Paternity Leave by Country
Updated November 2026 · Free · No sign-up
Compare paternity leave across major economies — from zero statutory days in much of the world to months of shared parental time in the Nordics. Pick any two countries below for a side-by-side.
Quick answer: Statutory paternity leave: US 0 (FMLA unpaid only), UK 2 weeks paid, India 0 (private sector), Spain 16 weeks (equal to maternity), Sweden ~90 reserved days. The table maps the spread.
Paternity Leave by Country by Country
| Country | Entitlement | Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Spain | 16 weeks | Full pay — equalized with maternity |
| Sweden | ~90 reserved days | Within the 480-day shared pool |
| Norway | 15 weeks quota | Father-reserved within parental pool |
| France | 28 days | Mostly social-security paid |
| United Kingdom | 2 weeks | Flat statutory rate; SPL can extend |
| Canada | 5-8 weeks | Quebec reserves paternity weeks; EI sharing |
| Singapore | 4 weeks | Government-paid for citizens |
| Australia | Flexible shared | Within the PPL days pool |
| UAE | 5 days | Parental leave, either parent |
| India | 0 (private) | 15 days central-govt staff; no private mandate |
| United States | 0 paid | FMLA unpaid 12 weeks where eligible; state programs pay bonding |
| Japan | ~4 weeks+ | Papa-leave reforms, ~67% insured pay |
| Philippines | 7 days | Paid paternity, married fathers |
Figures reflect statutory/standard positions at last update — collective agreements and employer policies often exceed them; verify official sources for decisions.
Reading the Table Right
- Reserved vs shared: Nordic quotas are use-it-or-lose-it for fathers — the design that actually moves uptake.
- Pay decides usage: the UK’s flat-rate 2 weeks sees high uptake; its poorly-paid SPL extension under 5% — money, not duration, is the binding constraint.
- US state programs (CA/NY/WA/NJ/CO...) pay fathers bonding weeks the federal law doesn’t — check state pages.
The Design Lesson
Three dials — duration, pay rate, reservation — and pay rate dominates behavior. For household planning: stack both parents’ entitlements with the staggering strategy (overlap at birth, then sequential coverage) the date calculator maps.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which country has the best paternity leave?
Spain’s 16 fully-paid equalized weeks leads on individual entitlement; Nordic reserved quotas lead on household design.
How much paternity leave in the UK?
Two weeks at the statutory flat rate (~£194/wk), splittable into two blocks within 52 weeks — plus shared parental leave where the mother converts hers.
Does India have paternity leave?
No private-sector mandate — central government employees get 15 days; company policies (7-15 days in IT) fill the gap voluntarily.
Do US fathers get paid leave?
Only via state programs (CA, NY, NJ, WA, CO and others pay 6-12 bonding weeks) or employer policy — federally just unpaid FMLA.
Why is paternity uptake low even where leave exists?
Replacement rates: flat-rate or unpaid schemes price fathers out — usage tracks pay percentage more than duration.
✓ Formula verified • Last updated: November 3, 2026