A new global study by Morepay shows that neighboring countries Norway and Finland rank even higher, but Sweden still makes it into the 5th place.
Sweden among the leading nations
Researchers compared the actual purchasing power of parental‑benefit payments in more than 100 countries by a currency called international dollars (adjusted to give a fair comparison of local buying power). Sweden lands at fifth place worldwide, with a value equivalent to roughly 409 000 SEK (about 44 000 international dollars).
That means Swedish parents receive considerably better support than parents in larger European countries such as the United Kingdom, Germany and France. Sweden is already known for its generous family policy, and this study shows that, internationally, it also offers some of the most valuable conditions for parents on leave.
Norway at the absolute world top
The top spot goes to Norway. There, paid parental leave corresponds to 74 000 international dollars, giving Norwegian mothers the greatest real‑world purchasing power during leave.
Romania also stands out – not because of the benefit level, but because of the duration: mothers can receive paid leave for up to two years, the longest in the world.
Countries without paid parental leave
The study also highlights global disparities. In countries such as the United States, South Africa, Papua New Guinea and Tonga, there is no legislated right to paid parental leave. For many women this forces a return to work shortly after birth or leaves them without any income.
Where mothers receive the highest pay (2025, purchasing‑power value)
Rank and purchasing‑power value (USD)
- Norway: $73,955
- Romania: $49,777
- South Korea: $48,796
- Finland: $46,952
- Sweden: $44,358
(Source: Morepay, June 2025)
What about fathers? Do they share the benefit?
In Sweden, paternity leave is part of the shared parental leave. Of the 480 parental‑benefit days per child, each parent has a reserved quota of 90 days that only that parent can take. This guarantees fathers at least 12–13 weeks of paid leave, even if the mother uses all her days. [1] Fathers can take much more if the mother decides to give up some of her days.
There is also flexibility: during the child’s first 15 months, parents can use “double days”, both parents are off on the same day, but it counts as two benefit days (one for each parent). [2]
