Fathers get one-eighth of the paid parental leave of mothers – and everyone pays the price
The “parenthood gap” hurts not just mothers, but children and fathers as well, a policy brief by UN Women and the World Bank Group finds.
NEW YORK – Across much of the world, policies continue to provide substantially more paid leave to mothers than fathers, contributing to unequal caregiving responsibilities and limiting benefits for families, children, and economies, according to the new UN Women–World Bank Group Women, Business and the Law policy brief “From parenthood leave to childcare services: Building care systems that work for women, families and economies” launched today.
When it comes to paid leave for mothers, across 190 economies, nearly one-third (61) fall short of the International Labour Organization standard of 14 weeks. Six economies still offer no guaranteed paid leave to mothers. Meanwhile, 66 economies guarantee no paid leave for fathers, compared with just six for mothers. Of the 124 that offer fathers paid leave, half offer less than two weeks. On average, mothers are entitled to nearly eight times as much paid leave as fathers.
Recent research shows that men increasingly want to be more involved in caregiving. Eighty-seven per cent of fathers say they lack the support they need, while 83 per cent report that their employers do not offer flexible working arrangements. More than 64 per cent would support higher taxes to expand public care services.
“Care sustains our families, societies, and economies, yet women continue to shoulder a disproportionate share of it. We can only achieve gender equality and realize the human rights and empowerment of women and girls by transforming how care is valued and shared”, said UN Women Deputy Executive Director Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda.
The parenthood gap shapes family life long after parents return to work. When fathers take leave, they share more of the load of childcare and housework over the longer term, easing the load on women who, on average, spend 2.5 times more hours per day on unpaid care work than men.
“Closing the parenthood gap requires equitable parental and carers’ leave, alongside policies that enable and encourage fathers to take on their fair share of care, as well as the provision of social protection”, continued the UN Women Deputy Executive Director.
Fathers taking parental leave also support mothers’ ability to undertake paid work and earn an income, with paternity leave associated with mothers having higher earnings and higher levels of employment in private firms. More men taking parental leave can also change workplace cultures, potentially reducing the “motherhood penalty” for female co-workers.
Children benefit when fathers are empowered to care, too. One analysis links more responsive fathering to children having better cognitive functioning, language, emotion regulation, and behaviour.
Caregiving extends beyond parenthood. Studies show that many parents caring for children are also supporting older relatives, friends, or other community members. Around one in four parents provides care to both children and older people, often with little or no support. These overlapping responsibilities underscore the need for care systems that respond to diverse needs across the life course.
As the world marks the International Day of Care and Support on 29 October 2026, UN Women and the World Bank Group’s Women, Business and the Law project are calling for care systems that challenge discriminatory gender norms, recognize men and boys as caregivers, and promote the equal sharing of care work.
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