Curious if being a single mother might be easier in some places in the world? I know I am! Even if I will never live in one of the best countries where being a mom is financially feasible, it’s good to know where to go if an opportunity arises, so to speak. A great majority of moms who read this blog come from all over the world, and it would be great to get some personal feedback on this topic. So please go ahead in share your experience in comments!
There is an abundance of data about various benefits and rewards available to moms in various countries. Usually, only top 5 or 10 countries make the list, with the rest of places left in the dark. Since I live in North America, I can speak about Canada and the United States. Sadly, both these countries did not make it to the top 10 list.
According to the article “10 Places Moms Are Better Off Than in the United States“, these top countries are:
- Finland
- Norway
- Sweden
- Denmark
- The Netherlands
- Iceland
- Spain
- Germany
- Belgium
- Australia
The countries above are considered to offer the best and very generous benefits to moms. Some criteria used were the length of parental leave, the % of salary during this leave, and additional benefits such as subsidized childcare and financial gifts. I must admit, when I reviewed the details about the support mothers receive in these countries I was both upset and inspired at the same time. Upset because I don’t live there, and inspired because it’s amazing to know that some governments out there just “get it”. They understand what mothers need to raise healthy and happy children. They are also aware that this, in turn, will create a better generation of citizens for their country.
Importantly, the benefits you see on the list do not include any additional benefits these countries offer to single moms. But we can only imagine!
When I wrote about the “Grants For Single Mothers in Canada“, some moms commented they wish they lived in Canada. And yet, Canada is very far from the countries listed above in what it has to offer its moms. I also doubt there will be substantial reforms in the near future that will place Canada on the list of top countries for moms. Here is why:
The length of maternity leave in Canada is 12 months with a mere 55% of average weekly earnings. The average weekly earnings have absolutely nothing to do with your actual salary, so even if you were making $90,000 a year or more, you will be still receiving only $543 per week. There is also a new 2017 provision which allows mothers to take 18 months off but with a further loss of receiving only 33% of average weekly earnings. As I live in Canada, I can tell you that no single mother can provide a comfortable living with that amount while she is doing one of the most important jobs in the world!
Needless to say, the maternity leave benefit in Canada is archaic compared to that of top countries on the list. For example “Swedish mothers get an impressive 420 days of maternity leave, and they are paid 80 percent of their salary” and “Norwegian moms can take up to 46 weeks of parental leave and still receive 100 percent of their salary. If they want to stay at home longer, they can get an additional 10 weeks at 80 percent of their salary.” I’m speechless, and yes it is real!
Now, let’s talk about the plight of moms in the United States. When I discovered what maternity leave and benefits are like in the U.S. my heart was filled with empathy and pain for moms who live there. According to a “2012 study conducted by the Department of Labor found that 23 percent of women who had left work to care for an infant took less than 2 weeks off, increasing health risks for both mothers and children.”
Turns out, getting a maternity leave is a luxury in the United States available only top top-level employees in a corporate sector. As the Department of Labor states, only a mere “12% of U.S. non-government workers have access to paid family leave,” which results in a higher infant mortality and other losses. In the case of Amber Scorah, her 3-month old child died on the first day of her going back to work and leaving him at a daycare. What a terrible situation! I am very sorry to hear about the death of Amber’s baby and to know that there must be many more cases like this, which could be easily prevented with the proper maternity benefits.
In conclusion, everything become clear when we get a perspective. A truly global perspective on the best practices to support mothers and children, as opposed to our own limited experience that narrows our value and goals as mothers. While we see that the United States needs an urgent implementation of extended paid maternity leave, we need to keep moving countries like Canada further towards the right direction. Both our governments can learn and adopt mothers support programs used by Sweden, Finland, Norway, and other countries which rightfully claimed their place on the top 10 list!
9 Comments
Thank you for information …
Great article, thank you
Thank you, Kate! Hopefully other countries will follow the example of those countries who ensure success of single parent families.
In Germany only 6 weeks before birth and 8 weeks after are paid nearly at full. Afterwards the parental leave is capped to max of 1800€, which is not sufficient. It is better than US, but taxes are much higher as well
I am a single mom in Spain and it is much harder than in the US. The one plus is healthcare, but otherwise it’s very hard to get buy. Housing, gasoline, and so much more expensive. Also the schedules here for working go until 8-9pm. In the US you get what you work for. Here I work two jobs and still barely get buy.
Hey Krista, thanks for sharing about life in Spain! USA and Canada has plenty of single mothers who are really struggling on a daily basis. What would be a good job in Spain to do for a single mother with a good schedule and reasonable pay?
The government has slowly but surely eroded the help for single mums in Australia, along with increasing the stigma and judgement through perpetuating myths and stereotypes. there is housing instability and punitive welfare measures for single mums and their children in Australia.
Take Belgium out the list! I’m a single mom of two and 2 jobs to survive. Instead of support I received a lettre and have to pay 3345 euro in taxes. If you don’t pay they come to list all you have and sell it… as a single parent you can’t survive here… even families where both parents work fulltime, have problems to get everything paid. The only small country on this planet with such a large government. And their monthly incomes are ridiculous high! If they work hard to find solutions, no prob, but they do the opposite. They have the luck that Belgians are complainers but cowards to do something about it!
Hi there,
I am a Belgian hard working single mom living in Spain. ( For 15 years already!)
I know the system by heart, worked full time non stop, paid private nanny’s to be able to work, …
Had several jobs for national and international company’s while surviving and raising my child in Spain.
In Spain as a single parent… FORGET IT, YOU WILL ONLY HAVE A CHANCE IF YOU ARE SUCCESSFUL AS A SELF EMPLOYED SINGLE PARENT.
An employee salary in Spain is not even enough to pay basic housing and basic needs.
The State has a housing plan for homeless single parents who have no income at all and minimum 3 children. 90% of single Spanish parents they play it out to their advantage, they get 3 kids as soon as possible to get on that housing list.
They betray the State, the social workers and everything and everybody and live inn with their parents or boyfriends, not on the streets at all, in the meanwhile they put themselves on the list as OFFICIALLY HOMELESS with 3 kids and secure the housing. While honest hard working single parents never get a chance.
Honest hard working single parents in Spain they don’t get a chance on housing benefit!!!
Neither company’s do care, neither there is a fit…Spanish working hours are 98% in shifts, doing various shifts a day until late at night 10 PM. Nanny’s work illegal and do earn more than you do!
Official nanny company’s are for the rich only!
Salaries are far the lowest in Europe!
The school system and level of education is HORROR in public schools, the government doesn’t invest in education.
Belgium has many cons ….but HEY at least you get paid decently and correctly as an employee and you get a decent 8 hour system form 9 to 5 or 8 to 4 all in balance with the care of your children.
Nothing to compare with the Spanish gypsy jungle…