Sweden is the first country in the world to implement paid leave specifically for grandparents who care for their grandchildren. The country has enacted a law that allows grandparents to receive paid leave to look after their grandchildren during the child’s first year of life. Funded by the state, the measure is part of Sweden’s well-known welfare system and aims to expand the network of caregivers, improve work–life balance, and recognize the key role grandparents play in child-rearing.
According to official data, 77% of grandparents already receive payment for caring for their grandchildren, a figure that reflects the rapid adoption of the policy and its real impact on the daily lives of Swedish families.
How does paid leave for grandparents work in Sweden?
The mechanism is simple yet innovative. Sweden has one of the most generous parental leave systems in the world, granting 480 days of paid leave per child. Under the new regulation, parents can transfer part of those days to grandparents, who then take on the care of the baby in a legal and paid manner.
In two-parent households, each parent can transfer up to 45 days, for a total of 90 transferable days. In single-parent families, either parent may transfer the full 90 days. This leave is mainly intended to be used during the child’s first year of life, a period considered critical both for child development and family organization.
The payment is covered by the state through Sweden’s social security system. The amount of the benefit is generally calculated based on the grandparent’s income or, if the grandparent is retired, on their pension. To qualify, grandparents must be insured under the parental benefit system and must be officially on leave from work or retired during the days they are caring for the grandchild.
Another step in a long tradition of social welfare
The initiative did not emerge in isolation. Sweden was a pioneer in 1974, when it became one of the first countries in the world to introduce paid parental leave applicable to both parents, breaking with the traditional model that assigned caregiving exclusively to women. Half a century later, the country has expanded that approach by formally integrating grandparents into its care policies.
The main goal is to ease the burden on parents, especially during the baby’s first months, when care demands are highest. At the same time, the measure acknowledges a long-standing social reality: In Sweden, as in many countries, grandparents play a fundamental role in family support, even before any financial compensation existed.
A model that sparks interest and debate
In the European context, Sweden is currently the only country offering a specific paid leave for grandparents. In countries such as Spain, Germany, France, or Finland, parental leave remains limited to parents, with options such as unpaid leave or indirect support, but without a formal transfer of days to other family members.
The Swedish policy has attracted international attention, as well as debate. Some critics warn that it may benefit families who have grandparents nearby and available, raising questions about social equity. Others point to the fiscal cost of expanding benefits, although the Swedish government defends the measure as an investment in child well-being, mental health, and work–life balance.