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What country works the most hours in a week?

Author

Charlotte Adams

Published Mar 05, 2026

What country works the most hours in a week?

The longest workweek in the world is in Colombia, where workers are expected to clock in 47.7 hours.

Here are the countries with the world's longest workweeks.

  1. Colombia has a 47.7-hour workweek.
  2. Turkey has a 47-hour workweek.
  3. Mexico has a 45.1-hour workweek.

Accordingly, what country works the most hours?

15 Countries Working The Most Hours

RankCountryAverage Annual Hours
1Mexico2246
2South Korea2113
3Greece2042
4Chile1988

Also Know, how many hours a week do other countries work? Generally speaking, standard working hours of countries worldwide are around 40 to 44 hours per week (but not everywhere: from 35 hours per week in France to up to 112 hours per week in North Korean labor camps) and the additional overtime payments are around 25% to 50% above the normal hourly payments.

One may also ask, what country has the shortest working week?

the Netherlands

What country has a 30 hour work week?

What do Denmark, Norway, and Sweden all have in common—besides being the happiest countries in the world? They all have standard 30-hour work weeks, which explains why they're so happy all the time.

What is the laziest country in the world?

The Laziest Countries. Overall, there were only four counties in the world where more than 50 percent of the population did not get enough exercise: Kuwait, Iraq, American Samoa, and Saudi Arabia. So these four countries are effectively the “laziest” in the world.

Which country works hardest?

The hardest working country of all? Contrary to what Jeremy Clarkson would have you believe, it's Mexico. The average citizen of the Central American country works 2,255 hours a year, or a little over 43 hours a week.

Which country has only 4 working days?

Microsoft Japan tested a four-day work week and productivity jumped by 40% Microsoft tested out a four-day work week in its Japan offices and found as a result employees were not only happier – but significantly more productive.

What is the hardest working country in the world?

These are the hardest working countries
  • 8- Israel.
  • 7- Poland.
  • 6- Chile.
  • 5- Russia.
  • 4- Greece.
  • 3- South Korea.
  • 2- Costa Rica. Don't be surprised to see Costa Rica near the top of this list.
  • 1- Mexico. Mexicans work much harder than their American counterparts.

Does 9 to 5 include lunch?

Colloquially, “the 9 to 5” has been a phrase to discribe full-time jobs conducted during normal business hours. Some people do indeed still work jobs that are truly 9-5. That's still very common. The assumption is usually that they'll have a half hours for lunch, so they're really working 37.5 hours a week.

What country has least hours?

10 countries where per week working hours are least
  • Netherlands. Netherlands is at the first place in the list of countries where per week working hours are least.
  • Germany. In the list of countries where per week working hours are least, Germany is at the second place.
  • Norway.
  • Denmark.
  • France.
  • Slovenia.
  • Belgium.
  • Switzerland.

Where did the 9 to 5 work day come from?

And it probably should be. The modern 9-to-5, eight-hour workday was invented by American labor unions in the 1800s and went mainstream by Henry Ford in the 1920s. Workers today are still prepared to accept the same shifts because we have become so accustomed to it.

Which country works 6 hours a day?

Sweden made headlines towards the end of last year for its introduction of a six-hour workday. A number of businesses across the country instituted the change, with the idea that because the working day has been condensed, people will be more motivated and have more energy to get more done in a shorter period of time.

What country only works 3 days a week?

Norway is third on the list, according to CNN Money. Like Denmark, they average 33 hours a week and have an average salary of $44,000. They get a minimum of 21 paid vacation days each year and lots of time for a new baby.

Which country works least?

10 countries where per week working hours are least
  • Netherlands. Netherlands is at the first place in the list of countries where per week working hours are least.
  • Germany. In the list of countries where per week working hours are least, Germany is at the second place.
  • Norway.
  • Denmark.
  • France.
  • Slovenia.
  • Belgium.
  • Switzerland.

Does Sweden have a 6 hour work day?

Sweden made headlines towards the end of last year for its introduction of a six-hour workday. A number of businesses across the country instituted the change, with the idea that because the working day has been condensed, people will be more motivated and have more energy to get more done in a shorter period of time.

Which countries have 4 day weeks?

Finland's new prime minister wants her country on a four-day workweek. Finland has been at the forefront of flexible work schedules for years, starting with a 1996 law that gives most employees the right to adjust their hours up to three hours earlier or later than what their employer typically requires.

Should the work week be 4 days?

Longer hours and work-related stress
In reality, most employees on a four day week will most likely be expected to work the same 40-hour weeks, but in four days instead of five. Longer days could have a significant effect on your employees' stress levels and therefore their overall wellbeing and productivity.

What is the average work week in Germany?

The average working week in Germany is between 36 and 40 hours. The majority of full-time jobs in Germany are seven or eight hours a day, five days a week, with an hour or 30 minutes' break at lunchtime.

Which job has the longest working hours?

Main navigation
#OccupationAverage Weekly Hours 2015
1Agricultural machinery drivers61 hours
2Pipe fitters55 hours
3Quarry workers and related operatives54 hours
4Coal mine operatives54 hours

Who works the longest hours in Europe?

According to this EU data, which combines full and part-time employment hours, the Greek working week is easily the longest in the EU, with second-placed Bulgaria racking up 40.8 hours per week. Poland is just behind, with people working 40.7 hours per week on average.

What is the average work week in Norway?

Data from the EU LFS show that the average employee in Norway works 33.4 hour per week and 5 days weeks, yielding an average working day of 6.68 hours. An average commuting time of 32 minutes per day increases the daily average working hours by 4.8 % for the average workers.

Can an employer work 16 hours straight?

At the time of publication, no comprehensive federal law prevents employers from requiring workers over age 16 to complete shifts of 24 hours or even more. Other laws limit working hours when safety is a primary concern, such as limits on the number of hours a truck driver may operate a vehicle.