Becoming parents in Sweden

Sweden is considered a pioneer when it comes to parental leave. But what actually makes parental leave in Sweden so special? In this guide, we want to take a closer look at how parental leave in Sweden compares to that in Germany and why it is held in such high regard in other countries.

Since when have mothers and fathers in Sweden been able to take parental leave?

Parental leave has been enshrined in law in Sweden since as early as 1974. This means that The Swedes are pioneers when it comes to parental leave. For they were the first country in the world to introduce paid parental leave that applied equally to fathers and mothers. However, in the first years, not many fathers made use of this. In response, an additional so-called "Papa Month" was introduced in 1995. Thirty days of the total parental leave could only be taken by fathers. If they did not take this, the month was forfeited and could not be used by the mother either. Since then, parental leave in Sweden has been continuously developed.

In Germany, what was known as parental allowance, which was later replaced by parental leave, was only introduced in 1986. So, 12 years after Sweden. At that time, it was also limited to 10 months in Germany. Everything you need to know about applying for parental allowance in Germany can be found here .

How long is parental leave in Sweden today, and how is it divided between the parents?

For each child, parents in Sweden receive 480 days (16 months) of parental allowance. If they decide to claim parental allowance together, each must claim 90 days for themselves. If, for example, the father does not take parental leave, the 90 days allocated for him expire.

The remaining 300 days can be freely divided between the parents. For twins, a further 180 days are added on top.

In Germany, parents can receive parental allowance for a maximum of 14 months. 12 months if only one parent claims parental allowance. 14 months if both parents take parental leave. With so-called Parental Allowance Plus, the duration is extended, but the total amount of parental allowance remains the same, it is simply spread over more months.

How long can Swedish parents receive parental allowance at the same time?

Until the baby's first birthday, parents in Sweden can receive parental allowance simultaneously for 30 days. Mothers can start receiving parental allowance 60 days before the expected due date. The other parent can also take 10 days off shortly before the birth.

In Germany, parents can receive parental allowance together for 2 months. Most fathers take this time immediately after the birth. In this way, they can support the mother, but sole responsibility for the baby is not given, unlike in Sweden.

How much is parental allowance in Sweden?

For a total of 390 days, Swedish parents receive 80% of their previous gross salary. Parents receive at least 250 Swedish kronor, which is approximately 21.50 euros per day. The maximum rate of parental allowance is 1,012 Swedish kronor per day before tax, which is roughly 87 euros a day. Swedish parental allowance is still subject to taxation. Depending on which municipality you live in, a further 29 to 35 percent is deducted. The amount of parental allowance depends on the income prior to the birth and also on the duration of the parental leave taken.

In Germany, parental allowance is financed, distributed, and calculated differently. Parents receive 65 percent of their income. The maximum rate, however, is 1,800 euros per month. The minimum amount in Germany is 300 euros per month. The minimum rate in Sweden is almost twice as high on a monthly basis.

However, both models are difficult to compare.

Do more fathers take parental leave in Sweden than in Germany?

For fathers in Sweden, it is almost taken for granted to take parental leave.If they choose to do so, they must take at least 90 days of the total 480 days available to both parents. So they are basically forced to take care of the baby on their own for about 3 months.

Around 42 percent of all Swedish fathers take parental leave. This figure has also now adjusted in Germany, and a similar number of men take parental leave. However, the difference remains significant, as Swedish fathers take considerably more parental leave than German dads. In Sweden, fathers take between six and nine months of parental leave. In Germany, most fathers limit themselves to the two partner months.

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