Maternity Leave By Country [2026]: OECD Country Trends and Data

Maternity leave research summary. Maternity leave is a vital aspect of employee rights in many countries, yet it is not universally guaranteed. While numerous European nations provide extended maternity leave policies, the United States continues to fall behind significantly in this regard.

Here are some essential insights from our updated research on maternity leave across various countries:

Over 120 countries now offer paid maternity leave for employees.
Women are the primary earners in 30% of households globally.
The average length of maternity leave in OECD countries has stabilized at 18.5 weeks.
39 U.S. states still offer no paid maternity leave.

Maternity Leave by Country

Country	Length (in weeks)	Average payment rate	Full-rate equivalent (in weeks)	Who Pays?
Australia	12.0	42.1%	5.2	N/A
Austria	16.0	100.0%	16.0	S.S.
Belgium	15.0	64.7%	9.7	S.S.
Bulgaria	58.6	90.0%	52.7	S.S.
Canada	16.0	39.5%	6.3	Unemployment Insurance
Chile	18.0	100.0%	18.0	S.S.
Colombia	18.0	100.0%	18.0	S.S.
Costa Rica	17.3	100.0%	17.3	50% Employer; 50% S.S.
Croatia	30.0	100.0%	30.0	N/A
Cyprus	18.0	72.0%	13.0	S.S.
Czech Republic	28.0	63.7%	17.8	N/A
Denmark	18.0	50.7%	9.1	S.S.
Estonia	14.3	100.0%	14.3	N/A
Finland	17.5	74.6%	13.1	S.S.
France	16.0	91.4%	14.6	S.S.
Germany	14.0	100.0%	14.0	S.S. to ceiling; employer pays difference
Greece	43.0	65.1%	28.0	S.S.
Hungary	24.0	100.0%	24.0	S.S.
Iceland	26.0	71.3%	18.5	S.S.
Ireland	26.0	25.7%	6.7	S.S.
Israel	15.0	100.0%	15.0	S.S.
Italy	21.7	80.0%	17.4	S.S.
Japan	14.0	67.0%	9.4	S.S. or health insurance
Korea	12.9	83.7%	10.8	Employer
Latvia	16.0	80.0%	12.8	N/A
Lithuania	18.0	77.6%	14.0	N/A
Luxembourg	20.0	100.0%	20.0	S.S.
Malta	18.0	86.3%	15.5	S.S.
Mexico	12.0	100.0%	12.0	S.S.
Netherlands	16.0	100.0%	16.0	S.S.
New Zealand	26.0	48.9%	12.7	N/A
Norway	18.0	100.0%	18.0	S.S.
Poland	20.0	100.0%	20.0	S.S.
Portugal	6.0	100.0%	6.0	S.S.
Romania	18.0	85.0%	15.3	S.S.
Slovak Republic	34.0	75.0%	25.5	N/A
Slovenia	15.0	100.0%	15.0	N/A
Spain	16.0	100.0%	16.0	S.S.
Sweden	12.9	77.6%	10.0	S.S.
Switzerland	14.0	53.9%	7.6	Employer
Turkey	16.0	100.0%	16.0	S.S.
United Kingdom	39.0	29.5%	11.5	S.S.
United States	0.0	0.0%	0.0	N/A

Countries With the Best Maternity Leave Policies

Countries establish their own maternity leave regulations, resulting in varying levels of generosity. If you’re interested in which nations offer the most favorable maternity leave policies, here are some notable examples:

Bulgaria provides the longest paid maternity leave globally, at 58.6 weeks.

Croatia also offers up to 58 weeks, but guarantees only 30 weeks of paid leave. Other top contenders include:
- Albania – 52 weeks
- Bosnia & Herzegovina – 52 weeks
- Montenegro – 52 weeks
- UK – 39 weeks

21 countries across the globe provide 100% paid maternity leave.

Just over 17% of all nations offering paid maternity leave guarantee 100% of an employee’s salary. Here’s a comprehensive list of countries with 100% paid maternity leave:


Austria Brazil Chile Colombia Costa Rica Croatia Estonia	France Germany India Israel Lithuania Malaysia Mexico	Netherlands Philippines Poland Portugal Singapore Slovenia Spain

Croatia offers the most maternity leave at 100% pay, providing this for 30 weeks.

Other notable countries that provide the longest maternity leave at 100% pay include:
- Hungary – 24 weeks
- Luxembourg – 20 weeks
- Poland – 20 weeks
- Chile, Colombia, and Norway – 18 weeks

Countries With the Worst Maternity Leave Policies

While many countries have robust maternity leave policies, some provide minimal or no support. The following details highlight countries with deficient maternity leave provisions:

Botswana and the Solomon Islands have the lowest maternity leave pay rate at 25%.

The UK and Ireland also rank low, offering only 29.5% and 25.7% of an employee’s total pay, respectively. In total, 19 countries provide 50% or less of an employee’s typical wage.
Only 9 countries in the UN offer no paid maternity leave.

The majority of nations provide paid maternity leave, with exceptions that include:
- United States
- Papua New Guinea
- Marshall Islands
- Micronesia, Nauru
- Palau
- Tonga
- Lesotho
- Eswatini

Only 11 U.S. states provide paid maternity leave.

The U.S. lacks a federal mandate for paid maternity leave; however, some states have implemented their own policies. Below are the states that have established maternity leave laws:

U.S. States That Offer Paid Maternity Leave

U.S. States	Maximum Length (in weeks)
California	8.0
Colorado	12.0
Connecticut	12.0
Delaware	12.0
Massachusetts	20.0
New Hampshire	6.0
New Jersey	12.0
New York	12.0
Oregon	12.0
Rhode Island	30.0
Washington	12.0

Worldwide Maternity Leave Policies FAQ

What country provides the most maternity leave?

Bulgaria offers the most maternity leave, totaling 58.6 weeks. It also provides a 90% payment rate, making the average payment equivalent to an impressive 52.7 weeks.

Other countries in the top five for longest maternity leave include:
- Albania – 52 weeks
- Bosnia & Herzegovina – 52 weeks
- Montenegro – 52 weeks
- UK – 39 weeks
Where does the U.S. stand in paid maternity leave?

The U.S. is among fewer than 10 countries that do not offer paid maternity leave. Currently, 39 states lack any paid maternity leave policy, as there is no federal law to enforce it.

The 11 states that provide paid maternity leave include:
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Massachusetts
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New York
- Oregon
- Rhode Island
- Washington
What countries lack maternity leave provisions?

Only 9 UN member countries do not offer paid maternity leave. Contrary to what many Americans might believe, the majority of nations worldwide provide this benefit. The countries without paid maternity leave include:
- United States
- Papua New Guinea
- Marshall Islands
- Micronesia, Nauru
- Palau
- Tonga
- Lesotho
- Eswatini
Do all Americans receive paid maternity leave?

No, not all Americans have access to paid maternity leave. The absence of a federal mandate means only 11 states require it. In many other states, paid maternity leave is at the discretion of employers, often influenced by job type or industry.
Which U.S. state has the best maternity leave policy?

Massachusetts is recognized for having the best-paid maternity leave. It guarantees a minimum of 12 weeks of paid maternity leave, with the potential for a total of 20 weeks. While Rhode Island offers a longer leave duration, the pay is generally less substantial.

Conclusion

Paid maternity leave is now the standard in over 120 countries worldwide. Among these, 21 countries provide 100% of an employee’s wage during maternity leave.

Unfortunately, the United States remains one of only 9 countries globally that do not mandate paid maternity leave, lacking a federal requirement. However, 11 states have proactively created their own laws to support paid maternity leave.

As the global labor market evolves, it is likely that the situation will continue to change. Many advocates are pushing for comprehensive paid maternity leave policies across all 50 states in the near future.

References

ILO – More than 120 Nations Provide Paid Maternity Leave
OECD Family Database – PF2.1. Parental Leave Systems
Emerald Technology – Top 5 Countries With The Longest Maternity Leave
Velocity Global – Paid Maternity Leave by Country: The Complete Guide for Global HR Teams
NCSL – State Family and Medical Leave Laws

Author

Jack Flynn

Jack Flynn is a writer for Zippia. In his professional career he’s written over 100 research papers, articles and blog posts. Some of his most popular published works include his writing about economic terms and research into job classifications. Jack received his BS from Hampshire College.

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