Singapore is high on global paternity list but is far behind top-ranked South Korea

A UK-based company released its global paternity leave report for 2026, ranking countries by the length and pay of paid paternity leave. South Korea topped the list, allowing fathers up to 20 days of paid leave, followed by an additional 18 months of leave with decreasing pay. An average earner in South Korea could expect to receive £17,803 (about S$30,600) during this period.

Adjusted to International Dollars, this amounts to 42,797 International Dollars, a 38.4% increase over the highest-ranked country. Luxembourg and Sweden followed closely behind in the top three, with figures not much lower than South Korea's.

Japan, the only other Asian nation in the top 10, offered significantly less, with fathers receiving £5,000 less in paid paternity leave. Singapore ranked 13th, with fathers earning £6,668 (approximately S$11,450) or 14,116 International Dollars. This is better than the 51 countries that provide no paid paternity leave, including the United States and New Zealand.

Singaporean fathers have nine weeks of full pay during paternity leave, compared to 43.4 weeks in South Korea and 27.8 weeks in Japan. However, Singapore is still the best performer in Southeast Asia, with Thailand in second place offering £236 (S$405) or three weeks of full pay for fathers on paternity leave. The report emphasized that paternity leave benefits not just fathers but also has positive impacts on families and children's mental health, as noted by Dr. Craig Garfield.