SOURCE:    Vacation Tracker
TITLE:     Countries With the Best Maternity and Paternity Leave (2027)
URL:       https://vacationtracker.io/blog/countries-with-the-best-maternity-and-paternity-leave/
LANG:      en
PUBLISHED: 2024-10-31
UPDATED:   2026-11-02
AUTHOR:    Claudia
READING:   8 min
TAGS:      hr-insights
SUMMARY:   Bulgaria's 410 days is the world's longest paid maternity leave. Compare maternity and paternity leave by country for 2027, and see who has none.

Countries With the Best Maternity and Paternity Leave (2027)

Countries With the Best Maternity and Paternity Leave in 2027

Claudia SaccomaniFormer contributor

8 min readPublished Oct 31, 2024Updated Nov 2, 2026

Countries With the Best Maternity and Paternity Leave in 2027

Key takeaways

Parental leave varies dramatically around the world. Some countries provide more than a year while others provide little or no nationally guaranteed paid leave.
The U.S. is a major outlier among developed countries. There is no nationwide guarantee of paid parental leave.
Paternity leave is becoming a much bigger part of parental-leave policies around the world. Check out how leaders like Japan, Iceland, Finland, Spain, and Lithuania are doing it below!
For employers, setting up parental leave can be complex but rewarding for the business. It encourages parent-child bonding, supports women's participation in the workforce, and can improve employee retention and loyalty.

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.

Here's the short answer for 2027. Bulgaria has the longest paid maternity leave in the world: 410 days at 90% of pay. Norway, Sweden, Croatia and Estonia also give mothers long, well-paid leave. For fathers, Japan and South Korea offer up to a year of leave, and Spain gives 19 weeks at full pay. The United States is the only OECD country with no national paid parental leave.

What is maternity leave?

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.

Want the story behind these numbers? Our 7-minute video shows how maternity leave went from an unpaid factory rule in 1877 to a year or more of paid leave today, and why a few countries still pay nothing.

Play video: Where's The Best Maternity Leave?

Watch: Where's The Best Maternity Leave?

What countries have the best maternity leave in 2027?

Maternity leave policies vary by country and company, often including paid or unpaid leave options, depending on the organization and local laws. The table compares maternity leave by country on length, pay and when the leave can start.

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
Estonia	100 days + 475 days shared	100% of earnings (maternity benefit)	Yes, up to 70 days before	475 more days of shared parental benefit, usable until the child turns 3

Here are some countries with the most generous policies:

Bulgaria – 410 days

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 – 413 days

Scandinavian countries tend to be generous when it comes to maternity leave, and Norway is no exception. Norway’s flexible benefits 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 – 390 days

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 – 225 days

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 – 119 days

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.

Estonia – 100 days

Estonia gives working mothers 100 calendar days of maternity benefit, paid at 100% of their previous earnings, and up to 70 of those days can start before the birth. That’s only the start. The family then gets 475 calendar days of shared parental benefit, which parents can use until the child turns three, and fathers get 30 days of paternity benefit of their own.

What countries don’t have maternity leave?

The United States is one of the few developed countries that doesn’t have a national policy on paid parental leave. The only other countries without a national paid maternity leave law are Papua New Guinea, Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau and Tonga. Suriname was on this list until 2019, when it passed its Labour Protection for Families Act.

Countries with no national paid maternity leave in 2027: United States, Papua New Guinea, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Palau, Nauru 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. Enacted in 1993, FMLA guarantees families up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave.

To fill the gap, states have built their own programs. California was first, in 2004. As of May 2026, 14 states and Washington, D.C. have passed paid family and medical leave laws, and 12 of those states plus D.C. already pay benefits (Maryland and Virginia start paying in 2028). And in 2016, Washington D.C. became the first city in the country to offer paid parental leave to city workers.

Paid 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 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 2027?

The table compares paternity leave by country on length, pay and whether the leave is reserved for fathers.

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 (4.5 months each)	Equal leave split between parents, with six weeks 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
South Korea	20 days + up to 1 year childcare leave	100% for the 20 days; partial during childcare leave	Yes	Childcare leave extends to 18 months when both parents take 3+ months

Japan – 365 days

When it comes to paternity leave, leave laws in 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.

The catch? For years, few fathers used it. That has changed fast: Japan's labor ministry reports that 50.9% of men at private companies took childcare leave in fiscal 2025, up 10.4 points in a year and above half for the first time. The law didn't change much. The incentives and the culture around it did.

Iceland – 180 days

In Iceland, 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). Each parent can transfer up to six weeks of their leave to the other. The entire leave is paid at 80% of the person’s average salary.

Finland- 160 days

Scandinavian countries are champions when it comes to their parental leave, and Finland’s leave policy is no exception. Since August 2022, Finland has given all parents leave, regardless of their gender or whether they are a child’s biological parents, and each parent can transfer up to 63 of their days to the other. 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 – 133 days

Spain’s leave laws give each parent 19 weeks of birth and childcare leave, the same as mothers, since Royal Decree-law 9/2025 extended it from 16 weeks. Also, fathers can take this leave at the same time as maternity leave, with the first six weeks mandatory right after the birth, 11 more weeks to use during the baby’s first year and the last two weeks available until the child turns eight. 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 – 90 days

Nordic countries get a lot of attention for their generous leave policies, but Lithuania 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.

South Korea – 20 days (plus up to a year)

Since February 2025, fathers in South Korea get 20 days of fully paid paternity leave, up from 10, to use within 120 days of the birth. Each parent can then take up to a year of childcare leave, partly paid by the government, and up to 18 months when both parents take at least three months. Add it up, and a South Korean father can be off for well over a year.

What countries don’t have paternity leave?

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.

When did maternity leave start? A short history

Maternity leave started as a health rule, not a perk. In the 1800s, industrial countries worried that women went back to the factory floor too soon after giving birth, so the first laws simply banned work for a few weeks. Pay came decades later. Leave for fathers came later still.

Year	Country	What changed
1877	Switzerland	The Factory Act gives mothers 8 weeks off work around the birth, 6 of them after it. Job protected, unpaid.
1883	Germany	The Health Insurance Act pays a maternity allowance to insured women.
1909	France	The Engerand law gives women 8 weeks of maternity leave without losing their job, still unpaid.
1919	International	The International Labour Organization adopts its first Maternity Protection Convention: leave before and after birth, with cash benefits.
1974	Sweden	The first country to replace maternity leave with paid parental leave that either parent can take.
1978	United States	The Pregnancy Discrimination Act bans pregnancy discrimination at work.
1993	United States	The Family and Medical Leave Act gives eligible workers up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave.
1993	Norway	A 4-week father's quota: leave the family loses if the father doesn't take it.
2004	United States	California becomes the first state to pay family leave.
2005	Switzerland	Paid maternity leave arrives: 14 weeks at 80% of earnings, 128 years after the first law.
2019	Suriname	The Labour Protection for Families Act introduces paid maternity leave.
2025	Japan	For the first time, more than half of fathers (50.9%) take childcare leave.

The bottom line? A right on paper isn't the same as leave people actually take. Norway's father quota and Japan's push on uptake both show that design and culture decide how much time parents really get. If you write your company's parental leave policy, the incentives you set matter as much as the number of weeks.

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.

Parental leave doesn't come up often, which is exactly why it's easy to get wrong. According to what we're seeing in Vacation Tracker, parental leave makes up 0.5% of all leave requests, and the share varies a lot by country: 2.2% in Sweden, 1.2% in Spain and 0.3% in the US and the UK. That's from our Leave Trends report (October 2026).

A comprehensive leave management platform like Vacation Tracker simplifies this by providing clear visibility, automated tracking, and scaling as your team grows. This makes parental leave management easy for HR teams and employees alike. If your team spans several countries, you can set up a parental leave type with its own rules for each location, and employees request it in Microsoft Teams or Slack, or from the dashboard if you use Google Workspace.

Sources

FAQ: Countries With the Best Maternity and Paternity Leave

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Which country has the best maternity leave pay?

Norway, Croatia and Estonia pay mothers 100% of their earnings: Norway for 49 weeks (up to a salary cap), Croatia until the baby is six months old and Estonia for 100 days. Bulgaria pays 90% for 410 days, the longest well-paid maternity leave in the world.

How long is maternity leave in Europe?

Every EU country must give at least 14 weeks of maternity leave under the EU Pregnant Workers Directive (92/85/EEC). Most give much more: Bulgaria gives 410 days, Croatia pays mothers in full until the baby is six months old, and Greece gives 43 weeks in total.

What country gives 1 year of maternity leave?

Bulgaria goes past a year, with 410 days of paid maternity leave. In Norway, parents can take 49 weeks at full pay or 59 weeks at 80%. The UK gives up to 52 weeks of maternity leave, but Statutory Maternity Pay covers only 39 of them: 90% of earnings for the first six weeks, then a lower weekly rate.

Is the US the only developed country without paid maternity leave?

Yes. The United States is the only OECD country without a national paid parental leave law. The Family and Medical Leave Act gives eligible workers up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave, and 14 states plus Washington, D.C. have passed their own paid family leave programs.

When was maternity leave first introduced?

Switzerland passed the first maternity leave law in 1877. Its Factory Act kept new mothers out of factory work for eight weeks, six of them after the birth, but paid nothing. Switzerland only introduced paid maternity leave in 2005: 14 weeks at 80% of earnings.

Claudia Saccomani

Former contributor

Claudia is an experienced marketer with a passion for writing and creating engaging content that connects with readers.