WORLD Policy Analysis Center

What is the minimum wage replacement rate of paid leave for mothers?

Map reflects a systematic review of laws in place as of January 2020.

Paid leave for mothers includes both paid maternity leave, which is leave reserved for mothers of infants, and paid parental leave, which is leave available to either parent of an infant that can be taken by women.

In cases where wage replacement rates vary during leave, the minimum rate shows the lowest level of wage replacement available over the course of the leave.

A flat rate means all mothers receive the same amount while taking paid leave, regardless of previous salary.

International Labour Organization standards state that women should be guaranteed at least two-thirds of their previous earnings during paid leave to ensure a suitable standard of living.

Research evidence suggests that a wage replacement rate of at least 80% is needed to address poverty and promote gender equality in leave-taking.

Countries

Tonga - No paid leave

Papua New Guinea - No paid leave

Federated States of Micronesia - No paid leave

United States of America - No paid leave

Marshall Islands - No paid leave

Palau - No paid leave

Nauru - No paid leave

Bulgaria - Flat rate or adjusted flat rate

Turkmenistan - Flat rate or adjusted flat rate

Greece - Flat rate or adjusted flat rate

Ireland - Flat rate or adjusted flat rate

Ukraine - Flat rate or adjusted flat rate

Slovakia - Flat rate or adjusted flat rate

Greenland - Flat rate or adjusted flat rate

Malta - Flat rate or adjusted flat rate

Sweden - Flat rate or adjusted flat rate

Hungary - Flat rate or adjusted flat rate

Luxembourg - Flat rate or adjusted flat rate

Finland - Flat rate or adjusted flat rate

Azerbaijan - Flat rate or adjusted flat rate

Russian Federation - Flat rate or adjusted flat rate

Kyrgyzstan - Flat rate or adjusted flat rate

Armenia - Flat rate or adjusted flat rate

Australia - Flat rate or adjusted flat rate

France - Flat rate or adjusted flat rate

Austria - Flat rate or adjusted flat rate

Uzbekistan - Flat rate or adjusted flat rate

Belarus - Flat rate or adjusted flat rate

Belgium - Flat rate or adjusted flat rate

Lithuania - 20% - 65%

Solomon Islands - 20% - 65%

St. Vincent and the Grenadines - 20% - 65%

St. Lucia - 20% - 65%

St. Kitts and Nevis - 20% - 65%

Grenada - 20% - 65%

Dominica - 20% - 65%

Germany - 20% - 65%

Fiji - 20% - 65%

Somalia - 20% - 65%

Republic of Korea - 20% - 65%

Albania - 20% - 65%

Cuba - 20% - 65%

Chad - 20% - 65%

Serbia - 20% - 65%

Botswana - 20% - 65%

Kiribati - 20% - 65%

Montenegro - 20% - 65%

Antigua and Barbuda - 20% - 65%

Japan - 20% - 65%

Moldova - 20% - 65%

United Arab Emirates - 20% - 65%

San Marino - 20% - 65%

Bosnia and Herzegovina - 20% - 65%

Tuvalu - 20% - 65%

Poland - 20% - 65%

Italy - 20% - 65%

Portugal - 20% - 65%

Canada - 20% - 65%

Central African Republic - 20% - 65%

Niger - 20% - 65%

Nigeria - 20% - 65%

Latvia - 20% - 65%

Samoa - 66% - 79%

Guyana - 66% - 79%

Iran - 66% - 79%

Myanmar - 66% - 79%

Czech Republic - 66% - 79%

South Africa - 66% - 79%

Tunisia - 66% - 79%

Denmark - 66% - 79%

Mongolia - 66% - 79%

Cyprus - 66% - 79%

Vanuatu - 66% - 79%

Bolivia - 66% - 79%

Costa Rica - 66% - 79%

Equatorial Guinea - 66% - 79%

Democratic Republic of the Congo - 66% - 79%

Turkey - 66% - 79%

Nepal - 80% - 100%

The Netherlands - 80% - 100%

New Zealand - 80% - 100%

Norway - 80% - 100%

Nicaragua - 80% - 100%

Oman - 80% - 100%

The Philippines - 80% - 100%

Pakistan - 80% - 100%

Peru - 80% - 100%

Panama - 80% - 100%

Paraguay - 80% - 100%

Qatar - 80% - 100%

Afghanistan - 80% - 100%

Romania - 80% - 100%

Tajikistan - 80% - 100%

Zambia - 80% - 100%

Yemen - 80% - 100%

Vietnam - 80% - 100%

Venezuela - 80% - 100%

Uruguay - 80% - 100%

United Kingdom - 80% - 100%

Uganda - 80% - 100%

Trinidad and Tobago - 80% - 100%

Togo - 80% - 100%

Timor-Leste - 80% - 100%

Thailand - 80% - 100%

Tanzania - 80% - 100%

Syria - 80% - 100%

Rwanda - 80% - 100%

Switzerland - 80% - 100%

Eswatini - 80% - 100%

Suriname - 80% - 100%

Sudan - 80% - 100%

Sri Lanka - 80% - 100%

South Sudan - 80% - 100%

Slovenia - 80% - 100%

Singapore - 80% - 100%

Sierra Leone - 80% - 100%

- 80% - 100%

Senegal - 80% - 100%

Saudi Arabia - 80% - 100%

Sao Tome and Principe - 80% - 100%

Spain - 80% - 100%

Liberia - 80% - 100%

Namibia - 80% - 100%

Croatia - 80% - 100%

Chile - 80% - 100%

China - 80% - 100%

Colombia - 80% - 100%

Comoros - 80% - 100%

Republic of the Congo - 80% - 100%

Cote d'Ivoire - 80% - 100%

Djibouti - 80% - 100%

Cameroon - 80% - 100%

Dominican Republic - 80% - 100%

Ecuador - 80% - 100%

Egypt - 80% - 100%

El Salvador - 80% - 100%

Eritrea - 80% - 100%

Estonia - 80% - 100%

Cabo Verde - 80% - 100%

Cambodia - 80% - 100%

Gabon - 80% - 100%

Bangladesh - 80% - 100%

Algeria - 80% - 100%

Andorra - 80% - 100%

Angola - 80% - 100%

Argentina - 80% - 100%

Bahamas - 80% - 100%

Bahrain - 80% - 100%

Barbados - 80% - 100%

Burundi - 80% - 100%

Belize - 80% - 100%

Benin - 80% - 100%

Bhutan - 80% - 100%

Brazil - 80% - 100%

Brunei - 80% - 100%

Burkina Faso - 80% - 100%

Ethiopia - 80% - 100%

The Gambia - 80% - 100%

Mozambique - 80% - 100%

Malaysia - 80% - 100%

Lesotho - 80% - 100%

Libya - 80% - 100%

Liechtenstein - 80% - 100%

North Macedonia - 80% - 100%

Madagascar - 80% - 100%

Malawi - 80% - 100%

Maldives - 80% - 100%

Laos - 80% - 100%

Mali - 80% - 100%

Mauritania - 80% - 100%

Mauritius - 80% - 100%

Mexico - 80% - 100%

Monaco - 80% - 100%

Morocco - 80% - 100%

Lebanon - 80% - 100%

Kuwait - 80% - 100%

Georgia - 80% - 100%

Iceland - 80% - 100%

Ghana - 80% - 100%

Guatemala - 80% - 100%

Guinea - 80% - 100%

Guinea-Bissau - 80% - 100%

Haiti - 80% - 100%

Honduras - 80% - 100%

India - 80% - 100%

Democratic People's Republic of Korea - 80% - 100%

Indonesia - 80% - 100%

Iraq - 80% - 100%

Israel - 80% - 100%

Jamaica - 80% - 100%

Jordan - 80% - 100%

Kazakhstan - 80% - 100%

Kenya - 80% - 100%

Zimbabwe - 80% - 100%