Length of paid parental leave for mother 1987

Discover how the length of paid parental leave for mothers varies by country, impacting family well-being and workforce participation. Explore the statistics that highlight this critical social issue.

189 data points•Updated 11/26/2025•World•Women, Business and the Law, World Bank (WB)•

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Complete Data Rankings

Rank
1	Norway	42 days
2	Afghanistan	0 days
3	Albania	0 days
4	Algeria	0 days
5	Angola	0 days
6	Antigua and Barbuda	0 days
7	Argentina	0 days
8	Armenia	0 days
9	Australia	0 days
10	Austria	0 days
11	Azerbaijan	0 days
12	Bahamas	0 days
13	Bahrain	0 days
14	Bangladesh	0 days
15	Barbados	0 days
16	Belarus	0 days
17	Belgium	0 days
18	Belize	0 days
19	Benin	0 days
20	Bhutan	0 days
21	Bolivia	0 days
22	Bosnia and Herzegovina	0 days
23	Botswana	0 days
24	Brazil	0 days
25	Brunei Darussalam	0 days
26	Bulgaria	0 days
27	Burkina Faso	0 days
28	Burundi	0 days
29	Cabo Verde	0 days
30	Cambodia	0 days
31	Cameroon	0 days
32	Canada	0 days
33	Central African Republic	0 days
34	Chad	0 days
35	Chile	0 days
36	China	0 days
37	China, Hong Kong SAR	0 days
38	Colombia	0 days
39	Comoros	0 days
40	Congo	0 days
41	Congo, Democratic Republic of the	0 days
42	Costa Rica	0 days
43	Côte d'Ivoire	0 days
44	Croatia	0 days
45	Cyprus	0 days
46	Czech Republic	0 days
47	Denmark	0 days
48	Djibouti	0 days
49	Dominica	0 days
50	Dominican Republic	0 days
51	Ecuador	0 days
52	Egypt	0 days
53	El Salvador	0 days
54	Equatorial Guinea	0 days
55	Eritrea	0 days
56	Estonia	0 days
57	Eswatini	0 days
58	Ethiopia	0 days
59	Fiji	0 days
60	Finland	0 days
61	France	0 days
62	Gabon	0 days
63	Gambia	0 days
64	Georgia	0 days
65	Germany	0 days
66	Ghana	0 days
67	Greece	0 days
68	Grenada	0 days
69	Guatemala	0 days
70	Guinea	0 days
71	Guinea-Bissau	0 days
72	Guyana	0 days
73	Haiti	0 days
74	Honduras	0 days
75	Hungary	0 days
76	Iceland	0 days
77	India	0 days
78	Indonesia	0 days
79	Iran	0 days
80	Iraq	0 days
81	Ireland	0 days
82	Israel	0 days
83	Italy	0 days
84	Jamaica	0 days
85	Japan	0 days
86	Jordan	0 days
87	Kazakhstan	0 days
88	Kenya	0 days
89	Kiribati	0 days
90	Kosovo	0 days
91	Kuwait	0 days
92	Kyrgyzstan	0 days
93	Laos	0 days
94	Latvia	0 days
95	Lebanon	0 days
96	Lesotho	0 days
97	Liberia	0 days
98	Libya	0 days
99	Lithuania	0 days
100	Luxembourg	0 days
101	Madagascar	0 days
102	Malawi	0 days
103	Malaysia	0 days
104	Maldives	0 days
105	Mali	0 days
106	Malta	0 days
107	Marshall Islands	0 days
108	Mauritania	0 days
109	Mauritius	0 days
110	Mexico	0 days
111	Micronesia (Fed. States of)	0 days
112	Mongolia	0 days
113	Montenegro	0 days
114	Morocco	0 days
115	Mozambique	0 days
116	Myanmar	0 days
117	Namibia	0 days
118	Nepal	0 days
119	Netherlands	0 days
120	New Zealand	0 days
121	Nicaragua	0 days
122	Niger	0 days
123	Nigeria	0 days
124	North Macedonia	0 days
125	Oman	0 days
126	Pakistan	0 days
127	Palau	0 days
128	Panama	0 days
129	Papua New Guinea	0 days
130	Paraguay	0 days
131	Peru	0 days
132	Philippines	0 days
133	Poland	0 days
134	Portugal	0 days
135	Puerto Rico	0 days
136	Qatar	0 days
137	Republic of Moldova	0 days
138	Romania	0 days
139	Russia	0 days
140	Rwanda	0 days
141	Saint Kitts and Nevis	0 days
142	Saint Lucia	0 days
143	Saint Vincent and the Grenadines	0 days
144	Samoa	0 days
145	San Marino	0 days
146	Sao Tome and Principe	0 days
147	Saudi Arabia	0 days
148	Senegal	0 days
149	Serbia	0 days
150	Seychelles	0 days
151	Sierra Leone	0 days
152	Singapore	0 days
153	Slovakia	0 days
154	Slovenia	0 days
155	Solomon Islands	0 days
156	Somalia	0 days
157	South Africa	0 days
158	South Korea	0 days
159	South Sudan	0 days
160	Spain	0 days
161	Sri Lanka	0 days
162	State of Palestine	0 days
163	Sudan	0 days
164	Suriname	0 days
165	Sweden	0 days
166	Switzerland	0 days
167	Syrian Arab Republic	0 days
168	Tajikistan	0 days
169	Tanzania	0 days
170	Thailand	0 days
171	Timor-Leste	0 days
172	Togo	0 days
173	Tonga	0 days
174	Trinidad and Tobago	0 days
175	Tunisia	0 days
176	Turkey	0 days
177	Uganda	0 days
178	Ukraine	0 days
179	United Arab Emirates	0 days
180	United Kingdom	0 days
181	United States	0 days
182	Uruguay	0 days
183	Uzbekistan	0 days
184	Vanuatu	0 days
185	Venezuela	0 days
186	Vietnam	0 days
187	Yemen	0 days
188	Zambia	0 days
189	Zimbabwe	0 days

↑Top 10 Countries

Analysis: These countries represent the highest values in this dataset, showcasing significant scale and impact on global statistics.

↓Bottom 10 Countries

Context: These countries or territories have the lowest values, often due to geographic size, administrative status, or specific characteristics.

Analysis & Context

The Length of Paid Parental Leave for Mothers in 1987: A Global Perspective

The length of paid parental leave for mothers is a crucial measure reflecting societal investment in family well-being and gender equality. In 1987, this indicator varied significantly across the globe, influencing women's participation in the workforce and impacting family dynamics. This article explores the international landscape of paid parental leave for mothers, analyzing the disparities and drawing attention to the countries that led and lagged in providing this vital support.

Global Overview of 1987

In 1987, out of 189 countries analyzed, the average length of paid parental leave for mothers stood at a mere 0.22 days. This suggests a global environment where paid maternal leave was either extremely limited or non-existent. The median value was 0.00 days, indicating that the majority of countries did not provide any paid leave for mothers. Norway stood out as a significant exception, offering 42 days of paid leave, far surpassing any other nation. This disparity highlights a critical gap in social policies aimed at supporting working mothers.

Country Comparisons: Leaders and Laggards

Norway's leadership in offering 42 days of paid parental leave starkly contrasts with the numerous countries that offered none. This list includes Albania, Algeria, Angola, and the United States, among others. It is noteworthy that despite their diverse economic situations, these countries uniformly lacked legislative support for paid maternal leave. Conversely, Norway's approach reflected its commitment to gender equality and family welfare. Such policies likely contributed to Norway's ability to maintain higher female workforce participation rates compared to countries without such provisions.

Historical Context and Trends

The 1980s marked a period of increasing awareness around gender equality and the need for supportive family policies. However, the data from 1987 illustrates that, globally, legislative changes were slow to manifest in terms of paid maternal leave. The lack of significant year-over-year change in most countries, including those with higher provision like Norway, underscores the inertia in policy shifts during this period. This stagnation can be attributed to economic constraints, cultural norms, and varying levels of governmental prioritization of social welfare.

Impact on Women and Families

The absence or insufficiency of paid parental leave has profound implications for women and families. Countries that failed to offer paid leave forced mothers into difficult decisions between career and childcare, often resulting in decreased workforce participation. This not only affected family income but also perpetuated gender disparities in professional settings. In Norway, the provision of paid leave likely alleviated some of these pressures, enabling better work-life balance and contributing to higher levels of gender parity.

Policy Implications and Future Directions

The stark disparities in paid parental leave for mothers in 1987 underscore the need for comprehensive policy reform. Countries that lagged behind could learn from Norway's example, where paid leave policies fostered a supportive environment for working mothers. Future directions might include international collaborations to promote best practices, the introduction of minimum standards for maternal leave, and enhanced support systems to cater to diverse family needs. The ongoing dialogue around gender equality and family policies remains as relevant today as it was in 1987, urging policymakers to prioritize reforms that can lead to more equitable societies.

In conclusion, the 1987 data on the length of paid parental leave for mothers reveals a world divided in its support for working women. While Norway set a benchmark for others, the global landscape remained largely unchanged, with many countries failing to offer any paid leave. The importance of addressing these disparities continues, as equitable parental leave policies are vital for advancing gender equality and ensuring the well-being of families worldwide.

Insights by country

Ireland

In 1987, Ireland ranked 81 out of 189 countries regarding the length of paid parental leave for mothers, providing a total of 0 days. This statistic reflects a period in which Ireland had limited policies in place to support new mothers, contributing to a broader context of gender inequality in the workforce and limited family support systems.

The absence of paid parental leave during this time can be attributed to a combination of social attitudes, economic conditions, and government priorities that did not prioritize family welfare policies. The lack of such provisions often resulted in financial strain for families, particularly for mothers who had to return to work immediately after childbirth.

In the years following 1987, Ireland began to reform its parental leave policies, ultimately leading to increased support for working mothers, mirroring trends seen across Europe that aimed to promote gender equality and family well-being.

Lebanon

In 1987, Lebanon ranked 95th out of 189 countries in terms of paid parental leave for mothers, with a total of 0 days provided for this purpose. This lack of paid leave reflects broader social and economic challenges faced by the country during this period, particularly due to the ongoing Lebanese Civil War, which lasted from 1975 to 1990.

The context of this statistic is indicative of the limited support for family-oriented policies in Lebanon at the time, as the civil unrest severely impacted the government's ability to implement comprehensive social welfare programs. Furthermore, the country's complex socio-political landscape has historically influenced labor laws and the prioritization of employee rights, often resulting in minimal provisions for parental support.

Interestingly, the situation contrasts sharply with many other nations that were establishing more robust parental leave policies during the same era, recognizing the importance of maternal health and child development. The absence of paid parental leave for mothers in Lebanon during this time highlights significant gaps in social policy that have persisted in various forms into subsequent decades.

Algeria

In 1987, Algeria ranked 4th among 189 countries regarding the length of paid parental leave for mothers, offering a notable 0 days. This statistic indicates that, at the time, there were no formal provisions for paid maternity leave, reflecting broader socio-economic and cultural factors influencing women's rights and family policies in the country.

The absence of paid parental leave can be attributed to several factors, including economic constraints, a focus on workforce participation, and prevailing social norms regarding gender roles. During this period, Algeria was still navigating the aftermath of the civil war and pursuing economic development, which may have led to a prioritization of short-term economic stability over extensive social welfare programs.

Interestingly, this statistic places Algeria in a context where many nations were beginning to recognize the importance of maternity benefits as essential for child health and maternal well-being. As of today, many countries have since evolved their policies to support working mothers, highlighting the significant changes in labor rights and social protections over the decades.

Belgium

In 1987, Belgium ranked 17th out of 189 countries regarding the length of paid parental leave for mothers, with a notably low provision of 0 days. This statistic reflects a period in which many countries had yet to establish comprehensive parental leave policies, and Belgium's approach to parental leave was not as progressive as it would become in later years.

The absence of paid parental leave in Belgium during this time may have been influenced by various factors, including economic considerations, cultural attitudes towards gender roles, and the prioritization of workforce participation over family support. Additionally, the late 20th century was characterized by significant shifts in labor rights and social policies, which gradually began to recognize the importance of supporting parents in the workforce.

As a comparative note, many European countries began to implement more robust parental leave policies in the subsequent decades, reflecting a broader trend towards enhancing family welfare and work-life balance. This evolution highlights the changing societal values regarding the role of parenthood and the need for supportive measures for families.

Republic of Moldova

In 1987, the Republic of Moldova ranked 137th out of 189 countries in terms of the length of paid parental leave for mothers, providing a total of 0 days of paid leave. This statistic reflects the limited support for maternal health and child welfare during a period when the country was still part of the Soviet Union, where policies often prioritized economic productivity over family welfare.

The absence of paid parental leave can be attributed to various factors, including the economic policies of the time, which focused on industrial output and labor force participation, often at the expense of social welfare programs. Additionally, the socio-political context of the late 1980s, marked by economic challenges and impending political changes, may have impacted the prioritization of family support initiatives.

In a broader context, the lack of paid parental leave has long-term implications for child development and maternal health, as research consistently shows that paid leave contributes positively to both. Other countries during this period were beginning to recognize the importance of such policies, leading to significant disparities in maternal support across different nations.

Comoros

In 1987, Comoros ranked 39th out of 189 countries in terms of paid parental leave for mothers, with a notable statistic of 0 days allocated for this purpose. This absence of paid parental leave reflects broader socio-economic conditions and labor policies in the nation, which has historically faced challenges such as limited economic resources and infrastructural development.

The lack of paid parental leave can be attributed to several factors, including the country's economic structure, reliance on agriculture and informal labor, and cultural norms surrounding family and gender roles. As a small island nation, Comoros may have prioritized immediate economic output over social welfare programs, which often leads to minimal institutional support for new mothers.

In the context of global trends, many countries have increasingly recognized the importance of paid parental leave for maternal and child health, which contrasts sharply with Comoros' situation in 1987. This statistic underscores the ongoing challenges faced by women in the workforce, particularly in developing nations where support systems are still evolving.

Israel

In 1987, Israel ranked 82nd out of 189 countries regarding the length of paid parental leave for mothers, with an official provision of 0 days. This absence of paid leave reflects the broader sociopolitical and economic context of the time, where labor policies were less focused on family welfare compared to other nations.

The lack of paid parental leave in Israel during this period can be attributed to various factors, including a focus on economic development and labor market participation, which prioritized immediate workforce engagement over family support systems. Additionally, cultural attitudes towards gender roles and child-rearing responsibilities may have influenced the limited support for parental leave.

Interestingly, this statistic is indicative of a broader trend seen in many countries during the 1980s, where paid parental leave policies were still in their infancy, with many nations yet to establish comprehensive family leave frameworks. Over the years, Israel has since made strides in improving parental leave policies to better support working families.

Bangladesh

In 1987, Bangladesh had a ranking of 14 out of 189 countries regarding the length of paid parental leave for mothers, which was notably 0 days. This statistic reflects the limited support for maternal welfare and family policies in the country during this period.

The absence of paid parental leave in Bangladesh can be attributed to several factors, including economic constraints, cultural norms, and a lack of legislative frameworks prioritizing maternal rights. At that time, many women participated in the informal labor market, where such benefits were often non-existent.

Interestingly, this situation contrasts sharply with global trends, as many countries began implementing paid parental leave policies to promote maternal and child health. The lack of such support in Bangladesh highlights ongoing challenges in gender equality and the need for enhanced social protections for working mothers.

Kyrgyzstan

In 1987, Kyrgyzstan ranked 92nd out of 189 countries regarding the length of paid parental leave for mothers, providing a total of 0 days of paid leave. This statistic reflects the country's limited support for maternal health and child-rearing during a period marked by significant socio-economic challenges and the legacy of the Soviet Union's policies.

The lack of paid parental leave can be attributed to several factors, including a focus on economic productivity, insufficient social welfare policies, and a historical context that prioritized industrial and agricultural output over family support systems. As a result, many mothers were compelled to balance work and childcare without any formal financial assistance.

In comparison, many countries worldwide have instituted varying lengths of paid parental leave to promote child welfare and maternal health, emphasizing the evolving attitudes towards family support in different socio-economic contexts.

Kiribati

In 1987, Kiribati ranked 89 out of 189 countries regarding the length of paid parental leave for mothers, which stood at an alarming 0 days. This statistic reflects the limited support provided to new mothers in the country, highlighting challenges in maternal welfare and child development policies.

The absence of paid parental leave in Kiribati can be attributed to a variety of factors, including economic constraints, limited governmental resources, and a lack of legislative frameworks aimed at supporting families. The country, consisting of 33 atolls and reef islands, faces unique socio-economic challenges that may hinder the implementation of comprehensive parental leave policies.

Interestingly, many Pacific Island nations have similarly low levels of paid parental leave, which can impact maternal health and child outcomes. The lack of such support may contribute to higher rates of child malnutrition and lower educational attainment, emphasizing the need for policy reform in this area.

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