The pandemic delivered a surprise to Nordic countries: a baby boom

With a staggering 16.5 percent more births than normal in the second quarter of 2021, Iceland is in the midst of a pandemic baby boom. A leading hypothesis on why this might be is that in times of economic uncertainty, the Nordic countries’ generous family leave pay helps alleviate concerns about increased financial burden. A new baby can act as a financial security net for the household.

All five Nordic countries offer paid parental leave for at least 11 months, based on income from the previous year. In Iceland, new parents receive 12 months of paid leave at 80 percent of their normal income, up to about $4,500 a month.

By summer 2021, there were so many babies being born in Iceland that midwife reinforcements arrived from Poland, Australia, and Germany, and midwives in their 70s were pulled out of retirement to witness the pandemic baby boom. 

Published in National Geographic December 2021