The father's quota is the part of parental leave that is earmarked for the father. In 1993, fathers were given the right to paid parental leave that was reserved only for the father. When implemented, the quota was four weeks. Since 2018, the father's quota has been 15 weeks. The father's quota also applies to co-mothers.
Statistics Norway publishes a set of 12 indicators that are relevant for describing gender equality in municipalities. The proportion of fathers who use all or more of the father's quota is one of the 12 indicators for gender equality.
The father's quota indicator shows the proportion of fathers who take the full father's quota or more of the parental benefit period before the child has reached the age of three. The indicator is based on the current regulations at the time of the child's birth, also taking into account the coverage ratio (80 or 100 percent) and grading. Fathers are included regardless of whether they are entitled to leave or not.
Parents can choose between 100 percent compensation of their income or 80 percent. With 100 percent coverage, the parental benefit period when both mother and father are entitled to parental benefit is distributed as follows:
- 15 weeks mother’s quota
- 15 weeks father's quota
- 16 weeks shared period (parents decide the division of weeks between them)
Some parents are not entitled to parental benefits. There are income requirements, as well as requirements for membership of the National Insurance Scheme. You can read more about who is entitled to parental benefit(external link in Norwegian) on NAV's website.
Since 2014, the share of fathers who have taken all or more of the father's quota has been over 60%. This is despite the length of the father's quota changing in the same period. You can find an overview of changes in the father's quota further down in the article.
The fathers' use of parental benefit largely follows the quota reserved for the father. Just over half of fathers take out the father's quota, neither more nor less. For those who became fathers in 2020, 17 percent used more than the father's quota. In other words, they used all or some of the shared period.
Approximately 20 percent of fathers do not use any of the father's quota. It is important to remember that those who are not entitled to parental benefit are also included in this group.
Where in Norway do the most fathers take parental leave?
There has been a slight increase in the share of fathers who take the full father's quota or more in almost all counties between 2022 and 2023. There is a slight decrease in fathers who have used father's quota or more in Møre and Romsdal and Nordland. The share in these counties is still higher than Agder, with the lowest share. Vestland has the highest proportion of fathers who took out the full father's quota or more, 68 percent.
Check out the share of fathers taking the full fathers quota or more in each municipality
How long is the father's quota?
In the period covered by the indicator, there have been several changes in the length of the father's quota. The indicator takes these changes into account. This means that those who are considered to have taken out the entire father's quota between July 2014 and July 2018 took out 10 weeks, while as of July 2018 they took out 15 weeks.
Here's an overview of the changes and their change date:
| Regulation Year | Regulation Change Date | Regulation |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 01.04.1993 | Father's quota introduced |
| 2005 | 01.07.2005 | Father's quota increased from 4 to 5 weeks |
| 2006 | 01.07.2006 | Father's quota increased from 5 to 6 weeks |
| 2009 | 01.07.2009 | Father's quota increased from 6 to 10 weeks |
| 2011 | 01.07.2011 | Father's quota increased from 10 to 12 weeks |
| 2013 | 01.07.2013 | Mother's quota introduced. Mother's and father's quota 14 weeks. Parental leave divided into three parts |
| 2014 | 01.07.2014 | Mother's and father's quota reduced from 14 to 10 weeks |
| 2018 | 01.07.2018 | Mother's and father's quota increased from 10 to 15 weeks |
| 2019 | 01.01.2019 | The quota length depends on 80% or 100% coverage |
How do we calculate the proportion of fathers using the father's quota?
When we calculate the use of the father's quota as an indicator for use at the municipal level, we use two cohorts with child births over a two-year period.
Example (2023): Proportion of all fathers in 2019 and 2020 who take the full father's quota or more of the parental benefit period before the child has reached the age of three. The period 2019-2022 for those who became fathers in 2019, and 2020-2023 for those who became fathers in 2020.
