Downloads: Press Release Full Table

Sources:
Annual number of births (births):
UNdata - https://bit.ly/2TJIzrt
Joint adoption:
Human Rights Law Centre - https://bit.ly/2TvQlFT
ABC - https://ab.co/2HgENjz
International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association: Carroll, A. and Mendos, L.R (Geneva; ILGA, May 2017) - https://bit.ly/2jmaVnI
Maternity leave, which a mother can legally take immediately after giving birth and can include some time just before, and paternity leave, which a father can legally take when his baby is born:
Wikipedia Parental Leave - https://bit.ly/230lpJW
GOV.UK - https://bit.ly/1kMBhwb

All data is accurate as of 22nd February 2019

Born
Every Minute

Many mums consider their baby to be the greatest gift they have ever received. In the UK, at least one baby is born every minute. Yet, how does this compare to other countries worldwide?

We've analysed 169 countries to find out how many babies are born and what they offer people wishing to become parents – from maternity and paternity leave to joint adoption rights for same sex couples.

Explore our visual representation of birth rates in 24 countries below as well as statistics from around the world.

Scroll down or skip to the full data for all 169 countries.

UK 0 (1.4 babies p/m)

UK

In the UK, new mums get 52 weeks’ maternity leave, with all but the first two weeks being transferrable to the father. Meanwhile, dads automatically get two weeks off. The UK also allows same-sex couples to adopt.
Maternity Leave (Weeks) 52
Maternity Pay 90%1
LGBT Adoption Yes
Paternity Leave (Weeks) 2
Paternity Pay 90%/flat rate2
Births per Minute 1.4
190% for 6 weeks, then up to 90% or a flat rate for 33 weeks; whichever is lower. After that, the remainder is unpaid.
2Whichever is less.

Sweden 0 (0.2 babies p/m)

Sweden

Renowned for being one of the most progressive countries in the world, Sweden has legalised same-sex adoption and offers an equal 12 weeks for maternity and paternity leave. Of the Nordic countries, Sweden also has the highest birth rate at 0.21 babies born per minute.
Maternity Leave (Weeks) 12
Maternity Pay 80%1
LGBT Adoption Yes
Paternity Leave (Weeks) 12
Paternity Pay 80%2
Births per Minute 0.2
1Up to a ceiling.
2Up to a Ceiling

China 0 (31.1 babies p/m)

China

With babies being born here at a rate of 31.1 per minute, China has the second-most births per minute. In terms of parental leave, mums get at least 18 weeks off with full pay, but fathers get nothing.
Maternity Leave (Weeks) 18+
Maternity Pay 100%
LGBT Adoption No
Paternity Leave (Weeks) 0
Paternity Pay N/A
Births per Minute 31.1

Canada 0 (0.7 babies p/m)

Canada

Unlike its neighbour, the US, most of Canada offers 15 weeks of leave to new mums. However, Quebec gives mums a couple of options and is the only part of the country that offers paternity leave.
Maternity Leave (Weeks) 151
Maternity Pay Varies2
LGBT Adoption Yes
Paternity Leave (Weeks) 03
Paternity Pay N/A4
Births per Minute 0.7
1Only Quebec offers the option of 18 weeks' leave.
2Income dependent and up to a ceiling per week. Quebec has further options.
3Except Quebec, which has two levels of paternity leave.
4Except Quebec, which has two levels of paternity pay.

USA 0 (8.2 babies p/m)

USA

Despite being one of the world’s most affluent countries, the US is also one of the few developed places where no maternity or paternity leave is offered at a federal level.
Maternity Leave (Weeks) 0
Maternity Pay N/A
LGBT Adoption Yes
Paternity Leave (Weeks) 0
Paternity Pay N/A
Births per Minute 8.2

Australia 0 (0.6 babies p/m)

Australia

Mothers get 18 weeks’ maternity leave and fathers get 2 weeks’ paternity leave, so put together this is two weeks more than nearby New Zealand. Yet, with a rate of 0.58, more babies are born here per minute.
Maternity Leave (Weeks) 18
Maternity Pay National Minimum Wage1
LGBT Adoption Yes
Paternity Leave (Weeks) 2
Paternity Pay National Minimum Wage
Births per Minute 0.6
1Government Paid Leave is means-tested and in addition to employer-paid leave.

Germany 0 (1.3 babies p/m)

Germany

Germany has slightly fewer births per minute than the UK, with a rate of 1.33. While it offers 14 weeks of maternity leave at full pay, there’s nothing for new fathers. Plus, same-sex adoption came into effect in 2017.
Maternity Leave (Weeks) 14
Maternity Pay 100%
LGBT Adoption Yes
Paternity Leave (Weeks) 0
Paternity Pay N/A
Births per Minute 1.3

France 0 (1.5 babies p/m)

France

With a rate of 1.51, France beats both the UK and Germany for the number of babies born each minute. New mothers get 16 weeks’ maternity leave at 70% of pay, while fathers get at least two weeks of up to full pay.
Maternity Leave (Weeks) 16
Maternity Pay 70%
LGBT Adoption Yes
Paternity Leave (Weeks) 2+
Paternity Pay 100%1
Births per Minute 1.5
1Up to a ceiling.

Spain 0 (0.9 babies p/m)

Spain

Just less than one baby is born each minute in Spain. This is much higher than its western neighbour, Portugal. Spain offers 16 weeks’ leave for new mums, 8 weeks’ leave for new fathers and also allows same-sex couples to adopt.
Maternity Leave (Weeks) 16
Maternity Pay 100%
LGBT Adoption Yes
Paternity Leave (Weeks) 8
Paternity Pay 100%
Births per Minute 0.9

Italy 0 (1.1 babies p/m)

Italy

Italy has a rate of 1.06 babies born per minute. New Italian mothers get 22 weeks’ maternity leave at up to 80% of pay, although new fathers get less than one week’s leave.
Maternity Leave (Weeks) 22
Maternity Pay 80%
LGBT Adoption No
Paternity Leave (Weeks) <1
Paternity Pay 100%
Births per Minute 1.1

Portugal 0 (0.2 babies p/m)

Portugal

Although fewer babies are born in Portugal each minute compared to its neighbour, Spain, its benefits are better: new mothers get at least 17 weeks’ leave, while fathers get 3.
Maternity Leave (Weeks) 17+1
Maternity Pay 100%2
LGBT Adoption Yes
Paternity Leave (Weeks) 3
Paternity Pay 100%
Births per Minute 0.2
1Mothers can choose 21 weeks' leave and receive 80% of earnings during this time.
280% for mothers that choose 21 weeks' leave.

India 0 (51.6 babies p/m)

India

Out of all the countries we looked at, India has the highest rate of births at 51.6 per minute. New mothers get 26 weeks’ leave at 100% of pay, and dads get at least two working weeks off at the same pay rate.
Maternity Leave (Weeks) 26
Maternity Pay 100%
LGBT Adoption No
Paternity Leave (Weeks) 2+
Paternity Pay 100%
Births per Minute 51.6

Japan 0 (2.0 babies p/m)

Japan

While Japan has the highest proportion of older adults in the world according to experts, it boasts one of the higher number of births per minute out of the countries we assessed at 2.04 babies a minute. This meant it has the 24th highest rate out of 169 countries.
Maternity Leave (Weeks) 14
Maternity Pay 60%
LGBT Adoption No
Paternity Leave (Weeks) 0
Paternity Pay N/A
Births per Minute 2.0

Greece 0 (0.2 babies p/m)

Greece

One baby is born every five minutes in Greece. Parents get full pay during their parental leave: mums are allowed 17 weeks off but fathers get less than a week. For same-sex couples, it’s currently not legal to adopt here.
Maternity Leave (Weeks) 17
Maternity Pay 100%
LGBT Adoption No
Paternity Leave (Weeks) <1
Paternity Pay 100%
Births per Minute 0.2

Poland 0 (0.8 babies p/m)

Poland

Although fewer babies are born each minute in Poland (0.78) compared to neighbouring Germany, it does seem to have better benefits for new parents. Mothers get 26 weeks’ leave, while fathers get two, and both get full pay during this time.
Maternity Leave (Weeks) 26
Maternity Pay 100%
LGBT Adoption No
Paternity Leave (Weeks) 2
Paternity Pay 100%
Births per Minute 0.8

Netherlands 0 (0.3 babies p/m)

Netherlands

The Netherlands sees 0.34 births a minute and it’s legal for same-sex parents to adopt. New mums get 16 weeks’ maternity leave, although new fathers get less than one week.
Maternity Leave (Weeks) 16
Maternity Pay 100%1
LGBT Adoption Yes
Paternity Leave (Weeks) <1
Paternity Pay 100%
Births per Minute 0.3
1Up to a ceiling.

Singapore 0 (0.1 babies p/m)

Singapore

Given its small size, Singapore’s rate of one baby born every 10 minutes makes sense. The city-state offers 16 weeks’ maternity leave to Singaporean citizens at full pay, and 12 weeks to non-Singaporean citizens at two-thirds of pay.
Maternity Leave (Weeks) 161
Maternity Pay 100%2
LGBT Adoption No
Paternity Leave (Weeks) 2
Paternity Pay 100%
Births per Minute 0.1
112 weeks for non-Singaporean citizens.
267% for non-Singaporean citizens.

Czech Republic 0 (0.2 babies p/m)

Czech Republic

Czech Republic has fewer babies born each minute (0.22) than its neighbours Germany and Poland. Yet, with 28 weeks’ maternity leave, it offers more time off for new mothers than both countries. Unfortunately, new fathers get nothing.
Maternity Leave (Weeks) 28
Maternity Pay 70%
LGBT Adoption No
Paternity Leave (Weeks) 0
Paternity Pay N/A
Births per Minute 0.2

Nigeria 0 (12.3 babies p/m)

Nigeria

Nigeria takes third place in our list for the country with the most babies born per minute, with a rate of 12.3. While new mums get 12 weeks’ maternity leave here, their usual pay is halved during this time. Meanwhile, there’s no paternity leave for fathers.
Maternity Leave (Weeks) 12
Maternity Pay 50%
LGBT Adoption No
Paternity Leave (Weeks) 0
Paternity Pay N/A
Births per Minute 12.3

Egypt 0 (3.6 babies p/m)

Egypt

Following the 3.6 babies that are born per minute here, new mums get 13 weeks of maternity leave at full pay and there’s no paternity leave for fathers. It’s also not legal for same-sex couples to adopt in Egypt.
Maternity Leave (Weeks) 13
Maternity Pay 100%
LGBT Adoption No
Paternity Leave (Weeks) 0
Paternity Pay N/A
Births per Minute 3.6

Russia 0 (3.2 babies p/m)

Russia

In Russia, new mums get 20 weeks off and up to full pay. Yet, there’s no paternity leave for fathers. Typically less accommodating to the LGBT community than some Western countries, Russia doesn’t allow same-sex couples to adopt.
Maternity Leave (Weeks) 20
Maternity Pay 100%1
LGBT Adoption No
Paternity Leave (Weeks) 0
Paternity Pay N/A
Births per Minute 3.2
1Up to a ceiling

Turkey 0 (2.5 babies p/m)

Turkey

With a rate of 2.5 per minute, many more babies are born in Turkey compared to nearby Greece. Yet, benefits for new parents are lower here, as new mums get only 16 weeks off with around two thirds of pay and fathers get no time off.
Maternity Leave (Weeks) 16
Maternity Pay 66.70%
LGBT Adoption No
Paternity Leave (Weeks) 0
Paternity Pay N/A
Births per Minute 2.5

Pakistan 0 (9.1 babies p/m)

Pakistan

Babies are born at a rate of 9.1 per minute in Pakistan, which is less than a fifth of the rate of its neighbour, India. Benefits for new parents are less generous here too, with new mums getting 45 days off before the birth and 45 days after. Yet, there’s no leave for fathers.
Maternity Leave (Weeks) 12+1
Maternity Pay 100%
LGBT Adoption No
Paternity Leave (Weeks) 0
Paternity Pay N/A
Births per Minute 9.1
145 days before birth, and 45 days after birth.

Indonesia 0 (8.2 babies p/m)

Indonesia

In Indonesia, where babies are born at a rate of 8.2 per minute, mothers get around three months of maternity leave at full pay. Dads, however, get less than a week. Same-sex couples also can’t adopt here.
Maternity Leave (Weeks) 12+1
Maternity Pay 100%
LGBT Adoption No
Paternity Leave (Weeks) <1
Paternity Pay Unknown
Births per Minute 8.2
1Assuming a month of 4 weeks.

Find out the full data for all the 169 countries researched

Births
(Per Minute)
Maternity Leave
(Weeks)
Paternity Leave
(Weeks)