France launched new paid parental leave measures on January 1, 2026, allowing mothers and fathers to share an additional one or two months beyond existing leave entitlements for children born on or after that date, including adoptive parents [1, 2, 3, 4]. During the first month of this extra leave, parents will receive 70% of their net salary, which drops to 60% for the second month [1, 2, 3, 4].
Before this reform, paid maternity leave for a first child lasted just under four months, while paternity leave entailed 28 days after birth [1, 3, 4]. The new policy seeks to boost France's birthrate, which fell below the death rate in 2025 for the first time since World War II [1, 2, 3, 4]. President Emmanuel Macron described the plan unveiled in 2024 as part of a "demographic re-armament" effort to counteract infertility and declining births [1, 3, 4]. Macron said, "This will help pave the way towards France's demographic re-armament" [1].
Feminist groups criticized the reform as inadequate and unlikely to foster gender equality, arguing that the lower-earning partner—typically the woman—is more likely to take the additional leave rather than equal sharing [1, 3, 4]. They said, "The reform falls short and is unlikely to improve gender equality. The lower-earning partner, typically the woman, is more likely to take the additional leave" [1].
France officially launched this parental leave extension on July 1, 2026, following parliamentary approval [1, 3, 4]. The measures apply from January 1 onward for all eligible births. The government will monitor uptake rates and demographic trends to assess impact in the months and years ahead.
