Having children is a big milestone for many couples and families, and it is important to understand when and how it happens for families in Scandinavia. In this article we will discuss the statistics around when Scandinavian families usually have their first child and how parental leave works in Scandinavia.
Statistics on families in Scandinavia
According to statistics from Eurostat, Scandinavia has one of the highest birth rates in Europe. This is partly due to the relatively high proportion of young adults in the region. According to Eurostat's data, the highest birth rate in the Nordics in 2019 was in Iceland with 1.82 children per woman, followed by Sweden with 1.76, Norway with 1.53 and Denmark with 1.49.
When do Scandinavian families have their first child?
According to statistics from Statistics Sweden, women in Sweden have their first child on average at the age of 30, while men are on average 32 years old when they have their first child. In Norway, the average age for women is 29.4 years and for men 31.7 years. In Denmark, the average age of first child is slightly lower, with women having their first child at age 28.7 and men at age 31.4.
Parental leave in Scandinavia
In Scandinavia, there is a strong culture of parental leave, with extensive support from the government and employers. In Sweden, parental leave has been legislated since 1974, and today parents are entitled to up to 480 days of parental leave per child, of which at least 90 days are reserved for each parent. The parental leave is paid, with a compensation of around 80 percent of one's previous income.
In Norway, parental leave has been statutory since 1977, and today parents are entitled to up to 49 weeks of parental leave per child, of which at least 10 weeks are reserved for the father. The parental leave is paid, with a compensation of around 80 percent of one's previous income.
In Denmark, parental leave has been statutory since 1984, and today parents are entitled to up to 52 weeks of parental leave per child, of which at least two weeks are reserved for the father. The parental leave is paid, with a compensation of around 90 percent of one's previous income.
