WORLD Policy Analysis Center

Paid leave for new mothers has become almost universal: 96% of countries have adopted a nationwide policy providing paid leave reserved for mothers and/or shared parental leave. However, only 62% of countries provide women 14+ weeks of paid leave (the minimum standard established by the ILO).
To promote equality in parental responsibilities and facilitate fathers’ engagement in caregiving, it is critical to also provide paid leave for men—but 74% of countries provide no or less than 3 weeks of paid leave to fathers, compared to just 4% for mothers.
Adoptive parents are often denied access altogether: 53% of countries provide paid leave after the birth of a child, but not after an adoption.