# Singapore Ranks 13th Globally in Paternity Leave Benefits South Korea leads global rankings while Singapore remains the leader in Southeast Asia. - **Source:** [The Independent SG](https://theindependent.sg) - **Published:** 2026-11-10 - **Topic:** [Business](https://brifing.si/c/business) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/a721dca9-40ad-490d-96af-13ba7a1f87a2 ## Global Paternity Leave Rankings A recent report by the United Kingdom firm Moorepay evaluated global paternity leave policies based on duration and pay rates. South Korea secured the top position, offering fathers up to 20 days of paid leave plus 18 months of additional time. This comprehensive structure significantly outperforms other nations in the global rankings. ## South Korea's Economic Advantage South Korean fathers receive approximately £17,803 during their leave period, which translates to 42,797 International Dollars when adjusted for local purchasing power. This figure represents 38.4% more than any other country on the list. The nation's policy stands as a benchmark for financial support during the critical early stages of child development. ## Singapore's Current Standing Singapore currently holds the 13th position globally, providing fathers with nine weeks of full pay. While this ranks behind leaders like South Korea and Japan, it remains significantly better than the 51 countries that offer no paid paternity leave at all. These nations include major economies such as the United States and New Zealand. ## Regional Leadership in Southeast Asia Despite its global ranking, Singaporean fathers enjoy the most favorable paternity leave conditions within Southeast Asia. Thailand follows in second place within the region, where fathers receive only three weeks of full pay, totaling approximately £236. This disparity highlights the varying levels of institutional support for working fathers across the Southeast Asian region. ## Comparison with Asian Peers Japan is the only other Asian nation to feature in the top 10 list alongside South Korea. Japanese fathers receive £5,000 less in total benefits compared to their South Korean counterparts. Furthermore, Japanese fathers are entitled to 27.8 weeks of leave, which is notably shorter than the 43.4 weeks provided in South Korea. ## European Dominance in Rankings The top 10 list published by Moorepay is heavily dominated by European nations, which occupy eight of the ten spots. Luxembourg and Sweden follow closely behind South Korea in terms of total benefits and leave duration. These European models emphasize long-term family support as a standard component of their national labor and social policies. ## Public Health Implications Dr. Craig Garfield emphasizes that paternity leave is a critical public health issue rather than just a corporate benefit. Research indicates a strong link between extended paternity leave and improved mental health outcomes for the entire family. These findings suggest that policy decisions have deep, lasting impacts on child development and parental well-being. ## Policy Effectiveness and Future Outlook While paternity leave provides essential support, its correlation with birth rates remains complex. A study from the National University of Singapore noted that such leave policies have not necessarily boosted the rate of parents having more than one child. Future policy discussions must balance workplace benefits with broader demographic and economic goals. ## Sources covering this story - https://theindependent.sg/singapore-is-high-on-global-paternity-list-but-is-far-behind-top-ranked-south-korea — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._