Top 10 countries in APAC with the highest maternity pay
Summary
A Moorepay study ranks APAC markets by the value of statutory paid maternity leave, adjusted for purchasing power parity (international dollars). South Korea tops the APAC list (Intl$48,796 / US$30,300), followed by Singapore and Australia. The research converts national average incomes (World Bank) and statutory leave provisions into international dollars to give a like-for-like comparison across countries.
Key Points
- South Korea is number one in APAC: Intl$48,796 (KRW41,067; US$30,300).
- Top five APAC markets: South Korea; Singapore (Intl$24,945; US$15,597); Australia (Intl$22,469; US$20,073); Brunei (Intl$14,071; US$5,684); New Zealand (Intl$13,188; US$11,881).
- APAC top 10 also includes Japan, Bhutan, Vietnam, Malaysia and India — India ranks tenth in the region at Intl$4,044 (US$954).
- Methodology: Moorepay reviewed statutory legislation, used national average incomes and converted figures into international dollars using PPP to account for cost-of-living differences.
- Globally, Norway offers the highest statutory maternity value (NOK663,132 / US$65,917), showing APAC outcomes sit well below the top global values when compared on PPP-adjusted terms.
Why should I read this?
If you hire, manage or set benefits across APAC, this is the neat snapshot you didn’t know you needed. We’ve done the number-crunching for you: who gives the most value for maternity leave, how those figures were adjusted, and which markets trail behind. Handy for benchmarking, mobility decisions and selling your employment proposition.
Context and relevance
Maternity pay is more than a statutory line item — it influences recruitment, retention, workplace equality and employer branding. Using international dollars (PPP) makes comparisons fairer across high- and low-cost economies, helping HR and mobility teams assess the real purchasing value of statutory maternity benefits. As businesses compete for talent, these insights support decisions on benefit enhancements and alignment with market expectations.
Source
Source: https://www.humanresourcesonline.net/top-10-countries-in-apac-with-the-highest-maternity-pay
