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Paid maternity leave

What this indicator measures

The law is examined on the length of paid maternity leave: the score is full from 98 calendar days (14 weeks), zero if there is no paid leave, and intermediate otherwise. Data from the 2026 edition of “Women, Business and the Law”, which describes the written laws in force on 1 October 2025 (not their actual enforcement or uncodified customs).

How to read this?

“98 days or more” means that paid leave reaches at least 14 weeks; “Less than 98 days” means that it exists but is shorter.

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186countries with data
2025data year(s)

In brief

Paid maternity leave: 186 countries and territories covered. Breakdown: 98 days or more of paid leave : 121 ; Paid leave of less than 98 days : 59 ; No paid leave : 6.

Why this indicator matters

Paid maternity leave allows mothers to stop working around the time of birth while keeping an income. Comparing its legal length shows how the law reconciles work and maternity.

What makes this indicator vary

The length varies with traditions of social protection, funding by the employer or by the state, international recommendations and family policy reforms adopted over time.

Reading precautions

Only written law is examined, not its enforcement. The level of pay, the exclusion of some categories of workers and additional leave are not taken into account. The threshold used is the one from the edition of the database indicated.

Paid maternity leave

98 days or more of paid leave (121)

Paid leave of less than 98 days (59)

No paid leave (6)

Frequently asked questions

Where does the "Paid maternity leave" data come from?

It comes from Banque mondiale – Women, Business and the Law (WBL 2.0). Site last updated: November 8, 2026. Each country is shown with the year of its most recent value.

What does this indicator measure?

It shows whether the law provides for paid maternity leave and whether its length reaches the reference threshold used by the World Bank.

Is the amount of pay taken into account?

No. The indicator looks at the length of paid leave provided by law, not the level of the benefit or how it is financed.

Source and update

Source : Banque mondiale – Women, Business and the Law (WBL 2.0). Site last updated: November 8, 2026.

Indicators in the same category : Women's rights