SOURCE: Vacation Tracker TITLE: Countries With the Best Maternity and Paternity Leave URL: https://vacationtracker.io/blog/countries-with-the-best-maternity-and-paternity-leave/ LANG: en PUBLISHED: 2024-10-31 UPDATED: 2026-09-10 AUTHOR: Claudia READING: 8 min TAGS: hr-insights SUMMARY: Discover which countries offer the best maternity and paternity leave policies, with generous time off, paid benefits, and family support programs worldwide. # Countries With the Best Maternity and Paternity Leave Welcoming a new baby is a moment of pure joy, a time for bonding, not for worrying about work or finances. Parental leave provides parents with essential time to care for their baby and recover from the demands of childbirth or the adoption process. However, not all parental benefits are created equal. They differ largely from country to country, just like all other leave requirements, with some being incredibly generous and others being, well, nonexistent. From generous paid time off to subsidized childcare and flexible work arrangements, parental leave benefits take many forms. Curious about which countries have the best maternity and paternity leave policies? Keep reading to find out. ## What is maternity leave? Maternity leave (https://vacationtracker.io/glossary/maternity-leave/) is time off work for new mothers to care for their newborn or newly adopted child. It allows moms the time to bond with their baby, recover from childbirth, and adapt to new responsibilities as a parent. ## What countries have the best maternity leave in 2026? Maternity leave policies vary by country and company, often including paid or unpaid leave options, depending on the organization and local laws. Country Length of Leave Pay Rate Starts Before Due Date? Notable Highlights Bulgaria 410 days 90% of salary Yes, 45 days before Paid monthly support continues until child turns 2 Norway 49–59 weeks 100% (49 wks) or 80% (59 wks) Flexible Parents can choose between more time or higher pay Sweden 480 days (shared) 80% of salary Optional Shared between parents; extra time for multiple births Croatia 225 days 100% of salary Yes, 45 days before Portion of leave can be transferred to spouse Greece 43 weeks total 100% (17 wks) + minimum wage (6 mo.) Yes, 8 weeks before Includes reduced working hours post-leave Here are some countries with the most generous policies: ![Bulgaria flag](https://cms.vacationtracker.io/uploads/Flag_of_Bulgaria_01f9a5c28e.svg) ### Bulgaria – 410 days Bulgaria (https://vacationtracker.io/leave-laws/europe/bulgaria/) is the country with the best maternity leave in the world, offering new parents an incredible 410 days of paid time off. Not only do they have one of the longest maternity leaves, but Bulgaria also covers 90% of the employee’s salary and starts 45 days before the due date. The employee is also entitled to monthly compensation for the period between the expiration of the 410 days and the child reaching the age of two years, paid by social security, in the amount of the minimum monthly salary. ![Norway flag](https://cms.vacationtracker.io/uploads/Flag_of_Norway_svg_f4d3c23ece.png) ### Norway – 413 days Scandinavian countries tend to be generous when it comes to maternity leave, and Norway is no exception. Norway’s flexible benefits (https://vacationtracker.io/leave-laws/europe/norway/) allow new mothers to take up to 59 weeks of maternity leave paid at an 80% pay rate or 49 weeks at full pay. ![Sweden flag](https://cms.vacationtracker.io/uploads/Flag_of_Sweden_svg_51b16d7ff6.png) ### Sweden – 390 days Sweden (https://vacationtracker.io/leave-laws/europe/sweden/) offers 480 days for both parents. Parents receive parental leave at 80% of their regular wages. Unlike many countries that don’t extend leave for multiple births, an additional 180 days are granted for each additional child. Parental benefit is 240 days per parent, for a fully paid total of 480 days, and it is distributed as you choose between the parents. Fathers get 90 paid paternity days of those 480 reserved just for them to promote father-child bonding. The rest of the 390 days could be used entirely by the mother or divided up as they choose. ![Croatia flag](https://cms.vacationtracker.io/uploads/Flag_Croatia_jpg_94ca377fa5.webp) ### Croatia – 225 days Croatia (https://vacationtracker.io/leave-laws/europe/croatia/) provides mothers with paid leave until the child is 6 months old, paid at 100%! Their leave starts as early as the 45th day before her due date, and they have compulsory leave until the 70th day after the child’s birth. The rest of the leave is optional and can even be transferred to their spouse. ![Greece flag](https://cms.vacationtracker.io/uploads/Flag_of_Greece_svg_f05e40e41e.png) ### Greece – 119 days Greece (https://vacationtracker.io/leave-laws/europe/greece/) offers employees 43 weeks of maternity leave. They are entitled to up to 17 weeks of fully paid maternity leave (eight weeks before and nine weeks after the birth of a child). Following this, an additional six-month special leave is granted, compensated for at the minimum daily wage, leading up to a total of 43 weeks of paid leave. Privileges also include reduced hours of daily work over several months. ## What countries don’t have maternity leave? The United States (https://vacationtracker.io/leave-laws/#table-usa) is one of the few developed countries that doesn’t have a national policy on paid parental leave. The only other countries that don’t guarantee mothers time off are Papua New Guinea, Suriname, Micronesia, The Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, and Tonga. Clearly, in comparison to other high-income countries, the US is extremely behind when it comes to paid time off. The law only legislates unpaid time off for new parents through the Family and Medical Leave Act (https://vacationtracker.io/blog/what-is-the-family-and-medical-leave-act-fmla/). Enacted in 1993, FMLA guarantees families up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave. To compensate for the lack of support for new parents, a few states have implemented their own policies. California, New Jersey, and Rhode Island have all enacted laws that guarantee new parents some paid time off. And in 2016, Washington D.C. became the first city in the country to offer paid parental leave to city workers. Paid parental leave (https://vacationtracker.io/glossary/parental-leave/) is also becoming more common in the private sector, with some companies offering up to six months of paid leave. But even the most generous policies pale in comparison to what’s offered in other countries. ## What is paternity leave? Paternity leave (https://vacationtracker.io/glossary/paternity-leave/) provides new fathers time off work to care for their baby, help their partner rest and recover from childbirth, and bond with their infant. Traditionally, paternity leave didn’t exist, as childcare was seen as the mother's role. Today, however, parents are much more likely to share the responsibility of raising children, resulting in an increased popularity of paternity and parental leave. Some countries even have mandatory paternity leave to encourage shared responsibilities and gender equality. ## What countries have the best paternity leave in 2026? Country Length of Leave Pay Rate Exclusive to Fathers? Notable Highlights Japan 365 days Partial (via social security) Yes Longest paternity leave globally; fully separate from maternity Iceland 180 days (shared) 80% of salary Yes (90 days reserved) Equal leave split between parents, with one month transferable Finland 160 days 90% (first 16 days), then 70% Yes Equal leave for all parents regardless of gender or role Spain 133 days (19 weeks) 100% of salary Yes Same duration and pay as maternity leave; 6 weeks mandatory Lithuania 90 days 60%–30% (during parental leave) Yes (2 months non-transferable) Additional shared leave until child is 3 years old ![Japan flag](https://cms.vacationtracker.io/uploads/Flag_of_Japan_svg_19ad71d3cd.png) ### Japan – 365 days When it comes to paternity leave, leave laws in Japan (https://vacationtracker.io/leave-laws/asia/japan/) are ahead of the curve, offering 12 months to new fathers––the longest paternity leave in the world. While many companies provide flexibility through shared parental leave, Japan offers one full year of paid parental leave exclusively for fathers. This leave is entirely separate from any leave granted to mothers. This is accompanied by a partial allowance paid through the government’s social security program. ![Iceland flag](https://cms.vacationtracker.io/uploads/Flag_of_Iceland_bf9aff2dd4.svg) ### Iceland – 180 days In Iceland (https://vacationtracker.io/leave-laws/europe/iceland/#maternity,-paternity,-and-parental-leave), a new legislation was enacted in 2021 that extended the duration of combined maternity and paternity leave to a total of 12 months, split equally between the mother and father (six months each). However, parents are also allowed to transfer up to one month of leave to the other parent, so that one takes seven months and the other takes five. The entire leave is paid at 80% of the person’s average salary. ![Finland flag](https://cms.vacationtracker.io/uploads/Flag_of_Finland_a785b7b299.svg) ### Finland- 160 days Scandinavian countries are champions when it comes to their parental leave, and Finland’s leave policy (https://vacationtracker.io/leave-laws/europe/finland/#maternity-and-paternity-leave) is no exception. Starting in 2021, Finland gave all parents leave, regardless of their gender or whether they are a child’s biological parents. Under the new law, each parent is given 160 days or about seven months. The first 16 days are paid at 90% of their earnings, and the following days are paid 70% of their income. ![Spain flag](https://cms.vacationtracker.io/uploads/Spain_5ba451c03a.png) ### Spain – 133 days Since 2021, Spain’s leave laws (https://vacationtracker.io/leave-laws/europe/spain/#parental-leave-in-spain) have offered 16 weeks of paternity leave, equal to maternity, which is now being extended to 19 weeks after January 1, 2026. Also, fathers can take this leave at the same time as maternity leave, with the first six weeks mandatory post-delivery and the remaining 13 weeks flexible within the baby’s first year. Same-sex couples are granted equal rights, allowing one partner to opt for paternity leave and the other for maternity leave. 100% of the salary is paid. ![Lithuania flag](https://cms.vacationtracker.io/uploads/Flag_of_Lithuania_svg_7e4efff783.png) ### Lithuania – 90 days Nordic countries get a lot of attention for their generous leave policies, but Lithuania (https://vacationtracker.io/leave-laws/europe/lithuania/#maternity-and-paternity-leave) may beat them all. New moms get 18 weeks (126 days) of partially paid leave, and new fathers get 30 days. Both parents get parental leave until the child is 3 years old (fathers are guaranteed two non-transferable months). During this period, they can receive 18 months at 60% pay or 24 months at 45% and 30%. The remaining days are unpaid. ## What countries don’t have paternity leave? ![Countries without paid maternity leave](https://cms.vacationtracker.io/uploads/countries_without_maternity_leave_98ea66166c.webp) Some 60 countries don’t offer paternity leave of any kind to fathers, including the US. There has been a push in many countries worldwide to increase paternity leave to promote bonding between father and child and support their partner. Although many countries don’t have federally protected paternity leave, the above countries have implemented very generous policies, understanding the importance of fathers being able to spend time with their newborn children, and have put policies in place to make that happen. ## How maternity and paternity leave benefits families and businesses ### Encourages family bonding Life is so busy nowadays it’s hard to make time for the things that really matter. Maternity and paternity leave allow parents valuable time to bond with their newborns, fostering stronger family connections. This early bonding period helps strengthen family dynamics by encouraging both parents to prioritize their families without the guilt of being absent from work or not bringing in income. They can enjoy this time knowing their jobs are waiting for them upon their return. ### Empowers women to participate in the workforce Maternity leave promotes gender equality by reducing career barriers for women, who often face the expectation of being primary caregivers. With the assurance of maternity leave, women are more inclined to keep their jobs and pursue growth opportunities, helping close the gap in career advancement between genders. ### Improves the well-being Becoming a parent is a major life event that takes a physical and mental toll. Parental leave offers mothers time to recover from childbirth and allows both parents to rest, recuperate, and adapt to the demands of parenthood. This time also benefits children, as it allows parents to establish routines, attend essential medical appointments, and create a stable, nurturing environment, all contributing positively to the child's health and well-being. ### Increase retention rates Employees with paid leave and job protection are more likely to return to work post-parenthood, reducing turnover and cutting recruitment and training costs. Some leave policies are state-mandated, while others are enhanced by businesses to benefit their workforce. When companies demonstrate their commitment to supporting family needs, they gain a reputation as a supportive and employee-centered organization, which enhances overall company loyalty and morale. ## How to manage parental leave effectively Tracking various types of leave, planning return dates, and covering workloads can be challenging. Things can get even more complex with progressive return-to-work schedules and, possibly, an uptake in doctor's appointments or work-from-home days after their reintegration into the office. A comprehensive leave management platform (https://vacationtracker.io/blog/pick-the-right-online-leave-management-system/) like Vacation Tracker simplifies this by providing clear visibility, automated tracking, and scaling as your team grows. This Makes parental leave management (https://vacationtracker.io/blog/pick-the-right-online-leave-management-system/) easy for HR teams and employees alike. ## Frequently asked questions Q: What is the difference between maternity leave and paternity leave? Maternity leave is time off granted to mothers for childbirth recovery and bonding with their newborn. Paternity leave is for fathers to support their partner and bond with their child. Both support early family development and vary greatly by country. Q: Which country has the longest maternity leave? Bulgaria leads with 410 days of paid maternity leave, covering 90% of the employee’s salary and beginning 45 days before the due date. This is the most generous policy worldwide.  Q: Who offers the most generous paternity leave? Japan currently provides the most extended paternity leave: 12 months exclusively for fathers, partially paid through the national social security system. Q: Does the United States offer paid maternity or paternity leave? No, the U.S. does not have a federally mandated paid parental leave policy. Parents are entitled to 12 weeks of unpaid leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), although some states and private companies offer limited paid leave options. Q: Why do some countries provide longer leave than others? Generous parental leave is often tied to strong social support systems, gender equality policies, and labor laws that prioritize work-life balance and family health. Q: How does paid leave impact employees and companies? Paid leave improves employee well-being, supports work-life balance, reduces turnover, and enhances company reputation. It’s a strategic investment in retention and team morale. Q: Can both parents share leave in some countries? Yes. In countries like Sweden and Iceland, leave is shared between parents. Some days are non-transferable to promote equality, while others are flexible to fit family needs. Q: How can companies better manage parental leave? With a tool like Vacation Tracker, HR teams can automate parental leave tracking, sync calendars, manage approvals, and ensure compliance across regions, all without spreadsheets or confusion.