Several countries pay mothers (and parents) to stay home through generous parental leave, such as Sweden, Norway, Finland, Germany, and Japan, offering paid time off for extended periods, often with a percentage of salary, while some nations like Finland also have specific allowances for home care, and South Korea provides monthly payments for infants, making it common for mothers to stay home with financial support.
Bulgaria is the country with the best maternity leave in the world, offering new parents an incredible 410 days of paid time off. Not only do they have one of the longest maternity leaves, but Bulgaria also covers 90% of the employee's salary and starts 45 days before the due date.
Yes, the government can help stay-at-home moms. These help low-income individuals and families meet basic needs, like food and housing. For stay-at-home moms, eligibility doesn't depend on whether they're employed. It focuses on household income, family size, and specific needs.
South Korea. As of 2024, South Korea pays parents ₩1,000,000 (around $694) per month for infants under age 1 and ₩500,000 during the second year, plus existing birth grants, described as a “monthly salary for parents” by the country's Ministry of Health and Welfare/Presidential Committee.
The standard duration is 16 weeks (6 weeks before and 10 weeks after birth), which can be extended for multiple births or medical conditions. The French social security system pays maternity leave, typically up to a certain cap, and normally provides about 100% of the mother's average daily wage.
In 2004, the federal government introduced a universal Baby Bonus—$3,000 per child at birth, later increased to $4,000 and then $5,000—to encourage families to “have one for mum, one for dad, and one for the country,” as then–Treasurer Peter Costello famously put it.
Color-coded by the least to the most expensive places to give birth, a quick look at the map reveals that the U.S. and Japan are the priciest places to pop out babies, while Canada, Russia, South America, and South Africa are the least expensive.
In general, family benefits per person are highest in Northern and Western Europe, and lowest in the South and East. After Luxembourg, Nordic countries top the list: Norway (€2,277), Denmark (€1,878), Iceland (€1,874), Sweden (€1,449), and Finland (€1,440).
And in many countries, including the US, UK, Sweden and France, the rise in birth rates began years before the war had even started, while neutral Ireland and Switzerland experienced Booms that began during the war, in 1940.
South Korea was found to be the most expensive place to raise a child from birth to age 18, costing 7.8 times the country's per-person GDP on average. China was the second most expensive country, at 6.9 times per-person GDP.
To make $2000 a month as a stay-at-home mom, combine flexible online work like freelance writing, virtual assistance, or social media management with scalable options such as selling digital products on Etsy, starting a blog with affiliate marketing, or dropshipping, leveraging your existing skills in areas like teaching, crafting, or organization to create diverse income streams.
The 7-7-7 rule of parenting generally refers to dedicating three daily 7-minute periods of focused, undistracted connection with your child (morning, after school, bedtime) to build strong bonds and make them feel seen and valued. A less common interpretation involves three developmental stages (0-7 years of play, 7-14 years of teaching, 14-21 years of advising), while another offers a stress-relief breathing technique (7-second inhale, hold, exhale).
According to this rule, you must categorise your after-tax income into three broad categories: 50% for your needs, 30% for your wants and 20% for your savings. This way, you set aside a fixed amount from your income for each of the categories. This reduces your urge to withdraw amounts from one category for another.
Best Countries to Give Birth (Global Top Picks)
The top 10 worst countries for maternity leave:
You apply for parental benefit from the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration (NAV), which is the agency responsible for parental benefit in Norway.
The highest fertility levels are observed in Niger (13.6 children on average), South Sudan (13.5 children), Chad (12.1 children) and in the Sahelian countries more generally. In only four countries (South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho and Namibia) is male fertility below 6 children per man.
The term lowest-low fertility is defined as a TFR at or below 1.3. Lowest-low fertility is found almost mostly within East Asian countries and European countries. The East Asian American community in the United States also exhibits lowest-low fertility.
The Silent generation describes adults born from 1928 through 1945. Children of the Great Depression and World War II, their “Silent” label refers to their conformist and civic instincts. It also makes for a nice contrast with the noisy ways of the anti-establishment Boomers.
South Sudan is widely considered the poorest country in the world in 2025-2026, consistently ranking first due to extremely low GDP per capita and a high percentage (over 80%) of its population living in extreme poverty, driven by prolonged civil conflict, displacement, and disruption of its agricultural economy. Other nations frequently cited as among the poorest include Burundi, the Central African Republic, and Yemen, also suffering from conflict and instability.
Amsterdam in the Netherlands. These kinds of comings and goings aren't unique to their family. Many Dutch children enjoy a freedom of movement that most American kids don't, which might be the key to why Dutch kids are the happiest kids in the world, according to a 2025 UNICEF report.
The 5-5-5 rule is a guideline for what kind of help a postpartum mom needs: five days in bed, five days round the bed — meaning minimal walking around — the next five days around the home. This practice will help you prioritize rest and recovery while gradually increasing activity.
Kim Kardashian and Kanye West paid their first surrogate around $113,850 total for their daughter Chicago, which included a nearly $70,000 agency fee and about $45,000 in monthly payments to the surrogate, plus bonuses for multiples. For their second surrogate-born child, Psalm, reports suggest a similar arrangement with comparable fees for another surrogate.
All figures are estimates. In 2024, the fertility rate in Taiwan was estimated to be at 1.11 children per woman, making it the lowest fertility rate worldwide. The fertility rate is the average number of children born per woman of child-bearing age in a country.