2026 Country Comparison
Paternity Leave: Ireland vs Europe
Ireland offers 2 weeks of statutory paternity leave at a flat €299/week. The EU average is over 6 weeks. Here is how Ireland stacks up against neighbouring countries in 2026.
| Country | Duration | Pay | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🇮🇸Iceland | 6 months | 80% of salary | Non-transferable per parent |
| 🇪🇸Spain | 19 weeks | 100% of salary | Equal to maternity leave |
| 🇳🇴Norway | 15 to 19 weeks | 80 to 100% of salary | Father's quota inside a shared pot |
| 🇸🇪Sweden | 90 earmarked days | ~80% of salary | Inside a 480-day shared pot |
| 🇫🇮Finland | ~54 days (~11 weeks) | ~70% of salary | Reformed 2022, gender-neutral |
| 🇵🇹Portugal | 28 days mandatory | 100% of salary | Plus optional extended leave |
| 🇫🇷France | 28 days | State-paid at ceiling | Doubled in 2021 |
| 🇩🇪Germany | Up to 14 months shared | 65% of salary | Elterngeld shared parental scheme |
| 🇬🇧United Kingdom | 2 weeks | £184.03/week (flat) | Similar to Ireland; under review |
| 🇮🇪Ireland | 2 weeks | €299/week (flat) | Unchanged since 2016 |
Sources: Citizens Information (Ireland), OECD Family Database, national government portals. Figures reflect statutory entitlements in 2026 and exclude collective bargaining top-ups.
What the numbers mean
Duration alone tells only half the story. Pay level determines whether fathers can actually afford to take the leave. Ireland gives 2 weeks at a flat €299 per week, roughly a third of the average full-time wage. For most families, taking the full entitlement means a sharp income drop at the most expensive moment of their lives.
Countries at the top of the table combine longer leave with higher pay, usually as a percentage of salary. That combination is what actually shifts behaviour, gets fathers taking the leave, and delivers the health, developmental, and gender-equality outcomes the research supports.
Frequently asked questions
Where does Ireland rank for paternity leave in Europe?+
Near the bottom. Ireland's 2 weeks of statutory paternity leave is well below the EU average of over 6 weeks. Only a handful of European countries offer as little or less.
Which European country has the best paternity leave?+
Iceland is widely considered the benchmark, with 6 months of dedicated paternity leave paid at 80% of salary. Spain follows with 19 weeks at full pay. Norway and Sweden also rank among the most generous.
Why does the EU require better paternity leave?+
The EU Work-Life Balance Directive (2019) requires member states to provide at least 10 working days of paternity leave. Ireland meets the minimum but sits far below neighbours who go beyond it.
Ireland can do better
8 weeks would move Ireland into line with the European mainstream. Sign the petition asking the Oireachtas to make it happen.
Sign the petition