Global Work Hours 2025: Who Works the Most and Least

A new global ranking of average weekly work hours in 2025 reveals striking contrasts between nations.

Bhutan leads the world as the hardest-working country, with employees averaging 54.5 hours per week, followed by other South and Southeast Asian nations like the UAE, Pakistan, and India, where labor-intensive industries and smaller social safety nets drive longer workweeks.

In contrast, Western and Northern Europe boast the shortest hours, with the Netherlands, Norway, and Denmark averaging under 30 hours weekly, reflecting strong labor protections, high productivity, and advanced automation.

The United States sits in the middle of the global spectrum, averaging 36.1 hours per week, slightly below the global mean but above other major developed nations like Canada, the UK, and France.

Meanwhile, emerging markets in Africa, including Sudan and Lesotho, report some of the longest workweeks, exceeding 50 hours, highlighting economic necessity as a key driver of extended labor.

This ranking underscores the wide disparities in work culture, economic development, and quality of life around the world.