Length of paid parental leave for mother 2024

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•Global Coverage•Women, Business and the Law, World Bank (WB)•

View data for:

Interactive Map

Complete Data Rankings

Rank
1	Mongolia	657 days
2	Tajikistan	472.3 days
3	South Korea	365 days
4	Japan	309 days
5	Iceland	216 days
6	France	180 days
7	Italy	180 days
8	Luxembourg	180 days
9	Norway	164.5 days
10	United States	147 days
11	Slovenia	130 days
12	Belgium	120 days
13	Croatia	120 days
14	Sweden	90 days
15	Canada	73.5 days
16	Greece	72 days
17	Germany	60 days
18	Ireland	51.8 days
19	Chile	42 days
20	Portugal	42 days
21	Romania	30 days
22	United Arab Emirates	13.3 days
23	Afghanistan	0 days
24	Albania	0 days
25	Algeria	0 days
26	Angola	0 days
27	Antigua and Barbuda	0 days
28	Argentina	0 days
29	Armenia	0 days
30	Australia	0 days
31	Austria	0 days
32	Azerbaijan	0 days
33	Bahamas	0 days
34	Bahrain	0 days
35	Bangladesh	0 days
36	Barbados	0 days
37	Belarus	0 days
38	Belize	0 days
39	Benin	0 days
40	Bhutan	0 days
41	Bolivia	0 days
42	Bosnia and Herzegovina	0 days
43	Botswana	0 days
44	Brazil	0 days
45	Brunei Darussalam	0 days
46	Bulgaria	0 days
47	Burkina Faso	0 days
48	Burundi	0 days
49	Cabo Verde	0 days
50	Cambodia	0 days
51	Cameroon	0 days
52	Central African Republic	0 days
53	Chad	0 days
54	China	0 days
55	China, Hong Kong SAR	0 days
56	Colombia	0 days
57	Comoros	0 days
58	Congo	0 days
59	Congo, Democratic Republic of the	0 days
60	Costa Rica	0 days
61	Côte d'Ivoire	0 days
62	Cyprus	0 days
63	Czech Republic	0 days
64	Denmark	0 days
65	Djibouti	0 days
66	Dominica	0 days
67	Dominican Republic	0 days
68	Ecuador	0 days
69	Egypt	0 days
70	El Salvador	0 days
71	Equatorial Guinea	0 days
72	Eritrea	0 days
73	Estonia	0 days
74	Eswatini	0 days
75	Ethiopia	0 days
76	Fiji	0 days
77	Finland	0 days
78	Gabon	0 days
79	Gambia	0 days
80	Georgia	0 days
81	Ghana	0 days
82	Grenada	0 days
83	Guatemala	0 days
84	Guinea	0 days
85	Guinea-Bissau	0 days
86	Guyana	0 days
87	Haiti	0 days
88	Honduras	0 days
89	Hungary	0 days
90	India	0 days
91	Indonesia	0 days
92	Iran	0 days
93	Iraq	0 days
94	Israel	0 days
95	Jamaica	0 days
96	Jordan	0 days
97	Kazakhstan	0 days
98	Kenya	0 days
99	Kiribati	0 days
100	Kosovo	0 days
101	Kuwait	0 days
102	Kyrgyzstan	0 days
103	Laos	0 days
104	Latvia	0 days
105	Lebanon	0 days
106	Lesotho	0 days
107	Liberia	0 days
108	Libya	0 days
109	Lithuania	0 days
110	Madagascar	0 days
111	Malawi	0 days
112	Malaysia	0 days
113	Maldives	0 days
114	Mali	0 days
115	Malta	0 days
116	Marshall Islands	0 days
117	Mauritania	0 days
118	Mauritius	0 days
119	Mexico	0 days
120	Micronesia (Fed. States of)	0 days
121	Montenegro	0 days
122	Morocco	0 days
123	Mozambique	0 days
124	Myanmar	0 days
125	Namibia	0 days
126	Nepal	0 days
127	Netherlands	0 days
128	New Zealand	0 days
129	Nicaragua	0 days
130	Niger	0 days
131	Nigeria	0 days
132	North Macedonia	0 days
133	Oman	0 days
134	Pakistan	0 days
135	Palau	0 days
136	Panama	0 days
137	Papua New Guinea	0 days
138	Paraguay	0 days
139	Peru	0 days
140	Philippines	0 days
141	Poland	0 days
142	Puerto Rico	0 days
143	Qatar	0 days
144	Republic of Moldova	0 days
145	Russia	0 days
146	Rwanda	0 days
147	Saint Kitts and Nevis	0 days
148	Saint Lucia	0 days
149	Saint Vincent and the Grenadines	0 days
150	Samoa	0 days
151	San Marino	0 days
152	Sao Tome and Principe	0 days
153	Saudi Arabia	0 days
154	Senegal	0 days
155	Serbia	0 days
156	Seychelles	0 days
157	Sierra Leone	0 days
158	Singapore	0 days
159	Slovakia	0 days
160	Solomon Islands	0 days
161	Somalia	0 days
162	South Africa	0 days
163	South Sudan	0 days
164	Spain	0 days
165	Sri Lanka	0 days
166	State of Palestine	0 days
167	Sudan	0 days
168	Suriname	0 days
169	Switzerland	0 days
170	Syrian Arab Republic	0 days
171	Tanzania	0 days
172	Thailand	0 days
173	Timor-Leste	0 days
174	Togo	0 days
175	Tonga	0 days
176	Trinidad and Tobago	0 days
177	Tunisia	0 days
178	Turkey	0 days
179	Uganda	0 days
180	Ukraine	0 days
181	United Kingdom	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

In 2024, the Length of paid parental leave for mother is led by Mongolia with a maximum of 657 days, while the global range extends from 0 to 657 days. The global average length of paid parental leave for mothers stands at 19.66 days, with a median of 0 days, highlighting a significant disparity in policy adoption worldwide.

Global Disparities in Paid Parental Leave

The stark contrast in the Length of paid parental leave for mother across countries underscores varying national priorities and economic capabilities. Mongolia, at the top with 657 days, reflects a strong commitment to family welfare, influenced by socialist principles that prioritize social safety nets. Conversely, countries like the United States offer 146.99 days, which, while relatively high, still reflects the country's market-driven approach where employers largely dictate leave benefits.

In contrast, several countries, including Brazil, Bhutan, and Belarus, offer 0 days of paid parental leave. This absence is often due to either economic constraints or policy choices that prioritize other social welfare programs over parental leave.

Economic and Policy Drivers

Economic development and government policy significantly influence the Length of paid parental leave for mother. South Korea, with a generous 365 days of leave, exemplifies how advanced economies can support extensive parental leave policies due to their substantial resources. Similarly, Japan's provision of 309 days reflects its aging population policy, encouraging family growth and workforce participation by alleviating childcare burdens.

In Europe, countries like Iceland and Italy provide 216 days and 180 days respectively, driven by progressive social policies that emphasize gender equality and work-life balance. These policies are supported by robust welfare systems that facilitate extended parental leave without significant economic strain on employers.

Year-over-Year Trends and Changes

The average global increase in the Length of paid parental leave for mother is 4.40 days (5.3%), with notable changes in specific countries. Iceland saw an increase of 36 days (20.0%), reflecting a policy shift to further support gender equality and family welfare. Similarly, the United States increased its leave by 18.20 days (14.1%), perhaps in response to growing public demand for better work-life balance policies.

On the other hand, Tajikistan experienced a slight decrease of 0.90 days (-0.2%), which could be attributed to economic adjustments or policy reevaluations. Meanwhile, countries like Mongolia, South Korea, and Japan maintained their parental leave durations, indicating stable policy environments.

Implications for Workforce Participation and Family Well-being

The Length of paid parental leave for mother has profound implications for workforce participation and family well-being. Extended leave, as seen in Mongolia and South Korea, supports maternal health and allows for better family bonding, which can positively affect child development and reduce gender disparities in the workplace.

Conversely, countries with minimal or no paid leave, like Brazil and Belarus, may face challenges in achieving gender equality in the workforce. The lack of support could deter women from re-entering the workforce, impacting economic productivity and family income stability.

Ultimately, the data on the Length of paid parental leave for mother in 2024 highlights critical socio-economic and policy-driven decisions that shape the global landscape of parental leave, influencing both individual and national outcomes in the realms of family welfare and economic participation.

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