⚠️ Unconfirmedsocial2021
Statutory minimum maternity leave — duration (weeks)
Statutory minimum paid maternity leave duration (weeks) by country (ILO modelled estimates, 2021). Compare legal minimums across 180+ countries.
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Key Insights
Global Average
33.7weeks
Median: 16.0weeks
Countries Covered
167
with available data
Highest
Sweden
480.0weeks
Lowest
United States of America
0.0weeks
Top 5 Countries
1Sweden480.0weeks
2Georgia183.0weeks
3Russian Federation140.0weeks
4Belarus126.0weeks
5Kyrgyzstan126.0weeks
By Region
Europe48.3weeks(32 countries)
Africa41.9weeks(9 countries)
Other31.4weeks(88 countries)
South America27.6weeks(7 countries)
Asia26.4weeks(25 countries)
Key Findings
- •Minimum maternity leave varies dramatically worldwide—from 0 weeks in some jurisdictions to multi-year statutory entitlements in others.
- •Many countries cluster around 12–18 weeks, near the ILO Maternity Protection Convention (No. 183) minimum standard of 14 weeks.
- •Several countries in Eastern Europe and parts of Eurasia have some of the longest statutory minimum durations globally.
- •A statutory entitlement does not guarantee effective access; informality and eligibility rules can substantially reduce coverage.
Country Rankings
Top 10 Countries
Bottom 10 Countries
Data Analysis
Value Distribution
How countries are distributed across the value range
Low (0.0weeks)High (52.0weeks)
Regional Comparison
Average values by world region (Global avg: 33.7weeks)
Europe (32)
Africa (9)
Other (88)
South America (7)
Asia (25)
Oceania (2)
North America (4)
About This Statistic
This statistic tracks the legally mandated minimum duration of maternity leave (in weeks) available to employed mothers, based on national labour and social security legislation. It is a useful lens on how countries support maternal and newborn health, gender equality in the workplace, and income protection around childbirth.
The International Labour Organization (ILO) compiles and models these entitlements across countries to make them comparable, standardizing the “minimum duration” concept even when countries have different schemes (employer liability vs. social insurance, mixed systems, or multiple tiers). Values shown here are the minimum statutory durations; some workers may receive longer leave through collective agreements, public sector rules, or additional benefits.
Full Data
| Rank ↑ | Country ↕ | Value ↕ |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sweden | 480.0weeks |
| 2 | Georgia | 183.0weeks |
| 3 | Russian Federation | 140.0weeks |
| 4 | Belarus | 126.0weeks |
| 5 | Kyrgyzstan | 126.0weeks |
| 6 | Moldova, Republic of | 126.0weeks |
| 7 | Romania | 126.0weeks |
| 8 | Ukraine | 126.0weeks |
| 9 | Uzbekistan | 126.0weeks |
| 10 | Ethiopia | 120.0weeks |
| 11 | Mongolia | 120.0weeks |
| 12 | Finland | 105.0weeks |
| 13 | Nepal | 98.0weeks |
| 14 | Peru | 98.0weeks |
| 15 | Zimbabwe | 98.0weeks |
| 16 | Switzerland | 98.0weeks |
| 17 | Thailand | 98.0weeks |
| 18 | Zambia | 98.0weeks |
| 19 | South Korea | 90.0weeks |
| 20 | Egypt | 90.0weeks |
| 21 | Kenya | 84.0weeks |
| 22 | United Republic of Tanzania | 84.0weeks |
| 23 | Yemen | 70.0weeks |
| 24 | Eritrea | 60.0weeks |
| 25 | Maldives | 60.0weeks |
| 26 | Mozambique | 60.0weeks |
| 27 | Uganda | 60.0weeks |
| 28 | South Sudan | 56.0weeks |
| 29 | Sudan | 56.0weeks |
| 30 | Serbia | 52.0weeks |
| 31 | United Kingdom | 52.0weeks |
| 32 | Oman | 50.0weeks |
| 33 | Qatar | 50.0weeks |
| 34 | Norway | 49.0weeks |
| 35 | United Arab Emirates | 45.0weeks |
| 36 | The Republic of North Macedonia | 36.0weeks |
| 37 | Slovakia | 34.0weeks |
| 38 | Tunisia | 30.0weeks |
| 39 | Czech Republic | 28.0weeks |
| 40 | Slovenia | 28.0weeks |
| 41 | India | 26.0weeks |
| 42 | Ireland | 26.0weeks |
| 43 | Israel | 26.0weeks |
| 44 | New Zealand | 26.0weeks |
| 45 | Vietnam | 26.0weeks |
| 46 | Venezuela | 26.0weeks |
| 47 | Barbados | 26.0weeks |
| 48 | Hungary | 24.0weeks |
| 49 | Italy | 22.0weeks |
| 50 | Estonia | 20.0weeks |
| 51 | Faroe Islands | 20.0weeks |
| 52 | Luxembourg | 20.0weeks |
| 53 | Poland | 20.0weeks |
| 54 | Tajikistan | 20.0weeks |
| 55 | Chile | 18.0weeks |
| 56 | Colombia | 18.0weeks |
| 57 | Cuba | 18.0weeks |
| 58 | Benin | 18.0weeks |
| 59 | Denmark | 18.0weeks |
| 60 | Kazakhstan | 18.0weeks |
| 61 | Lithuania | 18.0weeks |
| 62 | Paraguay | 18.0weeks |
| 63 | Afghanistan | 18.0weeks |
| 64 | Brunei Darussalam | 18.0weeks |
| 65 | Canada | 17.0weeks |
| 66 | Greece | 17.0weeks |
| 67 | Portugal | 17.0weeks |
| 68 | South Africa | 17.0weeks |
| 69 | Brazil | 17.0weeks |
| 70 | Bulgaria | 16.0weeks |
| 71 | France | 16.0weeks |
| 72 | Latvia | 16.0weeks |
| 73 | Montenegro | 16.0weeks |
| 74 | Netherlands | 16.0weeks |
| 75 | Singapore | 16.0weeks |
| 76 | Spain | 16.0weeks |
| 77 | Türkiye | 16.0weeks |
| 78 | Turkmenistan | 16.0weeks |
| 79 | Albania | 16.0weeks |
| 80 | Argentina | 16.0weeks |
| 81 | Australia | 16.0weeks |
| 82 | Austria | 16.0weeks |
| 83 | Bahrain | 16.0weeks |
| 84 | Bangladesh | 16.0weeks |
| 85 | Armenia | 16.0weeks |
| 86 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 16.0weeks |
| 87 | Botswana | 16.0weeks |
| 88 | Philippines | 15.0weeks |
| 89 | Belgium | 15.0weeks |
| 90 | Myanmar | 14.0weeks |
| 91 | Cameroon | 14.0weeks |
| 92 | Central African Republic | 14.0weeks |
| 93 | Chad | 14.0weeks |
| 94 | People's Republic of China | 14.0weeks |
| 95 | Republic of the Congo | 14.0weeks |
| 96 | Democratic Republic of the Congo | 14.0weeks |
| 97 | Croatia | 14.0weeks |
| 98 | Cyprus | 14.0weeks |
| 99 | Fiji | 14.0weeks |
| 100 | Djibouti | 14.0weeks |
| 101 | Republic of The Gambia | 14.0weeks |
| 102 | State of Palestine | 14.0weeks |
| 103 | Germany | 14.0weeks |
| 104 | Guinea | 14.0weeks |
| 105 | Iraq | 14.0weeks |
| 106 | Japan | 14.0weeks |
| 107 | Lao People's Democratic Republic | 14.0weeks |
| 108 | Liberia | 14.0weeks |
| 109 | Libya | 14.0weeks |
| 110 | Madagascar | 14.0weeks |
| 111 | Malaysia | 14.0weeks |
| 112 | Mali | 14.0weeks |
| 113 | Malta | 14.0weeks |
| 114 | Mauritania | 14.0weeks |
| 115 | Mauritius | 14.0weeks |
| 116 | Morocco | 14.0weeks |
| 117 | New Caledonia | 14.0weeks |
| 118 | Niger | 14.0weeks |
| 119 | Panama | 14.0weeks |
| 120 | Papua New Guinea | 14.0weeks |
| 121 | Senegal | 14.0weeks |
| 122 | Somalia | 14.0weeks |
| 123 | Syrian Arab Republic | 14.0weeks |
| 124 | Togo | 14.0weeks |
| 125 | Trinidad and Tobago | 14.0weeks |
| 126 | Burkina Faso | 14.0weeks |
| 127 | Uruguay | 14.0weeks |
| 128 | Algeria | 14.0weeks |
| 129 | Angola | 14.0weeks |
| 130 | Bolivia | 14.0weeks |
| 131 | Indonesia | 13.0weeks |
| 132 | Suriname | 13.0weeks |
| 133 | Burundi | 12.0weeks |
| 134 | Cambodia | 12.0weeks |
| 135 | Sri Lanka | 12.0weeks |
| 136 | Costa Rica | 12.0weeks |
| 137 | Dominican Republic | 12.0weeks |
| 138 | Ecuador | 12.0weeks |
| 139 | El Salvador | 12.0weeks |
| 140 | Ghana | 12.0weeks |
| 141 | Guatemala | 12.0weeks |
| 142 | Haiti | 12.0weeks |
| 143 | Honduras | 12.0weeks |
| 144 | Iceland | 12.0weeks |
| 145 | Islamic Republic of Iran | 12.0weeks |
| 146 | Jamaica | 12.0weeks |
| 147 | Lesotho | 12.0weeks |
| 148 | Mexico | 12.0weeks |
| 149 | Namibia | 12.0weeks |
| 150 | Curaçao | 12.0weeks |
| 151 | Aruba | 12.0weeks |
| 152 | Vanuatu | 12.0weeks |
| 153 | Nicaragua | 12.0weeks |
| 154 | Nigeria | 12.0weeks |
| 155 | Pakistan | 12.0weeks |
| 156 | Guinea-Bissau | 12.0weeks |
| 157 | Rwanda | 12.0weeks |
| 158 | Sierra Leone | 12.0weeks |
| 159 | Eswatini | 12.0weeks |
| 160 | Belize | 12.0weeks |
| 161 | Solomon Islands | 12.0weeks |
| 162 | Jordan | 10.0weeks |
| 163 | Kuwait | 10.0weeks |
| 164 | Lebanon | 10.0weeks |
| 165 | Saudi Arabia | 10.0weeks |
| 166 | Malawi | 8.0weeks |
| 167 | United States of America | 0.0weeks |
Showing 167 of 167 countries
Topics
Data Source
This data comes from International Labour Organization (ILO) (2021).
View Original Source