Average Working Hours by Country: International Data

Working hours vary significantly worldwide, raising many questions.

We have analyzed data from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) that show the average weekly working hours of employees in 35 countries worldwide. While the results provide insight into the different working hours in various countries, the conclusions are not yet fully clear.

For example, we know which countries have the longest and shortest workweeks – but why these drastic differences? What cultural and/or economic impacts do they have? And most importantly: what can we do with this information?

To make the data easier to understand, we have summarized it in an infographic. Let’s take a look at the numbers and discuss them.

Countries with the longest working hours

Of the countries included in the study, Colombia and Turkey have the longest workweeks at 47.7 hours per week. Close behind are the two Central American countries, Mexico (45.2) and Costa Rica (45.0).

The average working hours across all 35 countries in the dataset were 36.6 hours. Of the 19 countries with above-average working hours, 13 are European and five are American. The latter is noteworthy since only five American countries were included in the study. South Africa, the only African country in the dataset, was significantly above the average at 43.0 hours.

The data itself does not provide information on the reasons for the longer working hours in these countries, but we have some hypotheses.

The labor laws could be related to this. Consider that the official maximum working hours in Colombia, according to labor laws, is 48 hours, and in Turkey it is 45 hours. These laws—and their enforcement—likely explain the extreme differences in workweeks between these countries and those with stricter labor laws.

Another possible connection lies in cultural gender roles. According to another OECD dataset, the two countries with the longest workweeks, Turkey and Mexico, also show the largest difference in the employment rates of men and women. On average, 75.5% of men and 60.1% of women are employed, whereas in Turkey these figures are 70.7% and 32.2%, and in Mexico 79% and 44.9%, respectively. It is plausible that in single-income households, the sole earner may have to work longer to secure a living.

Countries with the shortest working hours

There is a clear correlation among the countries with the shortest workweeks: they are all European. Of the 16 countries in the dataset where employees work below the average, 15 are European countries. Australia, the only outlier, is heavily influenced by British labor laws.

At the end of the list are the Netherlands with an average of only 29.2 working hours per week – 31 percent less than in Turkey and Colombia. Following the Netherlands are Denmark (32.4), Germany (34.4), and Switzerland (34.4). Given the thriving economies of these countries, one can't help but wonder whether proponents of shorter workweeks might actually be right.  

Or can they perhaps afford the few working hours only because they are so wealthy? That could be a chicken-and-egg problem.  

Another aspect we should consider – as we already did with Turkey and Mexico – is the differences in employment rates between genders. In the Netherlands, 80.4% of men are employed, compared to 71.3% of women. If more households have multiple sources of income, it might seem logical that everyone could benefit from more flexibility in working hours.

On the other hand, Iceland – where the working hours at 38.7 hours are above average – has the highest national employment rate (85.8 %), and the difference in working hours between men and women is small. So, although there seems to be a connection between the employment rate and working hours, other factors obviously also play a role.

The significant global variation in working hours underscores the complex interplay between labor laws, cultural norms (especially gender roles), and economic productivity. While the data presents a compelling case for the efficiency and well-being supported by shorter European workweeks, it also highlights the economic necessities that drive longer hours elsewhere. For multinational companies or those adopting flexible work models, managing these differences is critical for compliance and fairness. IceHrm provides the necessary global flexibility to address this complexity, allowing HR to define and manage distinct Time Tracking and Leave Management policies tailored to the specific legal and cultural requirements of each country, ensuring accurate compensation and compliance whether an employee works 29.2 hours in the Netherlands or 47.7 hours in Colombia.