months (~22 wks) at 80% (INPS)↗10 days at 100% (INPS)↗Oct 28, 2026
24Andorra20 weeks↗20 weeks at 100%↗6 wks at 100% (2026 births; rising to 20 wks by 2030)↗Oct 29, 2026
24Armenia20 weeks↗140 days (20 wks), 100%↗Not verifiedNov 9, 2026
24Liechtenstein20 weeks↗20 wks paid (80% of pre-birth wage, capped)↗Not verifiedOct 29, 2026
24Luxembourg20 weeks↗20 weeks (8+12) (CNS)↗10 days at 100% (2d employer + 8d state)↗Oct 1, 2026
24Poland20 weeks↗20 weeks at 100%↗2 weeks at 100%↗Oct 1, 2026
24Russia20 weeks↗140 days (20 wks) at 100% (Social Fund)↗None statutory (5 days unpaid)↗Oct 28, 2026
30Spain19 weeks↗19 weeks at 100% (social security)↗19 weeks at 100% (equal leave, social security)↗Oct 1, 2026
31Azerbaijan18 weeks↗126 days (18 wks), 100% social insurance↗14 calendar days paid (from 16 Jan 2026)↗Oct 29, 2026
31Belarus18 weeks↗126 days (18 wks), 100% social insurance↗14 calendar days, unpaid (paid only if a collective agreement or the employer provides)↗Oct 29, 2026
31Chile18 weeks↗18 weeks (126 days) at 100% (subsidy)↗5 days at 100%↗Oct 29, 2026
31Colombia18 weeks↗18 weeks at 100% (EPS)↗2 weeks paid (EPS)↗Oct 1, 2026
31Georgia18 weeks↗126 days (~18 wks), state-paid↗None dedicated (parental leave shareable, 57 days paid)↗Oct 1, 2026
31Kazakhstan18 weeks↗126 days (18 wks), paid via state social insurance fund↗None paid (up to 5 days unpaid)↗Oct 28, 2026
31Kyrgyzstan18 weeks↗126 days (18 wks, lowlands); 100% pay first 10 working days (employer), then 2,000 som/month (state)↗Not verifiedOct 1, 2026
31Lithuania18 weeks↗126 days (18 wks) at 77.58% (SODRA)↗30 days at 77.58% (SODRA)↗Oct 28, 2026
31Malta18 weeks↗18 weeks (14 paid by employer + benefit)↗10 working days at 100% (employer)↗Oct 28, 2026
31Moldova18 weeks↗126 days (18 wks), 100%↗15 days paid (100%)↗Oct 29, 2026
31Paraguay18 weeks↗18 wks full pay (IPS)↗2 wks paid (employer)↗Oct 28, 2026
31Romania18 weeks↗126 days (~18 wks) at 85%↗10-15 working days (employer-paid)↗Oct 29, 2026
31Senegal18 weeks↗18 weeks (12 after birth), paid under social security↗1 day paid (national interprofessional CBA)↗Oct 30, 2026
31Ukraine18 weeks↗126 days (~18 wks), paid by the Pension Fund (capped)↗Up to 14 calendar days (paid, one-time)↗Oct 29, 2026
31Uzbekistan18 weeks↗126 days (18 wks) at 100% (75% if under 12 months' service), employer-paid↗Not verifiedOct 1, 2026
46Bangladesh17.1 weeks↗120 days (60 before + 60 after delivery)↗None (no statutory entitlement)↗Oct 29, 2026
46Egypt17.1 weeks↗4 months, paid (at least 45 days after birth; up to 3 times in service)↗1 day paid (day of the child's birth)↗Oct 29, 2026
46Thailand17.1 weeks↗120 days; first 60 at 100% (employer)↗15 days at full pay↗Oct 29, 2026
49Brazil17 weeks↗120 days (~17 wks) at 100%↗5 days at 100% (full pay)↗Oct 1, 2026
49Costa Rica17 weeks↗4 months (~17 wks) at 100% (50/50)↗8 days paid (2 days/week for 4 weeks)↗Oct 30, 2026
49Ethiopia17 weeks↗120 days (30 before birth, 90 after), with pay↗3 days paid↗Oct 29, 2026
49Greece17 weeks↗17 weeks (8 before, 9 after birth)↗14 working days at full pay (employer)↗Oct 29, 2026
49Mongolia17 weeks↗120 days (~17 wks) via social insurance↗At least 10 days paid (average salary)↗Oct 1, 2026
49Portugal17 weeks↗120 days (~17 wks) at 100% (or 150 at 80%)↗35 days at 100% (28 compulsory + 7 optional)↗Oct 1, 2026
49South Africa17 weeks↗4 months (~17 wks) unpaid; UIF 66%↗Shared 4 months + 10 days pool if both parents employed (interim, ConCourt Oct 2025)↗Oct 1, 2026
56Sri Lanka16.8 weeks↗84 working days (Shop & Office Act)↗None (no statutory entitlement)↗Oct 30, 2026
57Austria16 weeks↗16 weeks (8+8) at 100% (Wochengeld)↗1 month unpaid leave (Papamonat); state Familienzeitbonus 54.87 EUR/day↗Oct 28, 2026
57El Salvador16 weeks↗16 wks paid (ISSS)↗3 days paid↗Oct 28, 2026
57France16 weeks↗16 weeks (1st/2nd child) at IJSS↗25 days (single birth) at IJSS↗Oct 29, 2026
57Latvia16 weeks↗112 days (16 wks) at 80% (VSAA)↗10 days at 80% (VSAA)↗Oct 28, 2026
57Netherlands16 weeks↗at least 16 weeks (20 for multiples) at 100% of daily wage (UWV)↗1 wk at 100% + 5 wks at 70% (UWV)↗Oct 29, 2026
57Singapore16 weeks↗16 weeks (Govt-Paid Maternity Leave)↗4 weeks (Govt-Paid Paternity Leave)↗Oct 4, 2026
63Belgium15 weeks↗15 weeks (health insurance)↗20 days (3d at 100% employer + 17d at 82%)↗Oct 29, 2026
63Canada15 weeks↗15 weeks at 55% (EI)↗None dedicated; up to 40 wks shared parental at 55% (EI)↗Oct 1, 2026
63Congo, Rep.15 weeks↗15 wks (50% via social security)↗2 days paid↗Oct 29, 2026
63Laos15 weeks↗105 days at full pay (normal salary)↗Not verifiedOct 29, 2026
63Philippines15 weeks↗105 days (15 wks) at 100% (SSS)↗7 days at 100% (employer)↗Oct 29, 2026
63Slovenia15 weeks↗105 days at 100% of the basis (no cap)↗15 calendar days paid (state paternity benefit)↗Oct 1, 2026
69Estonia14.3 weeks↗100 days, earnings-based (state)↗30 days, income-based (state)↗Oct 29, 2026
70Benin14 weeks↗14 wks full salary (CNSS)↗Not verifiedOct 28, 2026
70Botswana14 weeks↗14 wks (at least 70% pay)↗5 days paid↗Oct 29, 2026
70Burkina Faso14 weeks↗14 wks full salary (CNSS)↗3 days paid↗Aug 18, 2026
70Cameroon14 weeks↗14 wks paid (via CNPS)↗3 days paid (100%)↗Oct 28, 2026
70China14 weeks↗98 days (14 wks) at 100% + local extensions↗About 15 days (set by each province)↗Oct 1, 2026
70Cote d'Ivoire14 weeks↗14 wks paid↗Not verifiedOct 29, 2026
70Dominican Republic14 weeks↗14 weeks (98 days) at 100% (SDSS + employer)↗2 days (paid)↗Oct 1, 2026
70DR Congo14 weeks↗14 wks at 2/3 of pay (6 before + 8 after birth)↗2 working days paid (special leave)↗Oct 1, 2026
70Fiji14 weeks↗98 days (14 wks)↗5 working days paid↗Oct 28, 2026
70Gabon14 weeks↗14 wks (CNSS maternity allowance)↗3 days (employer informed 1 month ahead)↗Oct 29, 2026
70Germany14 weeks↗14 weeks (6 before, 8 after birth); paid as average net pay (€13/day from insurer + employer top-up)↗None statutory (no paternity leave; Elternzeit, with state Elterngeld incl. 2 partner months)↗Oct 29, 2026
70Hong Kong14 weeks↗14 weeks at 4/5 (80%) pay↗5 days at 4/5 (80%) pay↗Oct 1, 2026
70Japan14 weeks↗14 weeks (6 pre on request + 8 post) at ~2/3 (health insurance)↗4 weeks within 8 wks of birth (employment insurance)↗Oct 29, 2026
70Madagascar14 weeks↗14 wks paid (salary shared by CNaPS and employer)↗3 days paid (employer)↗Oct 29, 2026
70Malaysia14 weeks↗98 days (14 wks) at 100% (employer)↗7 days at 100% (employer; married men, 12 months' service)↗Oct 29, 2026
70Mali14 weeks↗14 wks (100%)↗3 days paid↗Oct 29, 2026
70Morocco14 weeks↗14 weeks (98 days) at 100% (CNSS)↗3 days at 100% (employer)↗Oct 29, 2026
70Myanmar14 weeks↗14 wks paid (Social Security Law 2012)↗15 days (Social Security)↗Oct 29, 2026
70Nepal14 weeks↗14 wks (98 days; 60 days paid)↗15 days paid↗Oct 29, 2026
70Oman14 weeks↗98 days (14 wks) at 100%↗7 days at 100%↗Oct 30, 2026
70Panama14 weeks↗14 weeks at 100% (CSS)↗3 working days, paid (rate not set in Ley 27 of 2017)↗Oct 29, 2026
70Peru14 weeks↗98 days (14 wks) at 100% (EsSalud)↗10 days at 100% (employer)↗Oct 28, 2026
70Sweden14 weeks↗7 weeks before and 7 weeks after birth (2 weeks compulsory); pay via parental benefit (480 shared days)↗90 days reserved per parent (of 480); ~80%↗Oct 29, 2026
70Switzerland14 weeks↗14 weeks at 80% (federal insurance)↗2 weeks (10 days) at 80%↗Oct 28, 2026
70Togo14 weeks↗14 wks (98 days)↗Not verifiedOct 30, 2026
70Uruguay14 weeks↗14 weeks at 100% (BPS)↗20 days paid (3 days employer + 17 days BPS, from 1 Jan 2026)↗Oct 29, 2026
70Zambia14 weeks↗14 wks, 100% after 24 months' service↗5 continuous working days (after 12 months service)↗Oct 1, 2026
70Zimbabwe14 weeks↗98 days (14 wks) paid↗Not verifiedOct 29, 2026
98Angola13 weeks↗3 months (~13 wks) paid↗1 day paid (+7 working days unpaid)↗Oct 28, 2026
98Argentina13 weeks↗90 days (~13 wks) at 100% (ANSES)↗2 days at 100%↗Oct 1, 2026
98Cambodia13 weeks↗90 days; 50% of wage paid by employer after 1 year's service (plus NSSF benefit)↗No paternity leave in the Labour Law; special leave for immediate-family events (up to 7 days, counted as service)↗Oct 29, 2026
98Guyana13 weeks↗13 wks paid (NIS)↗None (no statutory entitlement)↗Oct 30, 2026
98Indonesia13 weeks↗3 months (~13 wks) paid↗2 days at 100%↗Oct 29, 2026
98Kenya13 weeks↗3 months (~13 wks) at 100%↗2 weeks at full pay (100%)↗Oct 4, 2026
98Nicaragua13 weeks↗13 weeks (4 before + 9 after birth) at full pay; INSS pays 60%↗5 calendar days paid↗Oct 29, 2026
98Tunisia13 weeks↗3 months postnatal (+ up to 15 days prenatal), CNSS allowance in the private sector↗7 days paid (10 for multiple birth or special-needs child)↗Oct 30, 2026
106Bolivia12.9 weeks↗90 days (45 pre + 45 post), 100% of pay↗3 working days paid (100%)↗Oct 1, 2026
106South Korea12.9 weeks↗90 days (~13 wks), first 60d paid by employer, rest by Employment Insurance↗20 days paid (from 50 days before due date to 120 days after birth)↗Oct 29, 2026
108Bahamas12 weeks↗12 wks (66.6% NIB + 33.3% employer)↗None (up to 1 wk unpaid family leave)↗Oct 28, 2026
108Ecuador12 weeks↗12 weeks (84 days) paid↗10 days at 100% (employer)↗Oct 28, 2026
108Ghana12 weeks↗12 weeks at 100% (14 if complications)↗None (no statutory entitlement)↗Oct 28, 2026
108Guatemala12 weeks↗84 days (12 wks) at 100% (IGSS)↗2 days paid↗Oct 29, 2026
108Jamaica12 weeks↗12 wks (8 wks paid) after 1 yr service↗None (no statutory entitlement)↗Oct 29, 2026
108Mexico12 weeks↗12 weeks fully paid (IMSS)↗5 days at 100% (employer)↗Oct 29, 2026
108Namibia12 weeks↗12 wks (via SSC, 100% to ceiling)↗None (no statutory entitlement)↗Oct 29, 2026
108Nigeria12 weeks↗12 weeks at 50% (6mo service)↗None (no statutory entitlement)↗Oct 29, 2026
108Pakistan12 weeks↗12 weeks (84 days) at 100%↗None uniform statute (30 days full pay in federal-controlled establishments)↗Oct 29, 2026
108Saudi Arabia12 weeks↗12 weeks at 100% (fully paid)↗3 days at 100%↗Oct 1, 2026
108Tanzania12 weeks↗84 days (~12 wks), paid↗3 days paid↗Oct 29, 2026
108Uganda12 weeks↗60 working days (~12 wks) at 100%↗4 working days at 100%↗Oct 29, 2026
120Honduras10 weeks↗10 wks (4 pre/6 post) paid; IHSS 66% + employer to 100%↗None statutory↗Oct 30, 2026
120Kuwait10 weeks↗70 days (10 wks) paid + up to 4 months unpaid↗None (no statutory entitlement)↗Oct 1, 2026
120Lebanon10 weeks↗70 days (10 wks) at 100%↗None statutory↗Oct 1, 2026
123Bahrain9 weeks↗60 days (~9 wks) paid↗1 day at 100%↗Oct 1, 2026
124United Arab Emirates8.6 weeks↗60 days (45 at 100%, 15 at 50%)↗5 days at 100%↗Oct 1, 2026
125Malawi8 weeks↗8 wks full pay (every 3 yrs)↗2 wks paid (every 3 yrs)↗Oct 28, 2026
126Qatar7 weeks↗50 days (~7 wks) at 100%, after 1 year's service↗None (no statutory entitlement)↗Oct 29, 2026
127Papua New Guinea6 weeks↗Unpaid: 6 wks after confinement (up to 4 more if ill)↗None (no statutory entitlement)↗Oct 29, 2026
United StatesNo paid leaveNone paid; 12 weeks unpaid (FMLA)↗None paid; 12 weeks unpaid (FMLA)↗Aug 18, 2026
FinlandSee wordingPregnancy allowance up to 40 weekdays before birth, then gender-neutral parental allowance (320 weekdays shared, 160 each)↗160 days quota per parent (parental allowance)↗Oct 29, 2026

Weeks of statutory leave, not weeks at full pay. Rows marked “See wording” state the leave in a form that has no single week count. Employment terms as listed on each country page (labour data as of Aug 18, 2026 unless re-read since).

Download this table (CSV)129 countriesFree to reuse under CC BY 4.0. Cite as: BestEOR.co (2026), Statutory maternity leave by country, besteor.co/maternity-leave, figures read at source up to Nov 9, 2026.
Questions

Maternity leave by country: common questions

Which country has the longest maternity leave?

In our data the longest statutory maternity leave is 58.6 weeks↗, in Bulgaria, and the shortest is 6 weeks↗, in Papua New Guinea. 97 of the 127 countries give at least 14 weeks, the minimum set by the ILO Maternity Protection Convention. The law grants no paid statutory maternity leave in the United States (None paid; 12 weeks unpaid (FMLA)↗). These are legal minimums; employers and collective agreements can give more.

Is maternity leave paid at full salary?

Not always. The weeks shown are the leave the law grants; who pays and how much differs by country: social security, the employer, or both, at full pay or a share of it, sometimes for only part of the leave. Each country's own wording, linked to its source, states it.

How many countries give paternity leave?

91 of the 129 countries listed give fathers or second parents some statutory paternity leave, shown beside maternity leave with its own source. Several also let parents share part of the leave, which the wording notes.

Who pays maternity leave when you hire through an employer of record?

The employer of record is the legal employer, so it applies the local law: it grants the leave, claims what social security pays and invoices the client for any employer-paid part, as with every statutory cost.

How current are these figures?

Each figure carries the date it was last read at its source (the newest on Nov 9, 2026), and a weekly check confirms that every cited page still answers. A corrected figure changes this page and the country's page the same day it is published.

Hiring someone in another country? Pick the country and we rank the employer of record providers that employ there and apply its leave rules, with their published fees.

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See also paid annual leave by country, minimum wage by country, employer pension contributions by country, public holidays by country, notice period by country, paternity leave by country and how we verify.