Maternity in Europe: which country is best for giving birth?

Expecting a child is a major life milestone, but it also raises many questions, particularly related to one’s career. Maternity leave, pay and job protection vary significantly from one country to another.

Whilst a minimum standard exists, particularly in Europe, national policies remain very different. Here is an overview of the systems around the world, with a focus on Luxembourg and its neighbouring countries.

World leaders in maternity leave

Some countries stand out for particularly long or generous maternity leave. This is particularly the case in several Eastern and Northern European countries, where such arrangements can last several months or even more than a year.

In Bulgaria, for example, maternity leave can exceed 50 weeks, with substantial pay-related benefits.

In Sweden, the system is based more on very extensive parental leave, which can last for over a year and is shared between both parents.

These models prioritise either duration or family flexibility, following a different approach to that of Western European countries.

In Europe

Across Europe, rules vary considerably despite a common framework set by the European Union. EU legislation requires a minimum of 14 weeks’ maternity leave, of which two weeks are compulsory.

However, most countries go beyond this minimum, with significant differences in terms of duration and, above all, pay.

Three main models can generally be observed:

1. Countries with short but very well-paid leave, such as Germany (14 weeks, with pay close to 100% of salary around childbirth) or the Netherlands and Spain (around 16 weeks with full salary maintained).
2. Countries with longer leave but partial pay, such as the United Kingdom (up to 39 weeks with pay that decreases over time) or Hungary (around 24 weeks with approximately 70% of salary).
3. Hybrid systems combining duration and family flexibility, notably in Sweden (nearly 70 weeks in total, with a portion transferable between parents) or Finland (a system combining maternity and parental leave with progressive compensation).

In Luxembourg

Luxembourg is one of the European countries offering a particularly well-structured and protective framework.

Maternity leave totals 20 weeks, divided as follows:

• 8 weeks before the expected due date;
• 12 weeks after birth.

The leave is fully paid by social security, based on the previous salary, with a cap set at five times the social minimum wage.

The Luxembourg system is also characterised by:

• The continuity of rights during leave (length of service, job protection);
• High compensation compared to the European average;
• A relatively stable and clear administrative framework.

Find out more in our article: Pregnancy: what are my rights in Luxembourg?

Parental leave

In most countries, maternity leave is now supplemented by parental leave.

In Luxembourg, this leave may be taken:

• Full-time (4 or 6 months);
• Part-time (8 or 12 months);
• Or in a split format, depending on the employer’s agreement.

It entitles the employee to an allowance calculated based on their average income, paid by the Caisse pour l’avenir des enfants, up to a ceiling linked to the minimum social wage.

This scheme enables parents to spend more time with their child while maintaining partial income and is now a central feature of Luxembourg’s family policies.

To find out more about parental leave in Luxembourg, read our dedicated article.

Across other European countries, systems vary widely:

• In Germany, parental leave (Elternzeit) can last up to 3 years per parent per child, with an allowance (Elterngeld) generally between 65% and 67% of salary for 12 to 14 months.
• In Sweden, parents are entitled to a total of 480 days’ parental leave, a large proportion of which is paid at around 80% of income for a limited period.
• In Belgium, parental leave can reach 4 months per parent, with flexible arrangements and a fixed monthly allowance.
• In the Netherlands, following recent reforms, parents are entitled to around 9 weeks of partially paid parental leave (approximately 70% of salary under certain conditions).

These systems reflect a common trend across Europe: parental leave is now just as important as maternity leave itself in shaping family life.

There is therefore no single model for maternity leave. Some countries prioritise duration, others remuneration or flexibility.

Luxembourg thus strikes a balance between financial protection, a reasonable duration and the continuity of rights. This is a factor contributing to its growing appeal amongst workers in the Greater Region.

Has this article inspired you to work in Luxembourg and benefit from its family-friendly system?



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