Average Work Hours Per Week For Every Country

Average Work Week By Country

Measuring working hours is hard to do across a company, let alone all of the countries of the world. But the OECD collects the average annual hours worked for each country by taking the total number of hours actually worked per year divided by the average number of people in employment per year.

That is the best dataset available for working hours. To get to average working hours per week by country, I divided the annual hours by 52 weeks.

Here are a few notes to keep in mind

The average you see for each country includes hours for full-time, part-time, and self-employed people, so it should not be used as the average full-time work week. For example, if half the country worked 40 hours per week as full-time employees and half worked 20 as part-time employees, the weekly average would show 30 (even though the standard full-time work week is 40 for that country). (Go to these articles if you are looking for how many work hours, work days, or work weeks there are in a year or this one for 2023 specifically for a standard work week.)

In addition, this data is “actual hours worked” so it does not account for time off (holidays, vacation days, leaves, etc.). For example, if someone worked 2,000 hours in a year, we would show the average week as 38.5 (2,000 divided by 52 weeks). If that person actually took four weeks of time off, their typical work week would actually be 41.7 (2,000 divided by 48 weeks) with four weeks off.

Therefore, the data should be used as a guide for working hours per week across the whole working population, not just the full-time workers. Use the links below to jump to a section that interests you the most:

Here are the average work hours per week for every country.

Average Hours Worked Per Week By Country

ISO

Country

2021 GDP (In Billions, $USD)

Annual Work Hours

Average Per Week

MHL

Marshall Islands

$0.2

2,124

40.8

KIR

Kiribati

$0.2

1,598

30.7

TUV

Tuvalu

$0.1

1,513

29.1

PLW

Palau

$0.2

1,369

26.3

NRU

Nauru

$0.1

1,399

26.9

FSM

Micronesia

$0.4

1,332

25.6

GRD

Grenada

$1

1,728

33.2

DMA

Dominica

$1

1,705

32.8

COM

Comoros

$1

1,644

31.6

KNA

St. Kitts and Nevis

$1

1,598

30.7

SYC

Seychelles

$1

1,513

29.1

VUT

Vanuatu

$1

1,513

29.1

VCT

St. Vincent and the Grenadines

$1

1,513

29.1

WSM

Samoa

$1

1,513

29.1

STP

São Tomé and Príncipe

$1

1,513

29.1

TON

Tonga

$1

1,513

29.1

ATG

Antigua and Barbuda

$1

-

-

NLD

$1,019

1,399

26.9

IDN

$1,186

1,660

31.9

MEX

$1,295

2,124

40.8

IRN

$1,426

1,746

33.6

ESP

$1,426

1,346

25.9

BRA

$1,608

1,481

28.5

AUS

$1,633

1,683

32.4

RUS

$1,776

1,513

29.1

KOR

Korea

$1,799

1,908

36.7

CAN

$1,991

1,644

31.6

ECU

Ecuador

$106

1,346

25.9

PRI

Puerto Rico

$107

1,783

34.3

MUS

Mauritius

$11

2,124

40.8

RWA

Rwanda

$11

1,513

29.1

BHS

The Bahamas

$11

1,481

28.5

KEN

Kenya

$110

1,598

30.7

SVK

Slovak Republic

$115

1,513

29.1

NAM

Namibia

$12

2,124

40.8

MWI

Malawi

$12

2,124

40.8

TCD

Chad

$12

1,513

29.1

COG

Republic of Congo

$13

1,644

31.6

GNQ

Equatorial Guinea

$13

1,332

25.6

MAR

Morocco

$131

1,427

27.4

KWT

Kuwait

$135

1,908

36.7

NIC

Nicaragua

$14

2,124

40.8

MKD

North Macedonia

$14

2,124

40.8

MDG

Madagascar

$14

1,427

27.4

MDA

Moldova

$14

1,427

27.4

ARM

Armenia

$14

-

-

MNG

Mongolia

$15

2,124

40.8

NER

Niger

$15

2,124

40.8

JAM

Jamaica

$15

1,559

30.0

MOZ

Mozambique

$16

2,124

40.8

DZA

Algeria

$165

1,346

25.9

MLT

Malta

$17

2,124

40.8

BEN

Benin

$17

1,481

28.5

CHN

$17,458

1,644

31.6

WBG

West Bank and Gaza

$18

1,513

29.1

BWA

Botswana

$18

1,481

28.5

GIN

Guinea

$18

1,332

25.6

ALB

Albania

$18

-

-

QAT

$180

1,783

34.3

HUN

Hungary

$185

1,660

31.9

MLI

Mali

$19

2,124

40.8

LAO

Lao P.D.R.

$19

1,908

36.7

BFA

Burkina Faso

$19

1,481

28.5

GAB

Gabon

$19

1,332

25.6

GEO

Georgia

$19

1,332

25.6

KAZ

Kazakhstan

$191

1,598

30.7

UKR

Ukraine

$198

1,513

29.1

LSO

Lesotho

$2

1,908

36.7

LCA

St. Lucia

$2

1,908

36.7

CPV

Cabo Verde

$2

1,644

31.6

TLS

Timor-Leste

$2

1,513

29.1

SMR

San Marino

$2

1,513

29.1

SLB

Solomon Islands

$2

1,513

29.1

BTN

Bhutan

$2

1,481

28.5

BLZ

Belize

$2

1,481

28.5

ERI

Eritrea

$2

1,346

25.9

GMB

The Gambia

$2

1,332

25.6

GNB

Guinea-Bissau

$2

1,332

25.6

ITA

$2,101

1,559

30.0

FRA

$2,935

1,332

25.6

BRN

Brunei Darussalam

$20

1,481

28.5

HTI

Haiti

$21

1,728

33.2

TTO

Trinidad and Tobago

$21

1,513

29.1

ZMB

Zambia

$21

1,513

29.1

IRQ

Iraq

$210

1,746

33.6

GRC

Greece

$216

1,728

33.2

YEM

Yemen

$22

1,513

29.1

BIH

Bosnia and Herzegovina

$22

1,481

28.5

USA

$22,998

1,513

29.1

PER

Peru

$225

1,369

26.3

NZL

New Zealand

$248

1,369

26.3

ISL

Iceland

$25

1,746

33.6

PRT

Portugal

$250

1,783

34.3

KHM

Cambodia

$26

1,598

30.7

PNG

Papua New Guinea

$27

1,369

26.3

HND

Honduras

$28

1,728

33.2

CYP

Cyprus

$28

1,644

31.6

SLV

El Salvador

$28

1,513

29.1

SEN

Senegal

$28

1,513

29.1

ROU

Romania

$283

1,783

34.3

CZE

Czech Republic

$283

1,705

32.8

FIN

$299

1,531

29.4

LBR

Liberia

$3

1,908

36.7

SUR

Suriname

$3

1,513

29.1

CAF

Central African Republic

$3

1,481

28.5

BDI

Burundi

$3

1,400

26.9

AND

Andorra

$3

-

-

ABW

Aruba

$3

-

-

IND

$3,178

1,660

31.9

GBR

United Kingdom

$3,188

1,332

25.6

MAC

Macao SAR

$30

1,427

27.4

COL

Colombia

$314

1,644

31.6

CHL

Chile

$317

1,644

31.6

LBY

Libya

$32

1,908

36.7

ZWE

Zimbabwe

$33

1,513

29.1

PAK

Pakistan

$348

1,369

26.3

SDN

Sudan

$35

1,513

29.1

NPL

Nepal

$35

1,399

26.9

BGD

Bangladesh

$357

1,481

28.5

EST

Estonia

$36

1,346

25.9

VNM

Vietnam

$366

1,513

29.1

HKG

$368

1,728

33.2

MYS

Malaysia

$373

2,124

40.8

PRY

Paraguay

$38

1,783

34.3

BHR

Bahrain

$39

1,481

28.5

LVA

Latvia

$39

1,427

27.4

PHL

Philippines

$394

1,369

26.3

DNK

Denmark

$396

1,346

25.9

SGP

Singapore

$397

1,513

29.1

DJI

Djibouti

$4

1,705

32.8

SLE

Sierra Leone

$4

1,513

29.1

DEU

$4,226

1,705

32.8

JPN

$4,937

1,598

30.7

BOL

Bolivia

$40

1,481

28.5

EGY

Egypt

$403

1,346

25.9

ARE

United Arab Emirates

$410

-

-

ZAF

South Africa

$418

1,513

29.1

UGA

Uganda

$42

1,513

29.1

NGA

Nigeria

$442

2,124

40.8

CMR

Cameroon

$45

1,644

31.6

JOR

Jordan

$45

1,559

30.0

TUN

Tunisia

$46

1,513

29.1

VEN

Venezuela

$47

1,513

29.1

AUT

Austria

$477

1,400

26.9

ISR

$482

1,746

33.6

NOR

$482

1,399

26.9

ARG

Argentina

$489

-

-

IRL

Ireland

$499

1,746

33.6

SSD

South Sudan

$5

1,513

29.1

SWZ

Eswatini

$5

1,513

29.1

FJI

Fiji

$5

1,531

29.4

BRB

Barbados

$5

1,481

28.5

MDV

Maldives

$5

1,427

27.4

THA

Thailand

$513

1,513

29.1

AZE

Azerbaijan

$55

1,400

26.9

COD

Democratic Republic of the Congo

$57

1,644

31.6

URY

Uruguay

$59

1,513

29.1

MNE

Montenegro

$6

2,124

40.8

BEL

$600

1,481

28.5

SVN

Slovenia

$62

1,513

29.1

SWE

$627

1,513

29.1

TKM

Turkmenistan

$63

1,513

29.1

SRB

Serbia

$63

1,513

29.1

CRI

Costa Rica

$64

1,644

31.6

PAN

Panama

$64

1,369

26.3

MMR

Myanmar

$65

2,124

40.8

LTU

Lithuania

$65

1,908

36.7

POL

Poland

$674

1,783

34.3

HRV

Croatia

$68

1,728

33.2

BLR

Belarus

$68

1,481

28.5

UZB

Uzbekistan

$69

1,513

29.1

SOM

Somalia

$7

1,513

29.1

CIV

Côte d'Ivoire

$70

1,644

31.6

TZA

Tanzania

$70

1,513

29.1

AGO

Angola

$74

-

-

GHA

Ghana

$76

1,332

25.6

TWN

Taiwan Province of China

$790

1,513

29.1

GUY

Guyana

$8

1,728

33.2

TJK

Tajikistan

$8

1,513

29.1

TGO

Togo

$8

1,513

29.1

BGR

Bulgaria

$80

1,481

28.5

TUR

Turkey

$807

1,513

29.1

CHE

$813

1,644

31.6

LKA

Sri Lanka

$82

1,908

36.7

SAU

$834

1,513

29.1

OMN

Oman

$84

1,369

26.3

GTM

Guatemala

$86

1,728

33.2

LUX

Luxembourg

$87

1,427

27.4

MRT

Mauritania

$9

2,124

40.8

KGZ

Kyrgyz Republic

$9

1,598

30.7

UVK

Kosovo

$9

1,513

29.1

DOM

Dominican Republic

$95

1,346

25.9

ETH

Ethiopia

$99

1,346

25.9

LBN

Lebanon

-

1,908

36.7

SYR

-

1,513

29.1

AFG

Afghanistan

-

-

-

See Also: How Many Work Days Are In A Year?

 

What Is Considered Full-Time Vs. Part Time In 50 Countries

Below, you’ll find how many hours per week are considered part-time and full-time for the 50 biggest economies in the world. The table is ranked by GDP (biggest economies in the world at the top).

The figures you see are general guidelines about work hours, not labor laws for each country. For example, many countries do not have guidance for the number of hours that determines a part-time employee. Other countries do not provide laws or guidance about part-time work, but it is generally accepted that anything less than full-time could be considered part-time. If you are trying to legally operate within one of these countries, make sure to search the appropriate government websites in each country or talk to a local employment lawyer.

Country 2021 GDP Full-Time Week Part-Time Week Learn More
United States $22,997,500,000,000 > 30 Hours On Average
(130 Hours Per Month)
< 30 Hours
(< 130 Hours Per Month)
irs.gov
China $17,458,040,000,000 40 Hours < 25 Hours hrone.com
Japan $4,937,420,000,000 40 Hours < 40 Hours jetro.go.jp
Germany $4,225,920,000,000 36 – 40 Hours < 30 Hours iamexpat.de
United Kingdom $3,187,630,000,000 > 35 Hours < 35 Hours gov.uk
India $3,177,920,000,000 > 30 Hours < 30 Hours faqs.in.gov
France $2,935,490,000,000 35 Hours < 35 Hours expatica.com
Italy $2,101,280,000,000 40 Hours < 40 Hours accountingbolla.com
Canada $1,990,760,000,000 40 Hours < 40 Hours canada.ca
Korea $1,798,540,000,000 40 Hours < 40 Hours replicon.com
Russia $1,775,550,000,000 40 Hours < 40 Hours replicon.com
Australia $1,633,290,000,000 > 35 Hours < 35 Hours abs.gov.au
Brazil $1,608,080,000,000 40 – 44 Hours < 40 Hours boundlesshq.com
Iran $1,426,300,000,000 44 Hours < 44 Hours faramalaw.com
Spain $1,426,220,000,000 40 Hours < 40 Hours expatica.com
Mexico $1,294,830,000,000 48 Hours < 40 – 48 Hours replicon.com
Indonesia $1,186,070,000,000 40 Hours < 40 Hours replicon.com
Netherlands $1,018,680,000,000 36 – 40 Hours 12 – 36 Hours thelifenet.eu
Saudi Arabia $833,541,000,000 48 Hours < 40 – 48 Hours replicon.com
Switzerland $812,552,000,000 45 Hours 90% Of A Full-Time Employee iamexpat.ch
Turkey $806,804,000,000 45 Hours < 31 Hours turkishlaborlaw.com
Poland $674,127,000,000 40 Hours < 40 Hours boundlesshq.com
Sweden $627,438,000,000 40 Hours < 40 Hours arbetsformedlingen.se
Belgium $599,989,000,000 40 Hours < 40 Hours employment.belgium.be
Thailand $513,165,000,000 48 Hours < 40 – 48 Hours replicon.com
Ireland $498,891,000,000 40 Hours < 35 Hours citizensinformation.ie
Norway $482,437,000,000 40 Hours < 40 Hours nho.no
Israel $481,591,000,000 42 Hours < 42 Hours replicon.com
Austria $477,400,000,000 38.5 Hours < 21 Hours welcomm-europe.eu
South Africa $418,020,000,000 45 Hours < 30 – 35 Hours mywage.co.za
Egypt $402,838,000,000 48 Hours < 40 – 48 Hours hg.org
Singapore $396,992,000,000 44 Hours < 35 Hours mom.gov.sg
Denmark $395,710,000,000 37 Hours < 37 Hours english.ida.dk
Philippines $393,612,000,000 40 Hours < 40 Hours outsourceaccelerator.com
Malaysia $372,754,000,000 45 Hours 30% Of A Full-Time Employee replicon.com
Hong Kong $368,137,000,000 40 Hours < 40 Hours hk.indeed.com
Vietnam $366,201,000,000 48 Hours < 40 Hours mondaq.com
Bangladesh $357,099,000,000 48 Hours < 40 – 48 Hours globalpeoplestrategist.com
Pakistan $347,743,000,000 48 Hours < 40 – 48 Hours paycheck.pk
Chile $316,864,000,000 45 Hours < 31 Hours replicon.com
Colombia $314,268,000,000 48 Hours < 40 – 48 Hours replicon.com
Finland $298,868,000,000 40 Hours < 40 Hours infofinland.fi
Romania $283,476,000,000 40 Hours < 40 Hours replicon.com
Czech Republic $282,641,000,000 40 Hours < 40 Hours replicon.com
Portugal $250,053,000,000 40 Hours < 40 Hours boundlesshq.com
New Zealand $247,685,000,000 35 – 40 Hours < 35 Hours employment.govt.nz
Peru $224,725,000,000 48 Hours < 21 Hours bizlatinhub.com
Greece $216,384,000,000 40 Hours < 40 Hours replicon.com


Please note: Buildremote has provided this information as general guidance for what’s considered the normal full-time and part-time work week in each country. Do not treat these numbers as legal advice. If you are looking to better understand the labor laws in each country, search the appropriate government websites in each country. 

 

 

20 Biggest Economies

Country

2021 GDP (In Billions, $USD)

Annual Work Hours

Average Per Week

$22,998

1,513

29.1

$17,458

1,644

31.6

$4,937

1,598

30.7

$4,226

1,705

32.8

$3,188

1,332

25.6

$3,178

1,660

31.9

$2,935

1,332

25.6

$2,101

1,559

30

$1,991

1,644

31.6

$1,799

1,908

36.7

$1,776

1,513

29.1

$1,633

1,683

32.4

$1,608

1,481

28.5

$1,426

1,746

33.6

$1,426

1,346

25.9

$1,295

2,124

40.8

$1,186

1,660

31.9

$1,019

1,399

26.9

$834

1,513

29.1

$813

1,644

31.6

See Also: California’s 4-Day Work Week Bill: What Happened To It?

 

20 Longest Average Work Weeks

Country

2021 GDP (In Billions, $USD)

Annual Work Hours

Average Per Week

Mexico

$1,295

2,124

40.8

Nigeria

$442

2,124

40.8

Malaysia

$373

2,124

40.8

Myanmar

$65

2,124

40.8

Mali

$19

2,124

40.8

Malta

$17

2,124

40.8

Mozambique

$16

2,124

40.8

Mongolia

$15

2,124

40.8

Niger

$15

2,124

40.8

Nicaragua

$14

2,124

40.8

North Macedonia

$14

2,124

40.8

Namibia

$12

2,124

40.8

Malawi

$12

2,124

40.8

Mauritius

$11

2,124

40.8

Mauritania

$9

2,124

40.8

Montenegro

$6

2,124

40.8

Marshall Islands

$0.20

2,124

40.8

Korea

$1,799

1,908

36.7

Kuwait

$135

1,908

36.7

Sri Lanka

$82

1,908

36.7

 

20 Shortest Average Work Weeks

Country

2021 GDP (In Billions, $USD)

Annual Work Hours

Average Per Week

United Kingdom

$3,188

1,332

25.6

France

$2,935

1,332

25.6

Ghana

$76

1,332

25.6

Gabon

$19

1,332

25.6

Georgia

$19

1,332

25.6

Guinea

$18

1,332

25.6

Equatorial Guinea

$13

1,332

25.6

The Gambia

$2

1,332

25.6

Guinea-Bissau

$2

1,332

25.6

Micronesia

$0

1,332

25.6

Spain

$1,426

1,346

25.9

Egypt

$403

1,346

25.9

Denmark

$396

1,346

25.9

Algeria

$165

1,346

25.9

Ecuador

$106

1,346

25.9

Ethiopia

$99

1,346

25.9

Dominican Republic

$95

1,346

25.9

Estonia

$36

1,346

25.9

Eritrea

$2

1,346

25.9

Philippines

$394

1,369

26.3

 

Data Sources & Description

2021 GDP

Values are based in billions and US Dollars. “Values are based upon GDP in national currency converted to U.S. dollars using market exchange rates (yearly average). Expenditure-based GDP is total final expenditures at purchasers’ prices (including the f.o.b. value of exports of goods and services), less the f.o.b. value of imports of goods and services.” (Source: IMF)

Annual Work Hours

This indicator is measured in terms of hours per worker per year and is from 2020 (or the latest year on record for the country). “Average annual hours worked is defined as the total number of hours actually worked per year divided by the average number of people in employment per year. Actual hours worked include regular work hours of full-time, part-time and part-year workers, paid and unpaid overtime, hours worked in additional jobs, and exclude time not worked because of public holidays, annual paid leave, own illness, injury and temporary disability, maternity leave, parental leave, schooling or training, slack work for technical or economic reasons, strike or labour dispute, bad weather, compensation leave and other reasons.” (Source: OECD (2022), Hours worked (indicator). doi: 10.1787/47be1c78-en (Accessed on 19 May 2022))

Average Per Week

This is the annual work hours (provided by OECD data) divided by 52. Keep in mind: this figure includes all types of workers and work, so it is not the average full-time work week for that country.

 

Unique Work Week Templates

In 1926, Henry Ford popularized the 40-hour work week for Ford assembly plants. Ever since then, the 40-hour, five-day work week has persisted as the standard full-time week for employees.

But the world has changed in the last 100 years. Eight-hour shifts for five days per week may not be the best for your work or your company.

View other unique work week schedules

This is part of our series highlighting unique work schedules. Have a look:

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