What country has the longest work week?

Asked by: Dr. Vicenta Monahan  |  Last update: May 17, 2026
Score: 4.5/5 (49 votes)

Bhutan consistently ranks as the country with the longest work week, with employees averaging around 54.5 hours weekly, followed by nations in South and Southeast Asia like the UAE, Sudan, and India, often due to labor-intensive economies and fewer worker protections, though some sources point to Mexico or Colombia for specific economic factors.

Which country has the shortest work week?

Vanuatu has the shortest average workweek globally at around 24.7 hours, followed by Kiribati and the Netherlands, which often leads in Europe with about 30-32 hours due to a strong culture of part-time work and flexibility, though actual hours vary by data source and year.
 

Does any country have a 32 hour work week?

In early 2024, Scotland initiated a government trial for civil servants, allowing them to work a 32-hour week without a reduction in pay. Wales is also considering a similar trial following recommendations from its Senedd. Learn more about benefits in the UK.

Which country is most overworked?

Here are the top 10 most overworked countries in 2025:

  • Canada (57.5) ...
  • Malta (54.3) ...
  • United States (52.5) ...
  • Belgium (52.0) ...
  • France (49.7) ...
  • Portugal (46.8) ...
  • Germany (45.2) ...
  • Czechia (45.2) Czech employees average 2,019 working hours per year, placing them at the higher end of Europe's workload spectrum.

Which country only works 4 days a week?

Iceland is one of the countries most in support of the 4 day work week.

Countries with the Longest Work Weeks

38 related questions found

Does Germany work 4 days a week?

Legal working days in Germany are from Monday to Saturday, but for most workers, a standard work week is from 8 or 9 AM to 5 PM, Monday through Friday. Employees are allowed to work up to 10 hours per day, as long as the total weekly work time is not longer than 48 hours.

What is the #1 happiest profession?

There's no single #1 happiest job, as it varies by individual, but top contenders often include Construction Workers, praised for tangible results and camaraderie, and Surgeons, valued for saving lives; other highly-ranked roles with high satisfaction feature Real Estate Agents, Firefighters, Physical Therapists, and Software Developers, generally offering good pay, autonomy, and purpose. 

Which country is no 1 in quality of life?

  • Denmark. #1 in Quality of Life. #10 in Best Countries Overall. ...
  • Sweden. #2 in Quality of Life. #6 in Best Countries Overall. ...
  • Switzerland. #3 in Quality of Life. ...
  • Norway. #4 in Quality of Life. ...
  • Canada. #5 in Quality of Life. ...
  • Finland. #6 in Quality of Life. ...
  • Germany. #7 in Quality of Life. ...
  • Australia. #8 in Quality of Life.

What nationality is the hardest-working?

Bhutan Leads the World in Working Hours

In 2025, Bhutan stands out as the world's hardest-working nation, with employees clocking an average of 54.5 hours per week.

Is America going to a four-day work week?

It's unlikely the U.S. will adopt a universal 4-day workweek soon, but momentum is growing through company pilots and legislative proposals, showing benefits like increased productivity and better work-life balance, though challenges remain for 24/7 industries like healthcare. While some European countries have enacted legislation, the U.S. is still in an experimental phase, with potential shifts depending on tech advancements, evolving work culture, and potential future laws, like Senator Sanders' proposal for a 32-hour week. 

What country gets the most days off work?

Iran, Yemen, Georgia, and Sweden have the most work-free days, with Iran offering the most globally, at 27 paid public holidays each year.

Does Japan work 6 days a week?

Still, most of Japan sticks to the traditional 5-day work week, and change is slow. Critics worry that workers will simply be expected to do the same work in fewer days, adding to levels of overtime and stress.

Which country do people work the least?

As of 2022, Colombia, Mexico, and Costa Rica ranked the highest number of hours worked per year. Greece ranked the highest In EU with 1886 average hours per year, while Germany ranked the lowest with 1340 average hours worked respectively. Japan and Canada ranked lowest amongst non-European countries.

What jobs have the longest hours?

Public safety and health-care jobs demand long work weeks as a 24-hour service. A fire captain averages 58 hours a week ($21.54). A paramedic supervisor averages 50 hours a week ($17.97). An aircrew paramedic works an average of 47 hours a week ($18.97).

Do people in Europe work 9 5?

No, not all Europeans work 9-5; while it's a common benchmark, actual hours vary widely by country, industry, and company, with many EU nations favoring shorter weeks (like 37.5 hours average) and flexible schedules, though some, like Greece, see longer weeks, and traditional 9-5 is less common than earlier starts (8 AM) or flexible core hours, notes the Reddit post and Facebook posts. 

What is the nicest but cheapest country to live in?

The cheapest countries offering a high quality of life often include Vietnam, Malaysia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Portugal (or Eastern European nations like Albania/Romania), balancing very low living costs (housing, food) with good infrastructure, vibrant cultures, and beautiful natural surroundings, attracting expats for affordability and rich experiences.
 

What is the safest country in the world?

Iceland. Ranked number one since 2008, Iceland remains the world's most peaceful nation, leading across all three domains: safety and security, ongoing conflict and militarisation.

Which country has the friendliest people?

South Africa tops our list of the friendliest nations, scoring an impressive 34.63 out of 40 on the 'agreeableness' trait of the Big 5 Personality Test. Greeks were found to be the second-friendliest people in the world, scoring 33.71 on the test.

What job pays $400,000 a year without a degree?

Yes, jobs paying $400,000 without a degree exist, notably Walmart Supercenter Managers, who can earn that much with bonuses and stock, but other paths include high-stakes sales, software development, commercial real estate, skilled trades (like power plant operators), and successful entrepreneurship/influencing, all requiring expertise and performance over formal education. 

What is the #1 dream job?

The number one dream job globally, based on search trends, is overwhelmingly Pilot, appealing for travel and adventure, while in the U.S., Flight Attendant often tops lists, with other popular choices including YouTuber, Doctor, Police Officer, and Pharmacist. Specific roles vary by country and individual interest, but aviation and healthcare consistently feature high. 

What profession makes $300,000 a year?

Jobs paying $300k/year are typically in specialized fields like medicine (surgeons, anesthesiologists), law (big law partners), finance (investment banking, private equity), and high-level tech (principal software architects, senior engineering/product management), requiring significant education, experience, or specialized skills, though some roles in sales, skilled trades, or entrepreneurship can also reach this level. Roles often involve advanced degrees (MD, JD, MBA), high responsibility, or performance-based compensation, with top earners often being specialists or executives. 

What is the 10pm rule in Germany?

Germany's 10 PM rule refers to Ruhezeit (quiet time), a cultural and legal principle enforcing peace and quiet, especially from 10 PM to 6 or 7 AM and all day Sunday, restricting loud activities like vacuuming, mowing, or loud music to respect neighbors and ensure rest, with potential fines for violations. 

Which country is moving to a four-day work week?

Belgium. Belgium took a step as the first European nation to legislate a 4-day work week in 2022 under its Labor Deal, dubbed the "crown jewel" of post-pandemic recovery efforts. While employees must still clock 40 hours weekly, the policy allows them to compress their schedule into four days.

Is it illegal to work on Sunday in Germany?

There is also a ban on working on Sundays and public holidays. For certain sectors and activities, however, there are legal or collective agreement exceptions to this working time regulation. The Working Time Act regulates the statutory exceptions.