Any psychologist or pediatrician worth their salt will tell you how important it is for new parents to spend time with their newborns. Parent-child bonding is one of the most crucial aspects of a child’s life and it has lasting impacts well into adulthood and beyond. That is why it is important to build a strong foundation for it from the very beginning – from the moment a child enters this world.
Thankfully, most governments around the world understand this and therefore make provisions for new mothers and fathers to take paternity leaves. While the length of these leaves can vary drastically, certain countries don’t consider the father at all. In fact, only 2% of countries around the world have government regulations regarding financial support and maternity allowances.
However, there are certain countries that go above and beyond to make sure that new mothers (and fathers) are given enough support and benefits to help them and their children thrive.
Here are the top 11 countries around the world that offer the longest parental leaves:
Croatia
Parental leave length: 410 days.
Maternity and paternity benefits in Croatia are stellar. Maternity leaves can be availed for more than a year, and the Health Insurance Fund pays mothers 100% of their monthly salary for the first 6 months. Parental leave kicks in after that and goes up until the child turns 8! Both parents can avail parental leaves for periods ranging from 4 to 15 months.
Iceland
Parental leave length: 365 days.
The total childcare leave in Iceland lasts for 12 months or 365 days. It follows a 5-5-2 formula where the first 5 months are reserved for the mother, the next 5 for the father, and the final 2 to be divided upon both parents as they wish. Furthermore, each parent is entitled to payment from the Maternity/Paternity Fund for 1 month before and four months after the birth or adoption of a child.
Finland
Parental leave length: 164 days (each).
Previously, Finland offered 124 working days of maternity leave but starting in 2021, they have upgraded it to 164 days per parent! Parents are allowed to “transfer” 69 days of their unused leaves to the other parent if required. Beyond paternity leave, mothers who return to work are given facilities such as daycare or nanny services provided for free by the government.
Portugal
Parental leave length: 120 days.
Maternity leave in Portugal is provided for 120 days with the option of extending it for another 30 days. In case of complications during pregnancy, provisions can be made for leave before the birth as well. Paternity leave is compulsory by law for 5 days following the birth of the baby. Furthermore, the father also has to take a compulsory leave of 20 days within the first 6 months of the baby’s life. Length of paternity leaves increases in the case of infants who are hospitalized or have a chronic illness.
United Kingdom
Parental leave length: 365 days.
While the initial 2-week period is meant only for the mother, the rest of the time can be divided between both parents – it is up to them! Combined, the number of days of parental leave availed between the father and mother cannot be more than a year. Statutory mandatory pay lasts for 37 weeks after the child’s birth. Beyond that, parents of children under the age of 16, or 18 if they are disabled, can request flexible working hours.
Sweden
Parental leave length: 240 days.
While Sweden also allows the parents to choose how they divide the number of days offered as parental leave between them, as an initiative to help fathers become more involved in childcare and improve father-child bonding, Sweden’s parental leaves come with 60 days which belong only to the father. If they aren’t taken, they end up “expiring”, i.e. no one gets them.
Kazakhstan
Parental leave length: 126 days.
Employees in Kazakhstan are made eligible for 70 calendar days of leave before the baby is born and 56 calendar days after. In case of complications or multiple births, mothers may take up to 10 weeks, or 70 days of leave. They are also offered childcare leave until their child turns 3 years old. Paternity leaves may be made available, but they are largely unpaid.
India
Parental leave length: 180 days.
Maternity leave in India was increased from 12 to 26 weeks a few years ago, but if it is the woman’s 3rd child or more, she will still only be able to avail 12 weeks of paid time off. 6 weeks of this leave is called “postnatal” leave, which means a woman is entitled to them even if she has a pregnancy loss of stillbirth. There is no universal law on paternity leave, although male government employees may take up to 15 days of leave within 6 months of their baby’s birth.
France
Parental leave length: 112 days.
Maternity leave lasts for 4 months, although it is divided between the period before and after the birth (2 months either way). However, pregnant women are given the option to keep working until they are 36 weeks along, with the remainder of the maternity leave being added onto the tail end (i.e. more time off after giving birth). As for fathers, there is a mandatory 4-day leave immediately after the birth, beyond which they can take up to 21 days off within the first 6 months.
China
Parental leave length: from 98 days.
A 98-day period of maternity leave is made mandatory nationally, while the Chinese government allows local provinces to add on to that as they see fit. There is no current regulation on childcare or paternity leave, although this may change in the future.
The United Arab Emirates
Parental leave length: 45/90 days.
Maternity leaves in the UAE may either last for 45 days or 90 days, including the time before and after the birth, depending on where the expecting mother works. If she is a public sector employee, she may take up to 9 days off, while private-sector employees may take up to 45 days off. New fathers are allowed to take 5 days of paid leave within the first 6 months of the baby’s birth, regardless of where they work.
