Best Countries for Maternity Leave: Where Parents Get the Best Support

Having a baby can change how you look at a country completely. A place that once seemed attractive for salary, weather, or lifestyle may feel very different when you start thinking about paid leave, hospital care, childcare costs, and whether your job will still be waiting for you. That is why the best countries for maternity leave are usually the ones that support parents before, during, and after birth — not just on paper, but in daily life too.

Some countries offer long leave but lower pay. Others offer shorter leave with strong salary coverage. For expats, eligibility can also depend on your work contract, visa, residency, income, and social insurance history.

This guide is informational only, not legal advice. Always check the latest official rules before making a move.

What Makes a Country Good for Maternity Leave?

A good maternity leave system gives parents time, money, protection, and practical support.

The strongest countries usually perform well across these factors:

• Length of maternity or parental leave
• Percentage of salary paid
• Job protection during and after leave
• Clear eligibility rules
• Healthcare quality
• Leave for fathers or partners
• Childcare support after leave ends
• Cost of living
• Work-life balance
• Access for foreign workers and expat families

For expats, the biggest detail is eligibility. Many countries require you to work locally, pay into social insurance, or be legally resident before you can receive full benefits.

Best Countries for Maternity Leave

Sweden

Sweden is one of the strongest overall choices because it treats leave as a family benefit, not only a mother’s benefit.

Parents receive 480 days of parental benefit for one child. For 390 days, compensation is based on income, while the remaining 90 days are paid at a flat minimum level. Single parents can receive all 480 days.

Sweden is one of the best countries to live in for maternity leave because the system is flexible, childcare is widely supported, and fathers are expected to take leave too.

The downside for expats is that income-based benefits depend on your Swedish work and insurance status. If you move late in pregnancy, you may not qualify for the full income-based amount.

Norway

Norway is one of the best countries for paid maternity leave if you value high salary replacement.

Parents can choose 49 weeks at 100% coverage or 61 weeks and 1 day at 80% coverage. The leave includes a mother’s quota, father’s quota, pre-birth weeks for the mother, and shared weeks.

This makes Norway especially strong for couples who want both parents to be involved early.

For expats, the main challenge is eligibility. Norway’s benefits usually depend on work history and National Insurance participation.

Finland

Finland is excellent for families who want flexible parental leave and a practical childcare culture.

Kela pays pregnancy allowance for 40 working days, and parental allowance is paid for 320 working days for one child, generally divided equally between parents.

Finland also allows some transfer of parental allowance days, and the benefit can be used flexibly before the child turns two.

For expats, Finland is attractive because of safety, healthcare, schools, and work-life balance. But benefits are tied to Finnish insurance, residence, and income rules.

Denmark

Denmark is a strong family-friendly country with a modern shared leave model.

For children born after the newer rules, parents living together are generally entitled to 52 weeks in total: the mother gets four weeks before birth, and each parent gets 24 weeks after birth with parental benefit. Some weeks can be transferred.

Denmark is especially good for families who value childcare, urban quality of life, and flexible work culture.

The downside is that benefit eligibility is detailed. Employees usually need to meet employment-hour requirements before leave.

Estonia

Estonia is one of the most generous countries by total paid time.

If the mother worked before birth, shared parental benefit is generally 475 calendar days, and it may be longer in some cases. The benefit depends on previous income subject to social tax and can be used until the child turns three.

Estonia is especially interesting for digital workers and young families because of its e-government systems and relatively lower cost of living compared with the Nordics.

The drawback is that expats must understand the social tax and employment rules carefully. The benefit is not simply automatic because you live there.

Iceland

Iceland is one of the best countries for maternity leave if equal parenting is a priority.

Each parent receives six months of leave, with six weeks transferable between parents. Standard payments are 80% of average income, subject to a monthly cap.

Iceland also has strong healthcare, safety, and a very family-oriented culture.

The main downside is cost of living. Housing, groceries, and imported goods can be expensive, especially in Reykjavík.

Germany

Germany combines maternity protection, parental allowance, and long job-protected parental leave.

Maternity protection usually starts six weeks before birth and ends eight weeks after birth. In some cases, such as premature or multiple births, the post-birth period can extend to 12 weeks.

After birth, parents may receive Elterngeld. Couples can split up to 14 months of Basic Parental Allowance, and payments are usually around 65% of net income, with minimum and maximum monthly amounts.

Germany is a strong option for employed expats, especially those on stable work contracts. The system is detailed, though, and paperwork can feel heavy.

Canada

Canada offers a useful mix of maternity and parental benefits, but the salary replacement is lower than in many European countries.

Employment Insurance maternity benefits are available for up to 15 weeks at 55%, followed by standard parental benefits of up to 40 shared weeks at 55%, or extended parental benefits of up to 69 shared weeks at 33%.

Canada can still be one of the best countries to live in for maternity leave because of healthcare access, safety, and family-friendly cities.

The downside is affordability. Housing and childcare can be expensive in major cities like Toronto and Vancouver.

France

France offers a more moderate maternity leave length but strong healthcare and family infrastructure.

For a first or second child, private-sector maternity leave is usually 16 weeks: six weeks before birth and 10 weeks after. For a third child, it rises to 26 weeks, and it can be longer for multiple births.

France is good for families who value healthcare, public services, and childcare options.

For expats, the main issue is administrative complexity. Benefits may depend on social security affiliation, employment status, and contribution history.

Spain

Spain has become one of Europe’s strongest countries for equal paid birth and childcare leave.

The government approved an extension from 16 to 19 weeks of paid leave for each parent, and 32 weeks for single parents. The benefit is paid at 100% of the contribution base.

Spain is one of the best countries for paid maternity leave when you compare salary coverage and equal parent rights.

The downside is that salaries can be lower than in Northern Europe, and childcare access varies by city and region.

Czech Republic

Czech Republic stands out for long maternity leave and extended parental allowance.

Maternity benefit is commonly paid for 28 weeks, or 37 weeks for multiple births. Parental allowance can support care for the youngest child under age four, and parents can choose the monthly amount within the rules.

It can be a strong choice for families who want longer time at home and lower living costs than Western Europe.

The downside is that pay levels and benefit formulas can be more complex than the headline leave length suggests.

Japan

Japan has a solid legal leave framework, especially when maternity leave is combined with childcare leave.

Female workers can take maternity leave six weeks before the expected birth date and are generally not allowed to work for eight weeks after childbirth. Childcare leave can usually be taken until the day before the child’s first birthday.

Japan also offers strong healthcare, safety, and child-focused public services.

The downside is workplace culture. Even if legal rights are strong, some workers may find it harder in practice to take long leave depending on employer culture.

New Zealand

New Zealand is family-friendly and has good quality of life, but its paid leave is shorter than many European systems.

Primary carer leave allows eligible employees to take up to 26 weeks away from work. Paid parental leave payments are government-funded and can match regular income up to a weekly cap.

For 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026, the maximum paid parental leave payment is NZ$788.66 per week before tax.

New Zealand is a good lifestyle choice for families, but not the best country for paid maternity leave if your main priority is high wage replacement.

Best Country for Paid Maternity Leave

The best country for paid maternity leave depends on how you define “best.”

For high salary replacement, Norway, Spain, Iceland, and Estonia are especially strong. Norway offers a choice between full pay for a shorter period or 80% pay for a longer period. Spain offers 100% of the contribution base for each parent’s birth and childcare leave.

For long paid time at home, Sweden and Estonia are very competitive. Sweden offers 480 days of parental benefit, while Estonia offers a long shared parental benefit period based on previous taxable income.

For the best balance of paid leave, job culture, childcare, and quality of life, the Nordic countries are usually the safest answer.

Best Countries to Live in for Maternity Leave as an Expat

For expats, the best maternity leave country is not always the country with the longest leave on paper.

A good expat choice should also have:

• Clear work visa or residence options
• Good public healthcare
• Safe cities
• Family-friendly housing
• Reliable childcare
• Partner leave
• Reasonable cost of living
• Clear social insurance rules

The strongest options for expat families are usually Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Germany, Spain, Canada, New Zealand, and Estonia.

Sweden, Finland, and Denmark are excellent for family life, but they can be expensive and require proper local employment or insurance status.

Germany and Spain are practical for employed expats because they combine good healthcare, job protection, and relatively clear parental benefit systems.

Estonia is attractive for remote-friendly professionals, but benefits still depend on local tax and social insurance rules.

Canada and New Zealand are easier culturally for many English-speaking expats, but paid benefit levels may be lower than in Northern Europe.

Best and Worst Countries for Maternity Leave

The best and worst countries for maternity leave are not just separated by safety or quality of life.

A “worst” country in this context usually means the national maternity leave system is shorter, unpaid, employer-dependent, or harder to access.

Countries With Limited or No Paid Maternity Leave

Some countries still have limited or no national paid maternity leave.

The United States is the most famous high-income example. Federal FMLA gives eligible workers up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave, but it does not provide federal wage replacement.

The World Policy Analysis Center also lists countries such as the United States, Papua New Guinea, Palau, Nauru, Micronesia, Tonga, and the Marshall Islands as having no paid leave available to mothers of infants under national policy.

This does not mean these countries are unsafe or impossible places to raise a child.

It means parents may depend more on employer policies, state-level programs, savings, family support, or private insurance.

Maternity Leave vs Parental Leave: What’s the Difference?

Maternity leave is leave specifically for the person giving birth. It usually covers late pregnancy, childbirth recovery, and the early post-birth period.

Paternity leave is leave for fathers or partners, often taken around the birth.

Parental leave is broader. It can usually be used by either parent to care for a child after birth or adoption.

Shared parental leave means parents can divide some leave between them, although many countries reserve certain weeks for each parent.

This difference matters because a country with “short maternity leave” may still offer excellent parental leave afterward.

How to Choose the Best Country for Maternity Leave

Before moving for maternity benefits, check the details carefully.

First, confirm whether you would actually qualify. Many countries require local employment, social insurance contributions, tax residency, or a minimum work history.

Second, compare healthcare access. Paid leave is helpful, but pregnancy care, birth costs, pediatric care, and insurance rules matter just as much.

Third, look at childcare after leave ends. A country with generous leave but expensive childcare may still feel difficult after the first year.

Also check your partner’s leave. A generous paternity or partner leave system can make the first months much easier.

Finally, read your employment contract. Some employers top up public benefits, while others only follow the legal minimum.

Final Thought: What Is the Best Country for Maternity Leave?

The Nordic countries are the strongest overall.

Sweden is probably the best all-rounder because of its long parental benefit, flexibility, childcare support, and strong family culture.

Norway may be the best country for paid maternity leave if your priority is high salary replacement.

Spain is one of the best for equal paid leave because both parents receive well-paid individual leave.

Estonia is excellent for long paid parental support, especially for people properly inside the local tax and social insurance system.

For expats, the best choice depends on your job, visa, income, language comfort, healthcare access, and long-term family plans.