Find UNdata on Facebook Follow UNdata on Twitter Please send us your feedback
logo

Maternity leave benefitsGo toSearch glossaries

Source: Indicators on Women and Men | United Nations Statistics Division
Download Download Explore Explore
Country or area Length of maternity
leave		 Percentage of wages paid in covered period (%) Provider of benefit
Afghanistan 90 days 100 Employer
Albania 365 calendar days 80, 50 a Social insurance system
Algeria 14 weeks 100 Social security
Andora 16 weeks 100 Social insurance system
Angola 12 weeks 100 Social security and Employer
Antigua and Barbuda 13 weeks 100, 60 b Social insurance and Employer
Argentina 90 days 100 c Family allowance funds (financed through state and employer contributions)
Armenia 140 days 100 Social insurance
Australia 18 weeks ... d Social assistance system financed by the State
Austria 16 weeks 100 Statutory health insurance, family burden equalization fund, or employer
Azerbaijan 126 calendar days 100 Social security
Bahamas 12 weeks 100 National Insurance Board (2/3) and Employer (1/3)
Bahrain 45 days 100 Social security
Bangladesh 16 weeks 100 Employer
Barbados 12 weeks 100 National insurance system
Belarus 126 calendar days 100 e State social insurance
Belgium 15 weeks 79.5, 75 f Social security
Belize 14 weeks 100 Social security or Employer (for women who are not entitled to receive benefits from social security)
Benin 14 weeks 100 Social security (1/2) and Employer (1/2)
Bermuda 12 weeks 100 Employer
Bolivia 12 weeks g 75 Social insurance
Bosnia and Herzegovina 1 year 50-100 h ...
Botswana 12 weeks 50 Employer
Brazil 120 days 100 Social insurance
British Virgin Islands 13 weeks 67 i Social security
Brunei Darussalam 9 weeks j 100 k Employer
Bulgaria 227 days 90 State public insurance (the General Sickness and Maternity Fund)
Burkina Faso 14 weeks 100 Social security (if necessary, the employer adds up to the full wage)
Burundi 12 weeks 100 Employer (50%) and Social security (50%)
Cambodia 90 days 50 Employer
Cameroon 14 weeks 100 National Social Insurance Fund
Canada 17 weeks l 55 m, n Federal and State. Employment Insurance
Cape Verde 60 days 90 o Social security
Central African Republic 14 weeks 50 Social security
Chad 14 weeks 50 Social security
Channel Islands, Guernsey 18 weeks ... p, q Social insurance and social assistance
Channel Islands, Jersey 18 weeks ... p, q Social insurance
Chile 18 weeks 100 Social security
China 90 days 100 r Social insurance 
China, Hong Kong SAR 10 weeks 80 Employer
Colombia 14 weeks 100 Social security
Comoros 14 weeks 100 Employer
Congo 15 weeks 100 50% Social security, 50% Employer
Costa Rica 4 months 100 s 50% Social security, 50% Employer
Cote d'Ivoire 14 weeks 100 Social insurance
Croatia 1+ year t 100 u Health Insurance Fund (until  the child reaches the age of 6 months), and the rest is paid from the State Budget
Cuba 18 weeks 100 Social security
Cyprus 18 weeks 75 Social security 
Czech Republic 28 weeks 60 Social security
Democratic Republic of the Congo 14 weeks 67 Employer
Denmark 18 weeks ... Employer
Djibouti 14 weeks 100 50% Social Protection Body, 50% Employer
Dominica 12 weeks 60 i Social security
Dominican Republic 12 weeks 100 v 50% Social security, 50% Employer
Ecuador 12 weeks 100 75% Social security, 25% Employer
Egypt 90 days 100 Social insurance (75%) and Employer (25%)
El Salvador 12 weeks 75 Employer
Equatorial Guinea 12 weeks 75 Social security
Eritrea 60 days ... w Employer
Estonia 140 calendar days 100 Social security
Ethiopia 90 days 100 Employer (for up to 45 days)
Fiji 84 days 100 x Employer
Finland 105 working days 70 y Social insurance system
France 16 weeks 100 m Social security and Health Insurance Funds
Gabon 14 weeks 100 National Social Security Fund
Gambia 12 weeks 100 Employer
Germany 14 weeks 100 Statutory health insurance scheme, employer
Ghana 12 weeks 100 Employer
Greece 17 weeks 50+ z, a1 Social security/State
Grenada 3 months 100, 60 b1 60% for 12 weeks by Social security, 40% for 2 months by Employer
Guatemala 84 days 100 v Social security (2/3), Employer (1/3)
Guinea 14 weeks 100 Social security (1/2), Employer (1/2)
Guinea-Bissau 60 days 100 Employer (if women receive subsidy from social security, employer pays the difference between subsidy and full salary)
Guyana 13 weeks 70 i Social security
Haiti 12 weeks 100 Office of Workers' Compensation Insurance, Maternity and Sickness
Honduras 12 weeks 100 v Social security (2/3), Employer (1/3)
Hungary 24 weeks 70 Health insurance
Iceland 26 weeks c1 80 Social Insurance Fund   
India 12 weeks 100 Employer
Indonesia 3 months 100 Employer
Iran (Islamic Republic of) 90 days 67 Social security
Iraq 62 days 100 Employer
Ireland 26 weeks 80 d1 Social insurance
Isle of Man 26 weeks 90 e1  Social security and social assistance system
Israel 14 weeks 100 m f1 Social security
Italy 5 months 80 Social insurance
Jamaica 8 weeks 100 g1 Employer or social security for domestic worker
Japan 14 weeks 30% h1 1/8 National Treasury, 7/8 Employment Insurance Fund
Jordan 10 weeks 100 Social Security
Kazakhstan 126 calendar days 100 Employer
Kenya 3 months 100 Employer
Kiribati 12 weeks 25 Employer
Kuwait 70 days 100 Employer
Kyrgyzstan 126 calendar days 100 i1 Social security (Employer covers the first 10 working days)
Lao People's Democratic Republic 90 days 100 j1 Social security or employer
Latvia 112 calendar days 100 State Social Insurance 
Lebanon 7 weeks 100 Employer
Lesotho 12 weeks ... k1 Employer
Libyan Arab Jamahiriya 14 weeks 50, 100 l1 Employer, Social security for self-employed women
Liechtenstein 20 weeks 80 Social insurance
Lithuania 126 calendar days 100 Social Insurance 
Luxembourg 16 weeks 100 Social security
Madagascar 14 weeks 100 50% Social insurance, 50% Employer
Malawi 8 weeks m1 100 Employer
Malaysia 60 days 100 Employer
Mali 14 weeks 100 Social security
Malta 14 weeks 100 n1 Employer/Social security
Mauritania 14 weeks 100 Social Security Fund
Mauritius 12 weeks 100 Employer
Mexico 12 weeks 100 Social security
Monaco 16 weeks 90 m Social insurance
Mongolia 120 days 70 Social Insurance Fund
Morocco 14 weeks 100 Social security
Mozambique 60 days 100 Social security
Myanmar 12 weeks 66 Social security
Namibia 12 weeks 100 Employer and Social security
Nepal 52 days 100 Employer
Netherlands 16 weeks 100 m Social security
New Zealand 14 weeks 100 m State funds (Universal and social assistance system)
Nicaragua 12 weeks 100 v 60% by Social security, 40% by employer
Niger 14 weeks 100 50% Social insurance, 50% Employer
Nigeria 12 weeks 50 Employer
Norway 52 weeks 80, 100 o1 Social insurance
Pakistan 12 weeks 100 Employer
Panama 14 weeks 100 v Social Security Fund
Papua New Guinea 6+ weeks p1 ... q1 ...
Paraguay 12 weeks 50 r1 Social security
Peru 90 days 100 Social security system
Philippines 6 weeks s1 100 Social security or employer
Poland 16 weeks 100 Social Insurance Fund
Portugal 120-150 days 100-80 t1 Social insurance
Qatar 50 days 100 Employer
Republic of Korea 90 days 100 u1 Employment Insurance Fund
Republic of Moldova 126 calendar days 100 Social security
Romania 126 calendar days 85 State Health Insurance Fund
Russian Federation 140 calendar days 100 m, a1 Social Insurance Fund
Rwanda 12 weeks 100, 20 v1 Employer (if women not covered by social security)
Saint Kitts and Nevis 13 weeks 65 Social security
Saint Lucia 3 months 65 Social security
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 13 weeks 65 Social security
San Marino 5 months 100 Social security
Sao Tome and Principe 60 days 100 Social security (Employer if women not covered by social security)
Saudi Arabia 10 weeks 50, 100 w1 Employer
Senegal 14 weeks 100 Social security
Serbia 365 days 100 x1 Social security
Seychelles 14 weeks ... y1 Social Security Fund
Singapore 16 weeks 100 z1 Employer and Government 
Slovakia 28 weeks 55 Social Insurance (part of sickness insurance)
Slovenia 105 calendar days 100 a2 Social security
Solomon Islands 12 weeks 25 Employer
Somalia 14 weeks 50 Employer
South Africa 4 months 60 b2 Unemployment Insurance Fund
Spain 16 weeks 100 Social security
Sri Lanka 12 weeks 86, 100 c2 Employer
Sudan 8 weeks 100 Employer
Swaziland 12 weeks ... d2 ...
Sweden 480 days  e2 80 m, f2 Social insurance 
Switzerland 14 weeks g2 80 m, h2 Social insurance
Syrian Arab Republic 120, 90, 75 days i2 100 Employer
Tajikistan 140 calendar days 100 Social security
TFYR of Macedonia 9 months ... w Health Insurance Fund
Thailand 90 days 100 j2 Employer and Social insurance system
Togo 14 weeks 100 50% Employer, 50% Social security
Trinidad and Tobago 13 weeks 100, 50 k2 Employer and National Insurance Board 
Tunisia 1, 2 month(s) l2 67, 50, 100 m2 National Social Security Fund
Turkey 16 weeks 67 Social security
Turkmenistan 112 days 100 a1 Social security
Uganda 60 working days 100 Employer
Ukraine 126 days 100 Social security
United Arab Emirates 45 days 100, 50 n2 Employer
United Kingdom 52 weeks  o2 90 p2 Employer (92% refunded by public funds)
United Republic of Tanzania 12 weeks 100 Employer
United States of America 12 weeks ... q2 ...
Uruguay 12 weeks 100 r2 Social security system
Uzbekistan 126 calendar days 100 d State social insurance scheme
Vanuatu 12 weeks 66 Employer
Venezuela 18 weeks 100 Social security
Viet Nam 4-6 months s2 100 Social insurance fund
Yemen 60 days 100 Employer
Zambia 12 weeks 100 Employer
Zimbabwe 98 days 100 Employer
Footnotes
... Not available.
a 80% for the period prior to birth and for 150 days after birth, and 50% for the rest of the leave period.
b Social Insurance (60 per cent for 13 weeks) and Employer (40 per cent for the first 6 weeks).
c In addition, a means-tested birth grant is paid in lump sum.
d A lump sum payment is paid for each child.
e not less than 50 per cent of the minimum per capita subsistence wage (1 February - 30 April 2009: 117,190 rubles). 
f 79.5% for the first 30 days and 75% for the remaining period (up to a ceiling). For the unemployed women, 60% of the gross salary prior to being unemployed, up to  a ceiling, and a complementary indemnity of 19.5% for the first 30 days and of 15%, for the remaining period.
g Domestic workers are entitled to 90 days.
h The level of benefits received during maternity leave varies from 50% to 100% depending upon the various cantonal regulations.
i In addition, a maternity grant is paid in lump sum.
j The maternity leave benefits only cover 8 weeks.
k The duration of maternity leave benefits is 8 weeks.
l Duration of maternity leave depends on the province. For Federal and Ontario, maternity leave is 17 weeks, while in Quebec, it is 18.
m up to ceiling
n Federal and State. A claimant whose family income is below $25,921 and who is receiving the Child Tax Benefit is entitled to a family supplement, thereby increasing the benefit rate. An employee may continue working while receiving parental benefits; there is no financial penalty as long as weekly employment earnings are no more than $50 or 25% of the weekly benefits, whichever is higher.
o If necessay, the emplyer adds up to 90% of salary.
p Flat rate for the normal duration of maternity leave.
q In addition, a lump sum maternity grant is paid.
r The social insurance program applies to urban areas and the maternity insurance program covers all employees in urban enterprises, including all state-owned enterprises, regardless of their location.
s The amount of maternity benefits is paid as follows; 50% of the salary from 3 to 6 months of contribution to the Social Security Fund, 75% from 6 to 9 months, and 100% for 9 months or more.
t 45 days before delivery and 1 year after.
u 100% until the child reaches the age of six months, then paid between 1663 kunas and 2500 kunas a month.
v If the worker is not entitled to social security benefits, the employer shall cover the full cost of benefit.
w Paid amount not specified.
x From the fourth birth, the woman will be entitled to only half the normal remuneration.
y 70 per cent, up to a ceiling, plus 40% of the additional amount up to a ceiling, plus 25% of additional amount.
z 50% plus a dependent's supplement (10% for each dependent, up to a maximum of 40%).
a1 In addition, a birth grant is paid in lump sum.
b1 100% for 2 months and 60% for the last month.
c1 plus 16 weeks unpaid  maternity leave after confinement.
d1 Subject to a minimum and maximum amount.
e1 Maternity allowance is paid for a period of up to 39 weeks at 90% of earnings, up to a ceiling.
f1 A female worker who has given birth to three or more children in one birth is entitled to a childbirth allowance in addition to the the maternity allowance from the birth and up to 20 months after this date.
g1 Domestic workers are paid the national minimum weekly wage for 8 weeks
h1 Upon return to work after child care leave, the mother will receive a further 10% of her pre-leave wage, for the duration of the leave taken, as a re-engagement benefit for workers returning from child care leave.
i1 100 per cent for the first 10 working days covered by employer. For the rest of the maternity leave, 10 times the benchmark amount is paid from social security fund. Benefits are adjusted periodically according to changes in the cost of living.
j1 Under the Social Security Decree, a woman is entitled to childbirth benefits equal to 70% of the insured earning for a maximum period of 3 months.
k1 There is no legal obligation for employers to pay wages during maternity leave, although the contract of employment may provide for paid maternity leave.
l1 50% of wages for employees, and 100% of presumptive income for self-employed women for a period of three months.
m1 Every three years.
n1 An employee on maternity leave is entitled to full wages during the first thirteen weeks of leave, with the fourteenth week unpaid. Social security pays maternity benefit at a flat rate for a maximum of 13 weeks for those not covered under the Employment and Industrial Relations Act.
o1 The beneficiary may decide whether to receive 100 percent of benefits for a shorter period or 80 percent of benefits for a longer period.
p1 A female employee is entitled to take maternity leave for a period necessary for hospitalization before confinement and six weeks after confinement. 
q1 Maternity leave is unpaid. However, annual leave or sick leave credits, paid by the employer, may be used for maternity leave.
r1 9 weeks coverage.
s1 60 days for government employees.
t1 100 per cent of the average daily wages (if the parents opted for a leave of 120 days) or 80 % (if the parents opted for a 150-day leave period)
u1 The employer pays the first 60 days of leave, for enterprises which do not meet certain criteria.
v1 100 per cent of salary during the first six weeks of maternity leave; during the last six weeks of maternity leave, 20 per cent of salary.
w1 50% if working for one to three years or 100% if working for three or more years
x1 100% of earnings are paid for 6 months; 60% for more than 3 but less than 6 months; 30% for less than 3 months.
y1 A flat monthly rate is paid.
z1 The first 8 weeks paid by employer, the second 8 weeks funded by the Government up to a ceiling. For the third and subsequent births, the full 16 weeks will be funded by the Government up to a ceiling.
a2 Parental allowance is cash aid to parents which is provided when they are not entitled to parental benefits after the birth of a child. The right to parental allowance shall be granted for 365 day, including payment to the mother for 77 days after the birth of the child provided the mother and the child have permanent residence in the Republic of Slovenia and are citizens of the Republic of Slovenia.
b2 Up to a maximum amount of 60% depending on level of income of the contributor. Benefits are paid for a maximum of 17.32 weeks.
c2 Six-seventh (86%) of wages for workers paid at a time-rate or piece-rate. Employees covered by the Shop and Offices Employees Act receive 100 per cent of the remuneration.
d2 No statutory benefits are provided. 
e2 480 days shared between both parents. 60 of these days are reserved for each parent while the rest are freely transferable between both parents. In case of sole custody, all 480 days accrue to the custodial parent. 
f2 480 calendar days paid parental leave: 80% for 390 days; flat rate for remaining 90 days.
g2 Some cantons provide longer leaves. In the Canton of Geneva paid leave is 16 weeks. Employees of the Swiss Confederation are entitled to 98 at least four months if the woman has completed a year of service.
h2 Employees of the Confederation are entitled to 4 month paid maternity at 100%.
i2 120 days for the first childbirth, 90 days for the second childbirth and 75 days for the third childbirth.
j2 Under the Labor Protection Act, an employer is required to pay an employee for up to 45 days of maternity leave.
k2 The Maternity Protection Act entitles an employee to 100% pay for 1 month and 50% for 2 months by Employer; social insurance system pays a sum depending on earnings. When the sum of the amount paid under the Maternity Protection Act and social insurance is less than full pay, the employer shall pay the difference to the employee.
l2 Civil servants entitled to 2 months of maternity leave.
m2 For women covered by the Labour Code the amount is two-thirds (66.7%) of the average daily wage. For women working in agriculture, it amounts to 50 per cent of the flat-rate daily wage calculated on the basis of the guaranteed minimum wage in agriculture. For civil servants, the full salary is paid during maternity leave.
n2 100 per cent after one continuous year of employment, 50 per cent for employment less than one year.
o2 Consisting of 26 weeks of ordinary maternity leave and 26 weeks of additional maternity leave.
p2 Statutory maternity leave is paid for a continuous period of up to 39 weeks. 90% for the first 6 weeks and a flat rate for the remaining weeks. From April 2010, paid maternity leave will increases to 52 weeks.
q2 There is no national program. Cash benefits may be provided at the state level.
r2 For private sector employees. Special system for civil servants.
s2 The duration of the maternity leave entitlement varies from 4 to 6 months, depending on the nature and conditions of the employee's work. 
Sources:
International Labour Office, Maternity protection database available from the ILO Conditions of Work and Employment Programme's website, http://www.ilo.org/dyn/travail/travmain.sectionChoice?p_structure=, supplemented by data compiled by the United States Social Security Administration (SSA) and published in: Social Security Programs Throughout the World: The Americas, 2009; Social Security Programs Throughout the World: Africa, 2009; Social Security Programs Throughout the World: Asia and the Pacific, 2010; and Social Security Programs Throughout the World: Europe, 2010, available from the SSA website, http://www.ssa.gov/policy/docs/progdesc/index.html.
Technical notes:
Data on maternity leave benefits currently available to women in countries around the world were compiled by the International Labour Office and the United States Social Security Administration from a variety of legislative and non-legislative sources. The main legislative sources include national laws regarding maternity protection, labour, social security, equality and opportunity of treatment, occupational safety and health and sometimes conditions of work. These sources apply to the private sector. Separate legislations for the public sector have not been included, nor have collective agreements. In systems where there may be no single national standard, such as federal states, the more general provision applicable has been included. Non-legislative sources include replies to the Social Security Programs Throughout the World survey conducted by the International Social Security Association (ISSA) under the sponsorship of the U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA); websites of Ministries of Employment, Labour, Health and Family of countries and of Social security offices, funds or boards; as well as other ILO databases and publications.
The data presented in this table refers to laws and regulations in force at the time of the compilation of the information.
Source

Indicators on Women and Men

Source:  United Nations Statistics Division

The Indicators on Women and Men provides the latest statistics and indicators on women and men in six specific fields of concern: population, women and men in families, health, education, work and political decision making. The statistics and indicators refer to the latest year for which sex-disaggregated data are available. The data have been compiled from official national sources as well as international sources.

These indicators are no longer updated. Please visit http://unstats.un.org/unsd/gender/data.html for other Gender Statistics.
Last update in UNdata: 2013/07/11
Next update in UNdata: Not applicable
BrowseOnline data
BrowseContact
Home | About Us | FAQ | Feedback | Site usage