Parental Leave: Canada vs the World

Parental Leave: Canada vs the World (2026)

How paid parental and maternity leave in Canada compares with the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Germany and Sweden.

Last updated June 2026 · Rates and weekly caps change annually — figures reflect the most recent confirmed values. Free to cite with a link.

Country Maternity paid Parental paid Pay rate & notes
Canada (federal EI) 15 wk maternity 35 wk standard / 61 wk extended 55% standard, 33% extended (2026 caps ~$729/$437 a week)
Canada — Quebec (QPIP/RQAP) 18 wk 32 wk + 5 wk dedicated paternity 70% basic (more generous; has father-only leave EI lacks)
United States (FMLA) 0 wk paid (12 wk unpaid) None federally paid 0% federal (some states e.g. CA, NY have paid plans)
United Kingdom 39 wk paid (52 wk leave) Shared parental up to 50 wk 90% for 6 wk, then £194.32/wk or 90% (2025/26)
Australia Single govt scheme 24 wk (2025-26), rising to 26 wk from Jul 2026 Flat national minimum wage (~A$948/wk)
Germany 14 wk (100%) Elterngeld up to 12-14 mo ~65-67% of net pay (capped)
Sweden Unified 480 days shared per child ~80% for 390 days (capped) + 90 flat days; 90 days reserved per parent

Sources: Canada.ca (EI maternity & parental, 2026), Revenu Québec / RQAP (2025), GOV.UK (2025/26), Services Australia (2025-26), Handbook Germany, Nordic Co-operation. Verify exact current weekly caps with each government source before republishing.

The Canada takeaway

Canada offers among the longest leave in this group (up to 12 or 18 months), but at a relatively low replacement rate (33–55%) outside Quebec. Quebec’s QPIP is more generous and is the only Canadian plan with a dedicated, non-transferable father/partner benefit — which is why Quebec dads take leave at roughly three times the rate of the rest of Canada. The United States remains the only country here with no federal paid leave.

Planning your leave? See our EI leave & back-to-work guide, the Canada child benefits guide, and our baby cost calculator.