Parental leave uptake rises sharply after 2024 policy reform

A reform introduced on 1 July 2024 altered Norway’s parental-pay arrangement, granting parents who elect a higher benefit tier an additional eleven days of leave. The Ministry of Children and Families reports that the share of parents selecting this extended coverage has climbed by almost thirty percentage points since the rule change. In the first half of one outlet year, the number of households receiving parental benefits grew by 9.4 percent over the previous year and by 14.6 percent compared with 2017.

The ministry attributes much of this surge to more fathers accessing parental pay. Officials say the adjustment aims to reduce the need for unpaid leave and support families in having the children they desire.