The number of men taking parental leave has jumped nearly eightfold, from roughly 30,000 in 2023 to 226,100 in 2025, according to data from the Russian Social Fund obtained by Kommersant. Men now account for about 14% of all such leave, up from just 2–3% in 2021–2023.
But the surge reflects more than shifting family dynamics. A rule change introduced in 2024 allows parents to return to work early, including full-time, while continuing to receive childcare benefits equal to 40% of average earnings. That calculation often makes paternity leave the more financially advantageous choice for families, since men’s salaries in Russia are typically 25–30% higher than women’s, translating into larger benefit payments.
As a result, a father formally on parental leave may not have stopped working or be providing full-time childcare. Still, psychologists point to genuine cultural shifts as well: more than 70% of young fathers now participate in childcare and household duties, while women are increasingly returning to work within one to two months of giving birth.