U.S. Dead Last In Paid Time Off While Europeans Bask In Weeks Of Vacation

A recent report from Moorepay shows the stark differences in paid time off (PTO) around the world, revealing that the United States ranks last globally with no guaranteed paid annual leave or paid public holidays. 

While some U.S. companies may offer more generous benefits, the country significantly lags behind European nations such as Italy, Spain, France, Greece, and Cyprus, which provide substantially more paid leave.

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The report notes that in the U.K., statutory paid leave includes 28 days of annual leave combined with bank holidays, placing the country 10th globally — behind nations including Togo, France, and Bahrain. 

Yemen tops the list with a total of 46 paid leave days per year, including 30 annual leave days and 16 public holidays, although the financial benefit to workers there is limited.

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Focusing on Europe, the top countries for paid time off include Austria, Monaco, and Georgia, with Austria offering the most generous benefits: 30 paid annual leave days plus 13 public holidays, totaling 43 days off and average earnings of $7,317 during leave. Monaco follows closely with 42 total days, while Georgia provides a similar total but with lower average earnings.

Other European leaders include France and Sweden, each providing over 40 days of paid time off annually. Iceland, Finland, and Italy also rank highly, offering 38 paid leave days or more, with workers in Iceland enjoying particularly well-paid time off.

It’s clear that U.S. employees face some unique challenges when it comes to guaranteed paid leave compared to their international counterparts.

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