Average working hours by country

In the OECD countries, the longest working hours are 2257 hours worked per year in Mexico, and the lower is observed in Germany, with 1356 hours worked per year, while having one of the highest productivity in the world, thus showing that their is no correlation between long working hours and productivity.


Average working hours per country

In the OECD countries, the longest working hours are 2257 hours worked per year in Mexico, and the lower is observed in Germany, with 1356 hours worked per year, while having one of the highest productivity in the world, thus showing that their is no correlation between long working hours and productivity.

Employment - hours worked - OECD data

Weekly working hours by country

The average hours worked per week full time is based on the OECD hours worked per worker per year, and takes into account the local public holidays and annual vacation.

Average working hours per week by country:

  • in Germany the effective average working hours per week is 26.01 hours worked per week,
  • in Denmark the effective average working hours per week is 27 hours worked per week,
  • in Norway the effective average working hours per week is 27.22 hours worked per week,
  • in Netherlands the effective average working hours per week is 27.48 hours worked per week,
  • in France the effective average working hours per week is 29.04 hours worked per week,
  • in Luxembourg the effective average working hours per week is 29.11 hours worked per week,
  • in Belgium the effective average working hours per week is 29.65 hours worked per week,
  • in Switzerland the effective average working hours per week is 30.11 hours worked per week,
  • in Sweden the effective average working hours per week is 30.86 hours worked per week,
  • in Austria the effective average working hours per week is 30.94 hours worked per week,
  • in Finland the effective average working hours per week is 31.22 hours worked per week,
  • in Slovenia the effective average working hours per week is 31.74 hours worked per week,
  • in Australia the effective average working hours per week is 32.14 hours worked per week,
  • in United Kingdom the effective average working hours per week is 32.24 hours worked per week,
  • in Spain the effective average working hours per week is 32.36 hours worked per week,
  • in Canada the effective average working hours per week is 32.51 hours worked per week,
  • in Japan the effective average working hours per week is 32.8 hours worked per week,
  • in Slovak Republic the effective average working hours per week is 32.87 hours worked per week,
  • in Italy the effective average working hours per week is 33.05 hours worked per week,
  • in Ireland the effective average working hours per week is 33.33 hours worked per week,
  • in Hungary the effective average working hours per week is 33.37 hours worked per week,
  • in New Zealand the effective average working hours per week is 33.62 hours worked per week,
  • in Czech Republic the effective average working hours per week is 34.06 hours worked per week,
  • in United States the effective average working hours per week is 34.14 hours worked per week,
  • in Lithuania the effective average working hours per week is 35.37 hours worked per week,
  • in Estonia the effective average working hours per week is 35.62 hours worked per week,
  • in Portugal the effective average working hours per week is 35.73 hours worked per week,
  • in Latvia the effective average working hours per week is 35.96 hours worked per week,
  • in Israel the effective average working hours per week is 36.15 hours worked per week,
  • in Poland the effective average working hours per week is 36.34 hours worked per week,
  • in Chile the effective average working hours per week is 37.48 hours worked per week,
  • in Russia the effective average working hours per week is 37.97 hours worked per week,
  • in Greece the effective average working hours per week is 38.7 hours worked per week,
  • in Korea the effective average working hours per week is 38.82 hours worked per week,
  • in Costa Rica the effective average working hours per week is 41.79 hours worked per week,
  • in Mexico the effective average working hours per week is 43.29 hours worked per week,

The OECD average weekly working hours is 33.74 hours worked per week.

Working days in a year

The number of business days in a year is 250, taking into account a few bank holidays that do not fall on non working days.

If we take into account the annual holidays, with a 2 weeks holiday per year, the number of average working days in a year is 240.

With a 4 weeks holidays per year, the number of working days in a year is 230.

Working days in a month

The average number of business days in a month is 21, taking into account the bank holidays, which is usually a little lower than one per month.

The average working days per month is at 20, counting in the average annual holidays.

Average working hours per year by country

  • in Germany the effective average working hours per year is 1356 hours worked per year,
  • in Denmark the effective average working hours per year is 1408 hours worked per year,
  • in Norway the effective average working hours per year is 1419 hours worked per year,
  • in Netherlands the effective average working hours per year is 1433 hours worked per year,
  • in France the effective average working hours per year is 1514 hours worked per year,
  • in Luxembourg the effective average working hours per year is 1518 hours worked per year,
  • in Belgium the effective average working hours per year is 1546 hours worked per year,
  • in Switzerland the effective average working hours per year is 1570 hours worked per year,
  • in Sweden the effective average working hours per year is 1609 hours worked per year,
  • in Austria the effective average working hours per year is 1613 hours worked per year,
  • in Finland the effective average working hours per year is 1628 hours worked per year,
  • in Slovenia the effective average working hours per year is 1655 hours worked per year,
  • in Australia the effective average working hours per year is 1676 hours worked per year,
  • in United Kingdom the effective average working hours per year is 1681 hours worked per year,
  • in Spain the effective average working hours per year is 1687 hours worked per year,
  • in Canada the effective average working hours per year is 1695 hours worked per year,
  • in Japan the effective average working hours per year is 1710 hours worked per year,
  • in Slovak Republic the effective average working hours per year is 1714 hours worked per year,
  • in Italy the effective average working hours per year is 1723 hours worked per year,
  • in Ireland the effective average working hours per year is 1738 hours worked per year,
  • in Hungary the effective average working hours per year is 1740 hours worked per year,
  • in New Zealand the effective average working hours per year is 1753 hours worked per year,
  • in Czech Republic the effective average working hours per year is 1776 hours worked per year,
  • in United States the effective average working hours per year is 1780 hours worked per year,
  • in Lithuania the effective average working hours per year is 1844 hours worked per year,
  • in Estonia the effective average working hours per year is 1857 hours worked per year,
  • in Portugal the effective average working hours per year is 1863 hours worked per year,
  • in Latvia the effective average working hours per year is 1875 hours worked per year,
  • in Israel the effective average working hours per year is 1885 hours worked per year,
  • in Poland the effective average working hours per year is 1895 hours worked per year,
  • in Chile the effective average working hours per year is 1954 hours worked per year,
  • in Russia the effective average working hours per year is 1980 hours worked per year,
  • in Greece the effective average working hours per year is 2018 hours worked per year,
  • in Korea the effective average working hours per year is 2024 hours worked per year,
  • in Costa Rica the effective average working hours per year is 2179 hours worked per year,
  • in Mexico the effective average working hours per year is 2257 hours worked per year,

The OECD average working hours per year is 1759 hours worked per year.

Employment - hours worked - OECD data

Frequently Asked Questions

How do average working hours vary by country, and what cultural or economic factors contribute to these differences?
Average working hours differ based on cultural norms, labor laws, and economic conditions. Countries with strong labor protections tend to have shorter working hours, while those with emerging economies may have longer hours.

Michel Pinson
About the author - Michel Pinson
Michel Pinson is a Travel enthusiast and Content Creator. Merging passion for education and exploration, he iscommitted to sharing knowledge and inspiring others through captivating educational content. Bringing the world closer together by empowering individuals with global expertise and a sense of wanderlust.



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