Infographic: Maternity Leave Around the World

Parental leave and childcare policies — including maternity leave — play a crucial role in many people’s decisions about where to live and work. 

Providing adequate maternity leave policies can advance gender equality by helping women return to the workforce after childbirth, and it also gives women access to a wider range of jobs. 

If you’re considering moving to a new country and don’t want to give up your career prospects to start a family, check out this infographic. It highlights some of the best — and worst — maternity leave policies around the world. 

It also includes some of the most generous paternity and same-sex parent leave policies since shared parental leave can help ease the burden on the mother and allow both parents to share childcare responsibilities.