evidence: UK – 39 weeks - - 21 countries across the world offer 100% paid maternity leave. Just over 17% of all countries that offer paid maternity leave offer 100% of the employee’s typical pay. Here is a list of every country with 100% paid maternity leave: [...] The UK and Ireland are also low on the totem pole when it comes to paid maternity leave, only offering 29.5% and 25.7% of an employee’s total pay respectively. In total, 19 countries offer 50% of an employee’s typical payment or less.