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New data from Moorepay has indicated that Luxembourg offers some of the highest statutory paternity pay in the world.

According to the study, Luxembourg ranks sixth globally for the average value of statutory paternity leave when adjusted for local purchasing power, at Intl$23,324. In absolute terms, Luxembourg ranks second, with an average value of $23,266 USD (approximately €20,727).

Moorepay examined statutory paternity leave and pay worldwide to determine which countries offer the highest and lowest payments to fathers. The researchers created a model paternity situation involving a firstborn child, two working parents and no health complications to compare entitlements across countries.

The study also included statutory parental leave, assuming an equal split between the mother and father where eligible. Moorepay used World Bank average income per capita figures to calculate the average value of paternity pay in each country.

To account for differences in the cost of living, the figures were converted into international dollars using purchasing power parity. As defined by the World Bank, an international dollar represents "the comparable amount of goods and services a U.S. dollar would buy in the United States."

Key findings include:

  • South Korea offers the world's highest statutory paternity pay, with an average value of $23,425 USD, equivalent to Intl$42,797;
  • Luxembourg ranks second in absolute terms at $23,266 USD and sixth when adjusted for purchasing power at Intl$23,324;
  • South Korea (82.0 weeks), Japan (48.0 weeks) and Hungary (42.1 weeks) offer the longest periods of statutory paid parental leave for fathers under the study's model;
  • Luxembourg offers 18.6 weeks of statutory paid leave under the model, equivalent to 15.6 weeks at full pay;
  • the United States, Serbia and New Zealand are among 51 countries offering no statutory paid paternity leave to fathers in the model situation.

The research data is correct as of June 2026.

More information is available in Moorepay's Global Paternity Leave Report 2026.