Length of paid parental leave for mother 2017

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)•

View data for:

Interactive Map

Complete Data Rankings

Rank
1	Tajikistan	478 days
2	South Korea	365 days
3	Japan	309 days
4	France	180 days
5	Italy	180 days
6	Luxembourg	180 days
7	Slovenia	130 days
8	Belgium	120 days
9	Croatia	120 days
10	Norway	91 days
11	Sweden	90 days
12	Germany	60 days
13	Chile	42 days
14	Portugal	42 days
15	Romania	30 days
16	Afghanistan	0 days
17	Albania	0 days
18	Algeria	0 days
19	Angola	0 days
20	Antigua and Barbuda	0 days
21	Argentina	0 days
22	Armenia	0 days
23	Australia	0 days
24	Austria	0 days
25	Azerbaijan	0 days
26	Bahamas	0 days
27	Bahrain	0 days
28	Bangladesh	0 days
29	Barbados	0 days
30	Belarus	0 days
31	Belize	0 days
32	Benin	0 days
33	Bhutan	0 days
34	Bolivia	0 days
35	Bosnia and Herzegovina	0 days
36	Botswana	0 days
37	Brazil	0 days
38	Brunei Darussalam	0 days
39	Bulgaria	0 days
40	Burkina Faso	0 days
41	Burundi	0 days
42	Cabo Verde	0 days
43	Cambodia	0 days
44	Cameroon	0 days
45	Canada	0 days
46	Central African Republic	0 days
47	Chad	0 days
48	China	0 days
49	China, Hong Kong SAR	0 days
50	Colombia	0 days
51	Comoros	0 days
52	Congo	0 days
53	Congo, Democratic Republic of the	0 days
54	Costa Rica	0 days
55	Côte d'Ivoire	0 days
56	Cyprus	0 days
57	Czech Republic	0 days
58	Denmark	0 days
59	Djibouti	0 days
60	Dominica	0 days
61	Dominican Republic	0 days
62	Ecuador	0 days
63	Egypt	0 days
64	El Salvador	0 days
65	Equatorial Guinea	0 days
66	Eritrea	0 days
67	Estonia	0 days
68	Eswatini	0 days
69	Ethiopia	0 days
70	Fiji	0 days
71	Finland	0 days
72	Gabon	0 days
73	Gambia	0 days
74	Georgia	0 days
75	Ghana	0 days
76	Greece	0 days
77	Grenada	0 days
78	Guatemala	0 days
79	Guinea	0 days
80	Guinea-Bissau	0 days
81	Guyana	0 days
82	Haiti	0 days
83	Honduras	0 days
84	Hungary	0 days
85	Iceland	0 days
86	India	0 days
87	Indonesia	0 days
88	Iran	0 days
89	Iraq	0 days
90	Ireland	0 days
91	Israel	0 days
92	Jamaica	0 days
93	Jordan	0 days
94	Kazakhstan	0 days
95	Kenya	0 days
96	Kiribati	0 days
97	Kosovo	0 days
98	Kuwait	0 days
99	Kyrgyzstan	0 days
100	Laos	0 days
101	Latvia	0 days
102	Lebanon	0 days
103	Lesotho	0 days
104	Liberia	0 days
105	Libya	0 days
106	Lithuania	0 days
107	Madagascar	0 days
108	Malawi	0 days
109	Malaysia	0 days
110	Maldives	0 days
111	Mali	0 days
112	Malta	0 days
113	Marshall Islands	0 days
114	Mauritania	0 days
115	Mauritius	0 days
116	Mexico	0 days
117	Micronesia (Fed. States of)	0 days
118	Mongolia	0 days
119	Montenegro	0 days
120	Morocco	0 days
121	Mozambique	0 days
122	Myanmar	0 days
123	Namibia	0 days
124	Nepal	0 days
125	Netherlands	0 days
126	New Zealand	0 days
127	Nicaragua	0 days
128	Niger	0 days
129	Nigeria	0 days
130	North Macedonia	0 days
131	Oman	0 days
132	Pakistan	0 days
133	Palau	0 days
134	Panama	0 days
135	Papua New Guinea	0 days
136	Paraguay	0 days
137	Peru	0 days
138	Philippines	0 days
139	Poland	0 days
140	Puerto Rico	0 days
141	Qatar	0 days
142	Republic of Moldova	0 days
143	Russia	0 days
144	Rwanda	0 days
145	Saint Kitts and Nevis	0 days
146	Saint Lucia	0 days
147	Saint Vincent and the Grenadines	0 days
148	Samoa	0 days
149	San Marino	0 days
150	Sao Tome and Principe	0 days
151	Saudi Arabia	0 days
152	Senegal	0 days
153	Serbia	0 days
154	Seychelles	0 days
155	Sierra Leone	0 days
156	Singapore	0 days
157	Slovakia	0 days
158	Solomon Islands	0 days
159	Somalia	0 days
160	South Africa	0 days
161	South Sudan	0 days
162	Spain	0 days
163	Sri Lanka	0 days
164	State of Palestine	0 days
165	Sudan	0 days
166	Suriname	0 days
167	Switzerland	0 days
168	Syrian Arab Republic	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 is a crucial metric that reflects a country's commitment to supporting family well-being and workforce participation. In 2017, this metric demonstrated significant global disparities, highlighting the varying degrees of social support available to new mothers. Understanding these differences provides insight into how different countries prioritize parental leave, impacting both economic opportunities and social welfare.

Global Comparisons: Disparities in Parental Leave

In 2017, the length of paid parental leave for mothers varied drastically across the globe. Tajikistan led the world with an impressive 478 days of paid leave, showcasing its strong commitment to supporting new mothers. In contrast, several countries, including Argentina and Australia, offered no paid leave at all, underscoring stark global discrepancies. The average length of paid parental leave was a modest 12.79 days, with a median of zero, reflecting that many nations still do not prioritize this crucial support. Notably, countries like South Korea and Japan provided extensive leave periods of 365 and 309 days, respectively, indicating how socioeconomic factors and cultural values can influence policy decisions.

Policy Impact: Cultural and Economic Influences

Policies surrounding parental leave are often indicative of broader cultural and economic trends. In 2017, countries with substantial leave durations typically had comprehensive social welfare systems and high levels of gender equality, such as those in Europe. Luxembourg, Italy, and France each provided 180 days of paid leave. These nations recognize the long-term economic benefits of supporting maternal health and early childhood development. Conversely, countries with minimal or no paid leave often faced economic constraints or lacked the political will to enact comprehensive parental leave policies. This lack of support can hinder female workforce participation and perpetuate gender inequality in the labor market.

The length of paid parental leave for mothers has far-reaching economic and social implications. Extended leave periods can enhance maternal health, reduce stress, and promote better family dynamics by allowing parents to bond with their newborns without financial strain. This is evident in countries like Slovenia and Belgium, which offer 130 and 120 days of paid leave, respectively. Such policies not only support family well-being but also enhance workforce stability by reducing employee turnover and increasing job satisfaction among new parents. However, nations with limited or no paid leave miss out on these benefits, potentially facing higher healthcare costs and reduced economic productivity due to an underutilized female workforce.

Regional Patterns: Europe vs. Rest of the World

Analyzing the data from 2017 reveals clear regional patterns. European countries consistently offer longer paid parental leave, reflecting their strong social policies and robust welfare systems. Scandinavian countries, known for their progressive gender policies, provide extensive support to new parents, as seen in Norway's 91 days of paid leave. In contrast, many countries in Asia and the Americas, such as Bangladesh and Barbados, offer little to no paid leave, highlighting regional economic and policy disparities. These differences emphasize the influence of regional cultural norms and economic conditions on parental leave policies.

Future Trends and Considerations

As the global conversation around gender equality and family support evolves, the trend towards increasing paid parental leave is likely to continue. In 2017, despite the lack of significant changes from previous years, there was growing awareness of the importance of parental leave as a tool for promoting gender equity and improving child outcomes. Countries with lower leave durations may face domestic and international pressure to reform their policies. Moving forward, it will be crucial for policymakers to consider the long-term social and economic benefits of extending paid parental leave and to design policies that are inclusive and supportive of diverse family structures.

The Length of Paid Parental Leave for Mothers in 2017 serves as a lens through which to examine global priorities regarding family support. While some countries have made significant strides in providing extensive parental leave, others still lag, highlighting a critical area for policy development.

Insights by country

Chile

In 2017, Chile ranked 13th out of 189 countries in terms of the length of paid parental leave for mothers, providing 42 days of paid leave. This policy reflects the country's commitment to supporting maternal health and child development during the crucial early stages of a child's life.

The length of paid parental leave in Chile can be attributed to several factors, including governmental policies aimed at promoting gender equality in the workplace and improving family welfare. The Chilean government has implemented various reforms over the years to enhance work-life balance, which includes extending parental leave provisions.

Additionally, while 42 days may seem modest compared to some other countries, it is a notable improvement in the context of Latin America, where many nations still offer limited maternity benefits. This policy is part of a broader trend in the region toward enhancing social protections for families.

South Sudan

In 2017, South Sudan ranked 161 out of 189 countries regarding the length of paid parental leave for mothers, offering a total of 0 days of paid leave. This lack of provision reflects broader challenges in the nation, which has faced ongoing conflict and instability since its independence in 2011.

The absence of paid parental leave is indicative of the country's limited infrastructure and resources, as well as cultural norms that may prioritize economic survival over family support systems. Furthermore, the ongoing humanitarian crises have strained governmental capacities to implement comprehensive social policies, including those related to parental leave.

It is noteworthy that such a policy gap can have long-term implications for maternal and child health, as well as gender equality in the workforce. Comparatively, many countries offer substantial paid parental leave, which is associated with better health outcomes for mothers and children, and increased workforce participation among women.

Austria

In 2017, Austria ranked 24th out of 189 countries in terms of paid parental leave for mothers, with a notably low provision of 0 days of paid leave. This statistic indicates that while mothers may have access to maternity leave, there is no financial compensation provided during this period, which can pose challenges for families relying on dual incomes.

The absence of paid parental leave may be attributed to various factors, including Austria's social welfare policies that prioritize other forms of support, such as child allowances and parental benefits that are not directly linked to paid leave. Additionally, a cultural emphasis on maternal roles and traditional family structures may contribute to a lesser perceived need for paid leave.

Interestingly, in contrast to the lack of paid leave, Austria is known for its comprehensive child care policies, which aim to support families in alternative ways. As a result, while the metric for paid leave appears unfavorable, overall family support mechanisms in Austria may still provide valuable assistance to parents.

Honduras

In 2017, Honduras ranked 83rd out of 189 countries regarding the length of paid parental leave for mothers, with a notably low provision of 0 days of paid leave. This statistic highlights a significant gap in parental support policies compared to many other nations, where paid leave is a standard practice aimed at promoting child health and family bonding.

The lack of paid parental leave in Honduras can be attributed to various socioeconomic factors, including high rates of poverty, limited government resources, and a labor market that often prioritizes immediate productivity over long-term family welfare. Additionally, cultural norms around gender roles and family responsibilities may influence the perception and implementation of parental leave policies.

While Honduras's situation reflects a broader trend in Central America, it is essential to consider that many countries worldwide are moving towards more comprehensive parental leave frameworks to support working families. For instance, countries in Scandinavia are known for their extensive paid parental leave policies, which can extend up to several months, indicating a stark contrast to the situation in Honduras.

Argentina

In 2017, Argentina ranked 21st out of 189 countries regarding the length of paid parental leave for mothers, providing a total of 0 days. This statistic highlights the country's absence of a formal paid maternity leave policy, which reflects broader social and economic challenges faced by working mothers in Argentina.

The lack of paid parental leave may be influenced by various factors, such as economic constraints, labor market dynamics, and cultural attitudes towards gender roles and family responsibilities. In many cases, the absence of such support could lead to increased difficulties for mothers in balancing work and family life.

Additionally, it is noteworthy that while some countries have implemented generous parental leave policies, Argentina's position emphasizes the ongoing discussions surrounding women's rights and workplace equality, as well as the need for reforms in family support systems across the region.

Angola

In 2017, Angola ranked 19th out of 189 countries regarding the length of paid parental leave for mothers, a notable position considering the country's socioeconomic context. However, the actual provision for paid parental leave stood at 0 days, indicating a lack of formal support for mothers during the critical postnatal period.

This absence of paid parental leave can be attributed to several factors, including the country's ongoing economic challenges, limited public resources, and a focus on other pressing social issues. Angola's economy, heavily reliant on oil revenues, has faced fluctuations that impact government spending on social services, including family support programs.

Additionally, cultural norms in Angola may play a role, as traditional family structures often emphasize communal support rather than institutionalized parental leave. In comparison, many countries have recognized the importance of paid parental leave in promoting maternal and child health, leading to legislative changes aimed at supporting families.

Cambodia

Cambodia ranks 43rd out of 189 countries regarding the provision of paid parental leave for mothers, with an official length of 0 days as of 2017. This statistic highlights a significant gap in parental support policies, reflecting the country's limited social welfare systems and inadequate labor protections for working mothers.

The lack of paid parental leave can be attributed to various factors, including economic constraints faced by the government and a focus on attracting foreign investment, which often prioritizes labor flexibility over employee benefits. Moreover, traditional cultural norms may contribute to the lesser emphasis on formalized parental leave policies.

In contrast, many neighboring countries in Southeast Asia have made strides in improving maternal leave provisions, indicating a regional disparity in parental support. As of 2017, this absence of paid parental leave may impact maternal health and child development, raising concerns about the long-term implications for families and society as a whole.

Guyana

In 2017, Guyana ranked 81 out of 189 countries regarding the length of paid parental leave for mothers, with a total of 0 days allocated for this critical period. This statistic highlights significant challenges in the country's maternity leave policies, which may impact women's health, child development, and overall family well-being.

The absence of paid parental leave may be influenced by various factors, including economic constraints, cultural norms surrounding gender roles, and limited governmental support for family-oriented policies. In many developing nations, such issues can be exacerbated by a focus on immediate economic growth over social welfare improvements.

Interestingly, the lack of paid parental leave can have long-term consequences for labor market participation and gender equality, as women may face increased difficulties in balancing work and family responsibilities. Comparatively, many countries have recognized the importance of supporting new parents, with some offering extensive paid leave to promote healthier family dynamics and workforce participation.

Lebanon

In 2017, Lebanon ranked 102nd out of 189 countries in terms of paid parental leave for mothers, offering a total of 0 days of paid leave. This lack of provisions for maternity leave reflects broader societal and economic challenges faced by women in the workforce.

The absence of paid parental leave can be attributed to several factors, including cultural norms, economic conditions, and the political landscape of Lebanon, which has historically struggled with instability and governance issues. These factors often lead to insufficient support for family-friendly policies and labor rights.

Additionally, the lack of paid maternity leave may contribute to the challenges women face in balancing work and family responsibilities, potentially impacting their participation in the labor market. According to the World Bank, women's labor force participation in Lebanon is relatively low, which could be exacerbated by such policies.

Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan ranked 25th out of 189 countries regarding the length of paid parental leave for mothers in 2017. Notably, the country provided 0 days of paid parental leave, indicating a significant gap in support for new mothers compared to many other nations.

This lack of paid parental leave may be influenced by various factors, including economic constraints, cultural attitudes toward gender roles, and the prioritization of labor market participation over family support policies. In many cases, the absence of paid leave can hinder women's ability to balance work and family responsibilities effectively.

Globally, paid parental leave policies vary significantly, with countries like Sweden offering up to 480 days of paid parental leave, emphasizing the importance of such policies in promoting gender equality and child welfare.

Data Source

Women, Business and the Law, World Bank (WB)

The Women, Business and the Law (WBL) team invites collaboration from public and private sector experts on data collection and dissemination to help create jobs for women and boost economic growth globally. The next WBL report is expected to be published in March 2026. If you are a private sector expert interested in contributing, please refer to the expert contributors page for more information. For the first time, governments are invited to nominate focal points to coordinate the completion of questionnaires. If you wish to contribute, please refer to the government engagement page.

Visit Data Source

Historical Data by Year

Explore Length of paid parental leave for mother data across different years. Compare trends and see how statistics have changed over time.

More People and Society Facts

Currently married (Percent)

The percentage of currently married individuals by country highlights societal trends in family structure and relationships. Understanding these statistics can provide insights into cultural norms and demographic shifts, influencing policies and social programs.

View data

Browse All People and Society

Explore more facts and statistics in this category

All Categories

Discover more categories with comprehensive global data