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Offers Guaranteed Paid Sick Leave

No Sick Leave

Unpaid Sick Leave

Yes

Countries with Paid Sick Leave 2024

Worldwide Paid Sick Leave Rankings

Most nations within the European Union have the best sick pay benefits in the world. However, Japan, Canada and Australia make provisions for employees to receive 66%, 55%-80%, or 100% of their pay.

The United States, by the way, is the only developed country that doesn’t offer any guaranteed sick days. So far, this only existed during the Covid-19 pandemic that led to the 2020 quarantines. California, New York, and other states may have permanent paid sick leave plans, however.

Sweden

Sweden companies usually provide sick pay instead of the usual wage for the first two weeks an employee is ill. After two weeks, workers can apply for Försäkringskassan's illness benefits. Sweden's employees can receive between 25% and 100% of their salary for a maximum of a year.

Iceland

Icelandic employees can receive a minimum of two days of sick leave for every month they work. They may receive 100% of their salary for time off because of an illness, some of which may come from an employer or the Social Insurance Administration. For this reason, the Compensation Experts ranked this country as the location with the top paid sick leave in the world.

Norway

Norway offers sickness benefits for up to a year. Workers that still cannot work after this time might receive additional assistance. Employers will cover the first 16 days.

The European Commission’s Employment, Social Affairs & Inclusion determines the amount paid to sick employees based on their salary from the previous three months. They might receive up to 100% of their pay for at least 31 days.

Denmark

According to the European Commission, the maximum amount of sickness benefits (DKK 4,460) divided by the regular number of hours worked per week is the most amount employees receive. It’s based on a 37-hour work week. As a result, workers receive up to DKK 120.54 hourly compensation. This may extend up to 22 weeks or longer, depending on the situation.

Germany

Germany follows similar rules as other countries connected to the European Commission.

Workers may receive sick pay during the time when a medical expert has confirmed an inability to work. This could occur for about 78 weeks over a three-year period per sickness. An employee might receive additional paid sick leave time under certain conditions, including new illnesses.

Slovenia

Employees may receive compensation of between 80%-100% of their salary, depending on whether the illness is work-related or not. Slovenia follows the same guidelines concerning this as several other European Union countries. The employer usually pays for the first month.

Lithuania

Employees in this country will receive payment at least 62% of their salaries. Employers would pay at least the first two days. Then, SoDra funds activate, paying about 62% of earnings based on what workers had earned in the previous three months. Organ or tissue problems related to donations might make a person eligible for up to 77% of their salary.

Hungary

Employers usually pay the first 15 days at 70% of a worker’s income. Then, remaining days are paid at 50% to 60% of their salary for up to one year by their health insurance.

  • Country Income Group corresponds to World Bank Clasifications 2023
  • Guaranteed Paid Sick Leave refers to sick leave guaranteed by national legislation.

193 countries

Country
Offers Guaranteed Paid Sick Leave
WB Country Income Group
Paid from First Day
Duration w/ 1 Month Employment
Duration w/ 1 Year Employment
Wage Replacement
Funding Source
IndiaYesMiddle-IncomeNo Paid Sick Leave6 weeks or moreLess than 60% of wagesSocial security only
ChinaYesMiddle-Income6 weeks or more6 weeks or moreSocial security only
IndonesiaYesMiddle-Income6 weeks or more6 weeks or more80 - 100%Employer only
PakistanYesMiddle-IncomeNo Paid Sick Leave6 weeks or moreSocial security only
NigeriaYesMiddle-Income2 - 5.9 weeks2 - 5.9 weeks80 - 100%Employer only
BrazilYesMiddle-Income6 weeks or more6 weeks or more80 - 100%Employer and social security
BangladeshYesMiddle-Income2 - 5.9 weeks2 - 5.9 weeks80 - 100%Employer only
RussiaYesMiddle-Income6 weeks or more6 weeks or more60 - 79%Employer and social security
EthiopiaYesLow-Income6 weeks or more6 weeks or more80 - 100%Employer only
MexicoYesMiddle-Income6 weeks or more6 weeks or moreLess than 60% of wagesSocial security only
JapanYesHigh-Income6 weeks or more6 weeks or moreLess than 60% of wagesSocial security only
EgyptYesMiddle-IncomeNo Paid Sick Leave6 weeks or more60 - 79%Social security only
PhilippinesYesMiddle-IncomeNo Paid Sick Leave6 weeks or more80 - 100%Social security only
DR CongoYesLow-Income6 weeks or more6 weeks or more60 - 79%Employer only
VietnamYesMiddle-Income6 weeks or more6 weeks or more60 - 79%Social security only
IranYesMiddle-Income6 weeks or more6 weeks or moreLess than 60% of wagesSocial security only
TurkeyYesMiddle-IncomeNo Paid Sick Leave6 weeks or moreLess than 60% of wagesSocial security only
GermanyYesHigh-Income6 weeks or more6 weeks or more80 - 100%Employer only
ThailandYesMiddle-Income6 weeks or more6 weeks or more80 - 100%Employer and social security
United KingdomYesHigh-Income6 weeks or more6 weeks or moreFlat rate benefitEmployer only
TanzaniaYesMiddle-IncomeNo Paid Sick Leave6 weeks or more80 - 100%Employer only
FranceYesHigh-Income6 weeks or more6 weeks or moreLess than 60% of wagesEmployer and social security
South AfricaYesMiddle-IncomeLess then 2 weeks6 weeks or more80 - 100%Employer and social security
ItalyYesHigh-Income6 weeks or more6 weeks or moreLess than 60% of wagesSocial security only
KenyaYesMiddle-IncomeNo Paid Sick Leave2 - 5.9 weeks80 - 100%Employer only
MyanmarYesMiddle-IncomeNo Paid Sick Leave6 weeks or more60 - 79%Employer only
ColombiaYesMiddle-Income6 weeks or more6 weeks or more80 - 100%Employer and social security
SudanYesLow-IncomeNo Paid Sick Leave6 weeks or more80 - 100%Employer only
UgandaYesLow-Income2 - 5.9 weeks2 - 5.9 weeks80 - 100%Employer only
SpainYesHigh-Income6 weeks or more6 weeks or moreLess than 60% of wagesEmployer and social security
AlgeriaYesMiddle-Income6 weeks or more6 weeks or moreLess than 60% of wagesSocial security only
IraqYesMiddle-Income6 weeks or more6 weeks or more80 - 100%Employer and social security
ArgentinaYesMiddle-Income6 weeks or more6 weeks or more80 - 100%Employer only
AfghanistanYesLow-Income2 - 5.9 weeks2 - 5.9 weeks80 - 100%Employer only
YemenYesLow-Income6 weeks or more6 weeks or more80 - 100%Employer only
CanadaYesHigh-IncomeNo Paid Sick Leave2 - 5.9 weeksSocial security only
PolandYesHigh-Income6 weeks or more6 weeks or more80 - 100%Employer and social security
MoroccoYesMiddle-IncomeNo Paid Sick Leave6 weeks or moreLess than 60% of wagesSocial security only
AngolaYesMiddle-Income6 weeks or more6 weeks or more80 - 100%Employer only
UkraineYesMiddle-Income6 weeks or more6 weeks or moreLess than 60% of wagesEmployer and social security
UzbekistanYesMiddle-Income6 weeks or more6 weeks or more60 - 79%Social security only
MalaysiaYesMiddle-Income2 - 5.9 weeks2 - 5.9 weeks80 - 100%Employer only
MozambiqueYesLow-IncomeNo Paid Sick Leave6 weeks or more60 - 79%Social security only
GhanaYesMiddle-IncomeEmployer only
PeruYesMiddle-Income2 - 5.9 weeks6 weeks or more80 - 100%Employer and social security
Saudi ArabiaYesHigh-Income6 weeks or more6 weeks or more80 - 100%Employer only
MadagascarYesLow-Income80 - 100%Employer only
Ivory CoastYesMiddle-Income6 weeks or more6 weeks or more80 - 100%Employer only
NepalYesMiddle-IncomeLess then 2 weeks2 - 5.9 weeks80 - 100%Employer only
CameroonYesMiddle-Income2 - 5.9 weeksVaries by type of worker80 - 100%Employer only
VenezuelaYes6 weeks or more6 weeks or moreLess than 60% of wagesEmployer and social security
NigerYesLow-IncomeVaries by type of workerVaries by type of worker80 - 100%Employer only
AustraliaYesHigh-Income2 - 5.9 weeks2 - 5.9 weeks80 - 100%Employer only
SyriaYesLow-Income6 weeks or more6 weeks or more60 - 79%Employer only
MaliYesLow-IncomeVaries by type of worker6 weeks or more80 - 100%Employer only
Burkina FasoYesLow-Income6 weeks or more6 weeks or more80 - 100%Employer only
MalawiYesLow-IncomeNo Paid Sick Leave6 weeks or more80 - 100%Employer only
ZambiaYesMiddle-Income80 - 100%Employer only
KazakhstanYesMiddle-IncomeEmployer only
ChadYesLow-Income2 - 5.9 weeks6 weeks or more80 - 100%Employer only
ChileYesHigh-IncomeNo Paid Sick Leave2 - 5.9 weeks80 - 100%Social security only
RomaniaYesHigh-Income2 - 5.9 weeks6 weeks or more60 - 79%Employer and social security
SenegalYesMiddle-Income6 weeks or more6 weeks or more80 - 100%Employer only
GuatemalaYesMiddle-IncomeNo Paid Sick Leave6 weeks or moreLess than 60% of wagesEmployer and social security
NetherlandsYesHigh-Income6 weeks or more6 weeks or more60 - 79%Employer only
EcuadorYesMiddle-Income6 weeks or more6 weeks or more60 - 79%Employer and social security
CambodiaYesMiddle-IncomeNo Paid Sick Leave2 - 5.9 weeks60 - 79%
ZimbabweYesMiddle-Income6 weeks or more6 weeks or more80 - 100%Employer only
GuineaYesMiddle-IncomeNo Paid Sick Leave6 weeks or moreSocial security only
BeninYesMiddle-IncomeVaries by type of worker6 weeks or more80 - 100%Employer only
RwandaYesLow-Income6 weeks or more6 weeks or more80 - 100%Employer only
BurundiYesLow-Income6 weeks or more6 weeks or more60 - 79%Social security only
BoliviaYesMiddle-Income2 - 5.9 weeksVaries by type of worker80 - 100%Employer and social security
TunisiaYesMiddle-IncomeNo Paid Sick Leave6 weeks or moreSocial security only
South SudanYesLow-Income2 - 5.9 weeks2 - 5.9 weeks80 - 100%Employer only
HaitiYesMiddle-Income2 - 5.9 weeks2 - 5.9 weeks80 - 100%Employer only
BelgiumYesHigh-Income6 weeks or more6 weeks or more80 - 100%Employer and social security
JordanYesMiddle-Income2 - 5.9 weeks2 - 5.9 weeks80 - 100%Employer only
Dominican RepublicYesMiddle-IncomeNo Paid Sick Leave6 weeks or moreLess than 60% of wagesSocial security only
United Arab EmiratesYesHigh-IncomeNo Paid Sick Leave6 weeks or more80 - 100%Employer only
CubaYesMiddle-Income6 weeks or more6 weeks or moreLess than 60% of wagesSocial security only
HondurasYesMiddle-IncomeNo Paid Sick Leave6 weeks or moreLess than 60% of wagesEmployer and social security
Czech RepublicYesHigh-Income6 weeks or more6 weeks or more60 - 79%Employer and social security
SwedenYesHigh-Income6 weeks or more6 weeks or more60 - 79%Employer and social security
TajikistanYesMiddle-Income6 weeks or more6 weeks or more60 - 79%Social security only
Papua New GuineaYesMiddle-IncomeNo Paid Sick LeaveLess then 2 weeks80 - 100%Employer only
PortugalYesHigh-Income6 weeks or more6 weeks or moreLess than 60% of wagesSocial security only
AzerbaijanYesMiddle-IncomeNo Paid Sick Leave6 weeks or more60 - 79%Employer and social security
GreeceYesHigh-Income2 - 5.9 weeks6 weeks or moreLess than 60% of wagesEmployer and social security
HungaryYesHigh-Income6 weeks or more6 weeks or more60 - 79%Employer and social security
TogoYesLow-Income6 weeks or more6 weeks or more80 - 100%Employer only
IsraelYesHigh-Income2 - 5.9 weeks2 - 5.9 weeks60 - 79%Employer only
AustriaYesHigh-Income6 weeks or more6 weeks or more80 - 100%Employer only
BelarusYesMiddle-Income6 weeks or more6 weeks or more80 - 100%Social security only
SwitzerlandYesHigh-IncomeNo Paid Sick Leave2 - 5.9 weeks80 - 100%Employer only
Sierra LeoneYesLow-IncomeNo Paid Sick Leave6 weeks or more80 - 100%Employer only
LaosYesMiddle-IncomeVaries by type of worker6 weeks or more80 - 100%
TurkmenistanYesMiddle-Income6 weeks or more6 weeks or more60 - 79%Social security only
LibyaYesMiddle-Income6 weeks or more6 weeks or more80 - 100%Employer only
KyrgyzstanYesMiddle-Income6 weeks or more6 weeks or more60 - 79%Social security only
ParaguayYesMiddle-IncomeNo Paid Sick Leave6 weeks or moreLess than 60% of wages
NicaraguaYesMiddle-IncomeNo Paid Sick Leave6 weeks or moreLess than 60% of wagesSocial security only
BulgariaYesMiddle-IncomeLess then 2 weeks2 - 5.9 weeks60 - 79%Employer and social security
SerbiaYesMiddle-Income6 weeks or more6 weeks or more60 - 79%Employer only
El SalvadorYesMiddle-Income6 weeks or more6 weeks or more60 - 79%Employer and social security
Republic of the CongoYesMiddle-Income6 weeks or more6 weeks or more80 - 100%Employer only
DenmarkYesHigh-IncomeNo Paid Sick Leave6 weeks or more80 - 100%Employer and social security
SingaporeYesHigh-IncomeNo Paid Sick Leave2 - 5.9 weeks80 - 100%Employer only
LebanonYesMiddle-Income6 weeks or more6 weeks or more80 - 100%
FinlandYesHigh-Income6 weeks or more6 weeks or more80 - 100%Employer and social security
LiberiaYesLow-Income2 - 5.9 weeks2 - 5.9 weeks80 - 100%Employer only
NorwayYesHigh-Income6 weeks or more6 weeks or more80 - 100%Employer and social security
SlovakiaYesHigh-Income6 weeks or more6 weeks or moreLess than 60% of wagesEmployer and social security
Central African RepublicYesLow-IncomeVaries by type of workerVaries by type of worker80 - 100%Employer only
OmanYesHigh-Income6 weeks or more6 weeks or more80 - 100%Employer only
IrelandYesHigh-IncomeNo Paid Sick LeaveNo Paid Sick LeaveSocial security only
New ZealandYesHigh-Income6 weeks or more6 weeks or more80 - 100%Employer and social security
MauritaniaYesMiddle-Income6 weeks or more6 weeks or more80 - 100%Employer only
Costa RicaYesMiddle-IncomeNo Paid Sick Leave6 weeks or moreLess than 60% of wagesEmployer and social security
KuwaitYesHigh-Income6 weeks or more6 weeks or more80 - 100%Employer only
PanamaYesHigh-IncomeLess then 2 weeks6 weeks or more80 - 100%Employer and social security
CroatiaYesHigh-Income6 weeks or more6 weeks or more60 - 79%Employer only
GeorgiaYesMiddle-Income6 weeks or more6 weeks or more80 - 100%Employer only
EritreaYesLow-Income6 weeks or more6 weeks or more80 - 100%Employer only
MongoliaYesMiddle-IncomeLess then 2 weeks6 weeks or moreLess than 60% of wagesSocial security only
UruguayYesHigh-IncomeNo Paid Sick Leave6 weeks or moreLess than 60% of wagesSocial security only
Bosnia and HerzegovinaYesMiddle-Income6 weeks or more6 weeks or more80 - 100%Employer only
QatarYesHigh-IncomeNo Paid Sick Leave6 weeks or more80 - 100%Employer only
MoldovaYesMiddle-Income2 - 5.9 weeks6 weeks or more60 - 79%Employer and social security
NamibiaYesMiddle-IncomeLess then 2 weeks6 weeks or more80 - 100%Employer and social security
ArmeniaYesMiddle-Income6 weeks or more6 weeks or more80 - 100%Employer and social security
LithuaniaYesHigh-Income6 weeks or more6 weeks or more60 - 79%Employer and social security
JamaicaYesMiddle-IncomeNo Paid Sick Leave2 - 5.9 weeks80 - 100%Employer only
AlbaniaYesMiddle-Income6 weeks or more6 weeks or more80 - 100%Employer and social security
GambiaYesLow-Income6 weeks or more6 weeks or more80 - 100%Employer only
GabonYesMiddle-Income6 weeks or more6 weeks or more80 - 100%Employer only
BotswanaYesMiddle-Income2 - 5.9 weeks2 - 5.9 weeks80 - 100%Employer only
LesothoYesMiddle-IncomeNo Paid Sick Leave6 weeks or more80 - 100%Employer only
Guinea BissauYesLow-Income6 weeks or more6 weeks or more80 - 100%Social security only
SloveniaYesHigh-Income6 weeks or more6 weeks or more80 - 100%Employer only
Equatorial GuineaYesMiddle-Income6 weeks or more6 weeks or more60 - 79%Employer and social security
LatviaYesHigh-Income6 weeks or more6 weeks or more60 - 79%Employer and social security
North MacedoniaYesMiddle-Income6 weeks or more6 weeks or more80 - 100%Employer only
BahrainYesHigh-IncomeNo Paid Sick Leave6 weeks or more80 - 100%Employer only
Trinidad and TobagoYesHigh-IncomeNo Paid Sick Leave6 weeks or moreLess than 60% of wagesSocial security only
Timor LesteYesMiddle-Income2 - 5.9 weeks2 - 5.9 weeks80 - 100%Employer only
EstoniaYesHigh-Income6 weeks or more6 weeks or moreLess than 60% of wagesEmployer and social security
CyprusYesHigh-IncomeNo Paid Sick Leave6 weeks or moreLess than 60% of wagesSocial security only
MauritiusYesMiddle-IncomeNo Paid Sick Leave2 - 5.9 weeks80 - 100%Employer only
EswatiniYesMiddle-IncomeNo Paid Sick Leave2 - 5.9 weeks80 - 100%Employer only
DjiboutiYesMiddle-IncomeVaries by type of worker6 weeks or moreLess than 60% of wagesEmployer only
FijiYesMiddle-IncomeNo Paid Sick Leave2 - 5.9 weeks80 - 100%Employer only
ComorosYesMiddle-Income6 weeks or more6 weeks or more80 - 100%Employer only
GuyanaYesHigh-IncomeNo Paid Sick Leave6 weeks or moreLess than 60% of wagesSocial security only
Solomon IslandsYesMiddle-IncomeNo Paid Sick Leave2 - 5.9 weeks80 - 100%Employer only
BhutanYesMiddle-IncomeNo Paid Sick LeaveLess then 2 weeks80 - 100%Employer only
LuxembourgYesHigh-Income6 weeks or more6 weeks or more80 - 100%Employer only
MontenegroYesMiddle-Income6 weeks or more6 weeks or more60 - 79%Employer only
SurinameYesMiddle-IncomeEmployer only
MaltaYesHigh-Income6 weeks or more6 weeks or more80 - 100%Employer and social security
MaldivesYesMiddle-Income6 weeks or more6 weeks or more80 - 100%Employer only
Cape VerdeYesMiddle-Income2 - 5.9 weeks2 - 5.9 weeks80 - 100%Employer and social security
BruneiYesHigh-IncomeNo Paid Sick Leave2 - 5.9 weeks80 - 100%Employer only
BelizeYesMiddle-IncomeNo Paid Sick Leave6 weeks or more80 - 100%Employer and social security
BahamasYesHigh-IncomeNo Paid Sick Leave6 weeks or more80 - 100%Employer and social security
IcelandYesHigh-Income6 weeks or more6 weeks or more80 - 100%Employer and social security
VanuatuYesMiddle-IncomeNo Paid Sick Leave2 - 5.9 weeks80 - 100%Employer only
BarbadosYesHigh-IncomeNo Paid Sick Leave6 weeks or more60 - 79%Social security only
Sao Tome and PrincipeYesMiddle-Income
SamoaYesMiddle-IncomeNo Paid Sick Leave2 - 5.9 weeks80 - 100%Employer only
Saint LuciaYesMiddle-IncomeNo Paid Sick Leave6 weeks or more80 - 100%Employer and social security
KiribatiYesMiddle-IncomeNo Paid Sick Leave2 - 5.9 weeks80 - 100%Employer only
SeychellesYesHigh-Income6 weeks or more6 weeks or more80 - 100%Employer and social security
GrenadaYesMiddle-IncomeNo Paid Sick Leave6 weeks or more80 - 100%Employer and social security
Saint Vincent and the GrenadinesYesNo Paid Sick Leave6 weeks or moreLess than 60% of wagesSocial security only
Antigua and BarbudaYesHigh-Income6 weeks or more6 weeks or more80 - 100%Employer and social security
AndorraYesHigh-Income6 weeks or more6 weeks or moreLess than 60% of wagesSocial security only
DominicaYesMiddle-IncomeNo Paid Sick Leave6 weeks or more60 - 79%Social security only
GreenlandYesHigh-IncomeSocial security only
Saint Kitts and NevisYesHigh-IncomeNo Paid Sick Leave6 weeks or more60 - 79%Social security only
LiechtensteinYesHigh-Income6 weeks or more6 weeks or more80 - 100%Employer and social security
MonacoYesHigh-Income6 weeks or more6 weeks or moreLess than 60% of wagesEmployer and social security
San MarinoYesHigh-Income6 weeks or more6 weeks or more80 - 100%Social security only
TuvaluYesMiddle-IncomeNo Paid Sick Leave6 weeks or more80 - 100%Employer only
United StatesUnpaid Sick LeaveHigh-Income
South KoreaNo Sick LeaveHigh-Income
Sri LankaNo Sick LeaveMiddle-Income
SomaliaNo Sick LeaveLow-Income
MicronesiaNo Sick LeaveMiddle-Income
TongaNo Sick LeaveMiddle-Income
Marshall IslandsNo Sick LeaveMiddle-Income
PalauNo Sick LeaveMiddle-Income
NauruNo Sick LeaveHigh-Income

Which countries have paid sick leave?

More than 180 countries have some form of paid sick leave, including 10 days of paid leave for citizens of the Netherlands, Switzerland, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, and Singapore.

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. Paid Personal Health Leave Data - World Policy Analysis Center
  2. A Comparison of Paid Sick Day Policies in 22 Countries - Center for Economic and Policy Research

Sources