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Countries where people work the longest hours

Who's really working 9-5?
31st: Germany, 34.5 hours per week
30th: Finland, 35 hours per week
29th: Austria, 35.1 hours per week
28th: Belgium, 35.2 hours per week
27th: Iceland, 35.5 hours per week
26th: Ireland, 35.6 hours per week
Joint 24th: Canada, 35.7 hours per week
Joint 24th: Switzerland, 35.7 hours per week
23rd: Australia, 35.8 hours per week
22nd: Italy, 36 hours per week
21st: France, 36.3 hours per week
Joint 19th: Spain, 36.6 hours per week
Joint 19th: United Kingdom, 36.6 hours per week
18th: Estonia, 37.5 hours per week
17th: Sweden, 37.9 hours per week
Joint 15th: New Zealand, 38.1 hours per week
Joint 15th: Luxembourg, 38.1 hours per week
14th: Greece, 38.7 hours per week
13th: United States, 38.8 hours per week
12th: Slovak Republic, 39 hours per week
Joint 10th: Latvia, 39.1 hours per week
Joint 10th: Lithuania, 39.1 hours per week
9th: Slovenia, 39.2 hours per week
8th: Hungary, 39.4 hours per week
7th: Poland, 39.5 hours per week
6th: Portugal, 39.6 hours per week
5th: Israel, 40.6 hours per week
4th: Chile, 42.6 hours per week
3rd: Costa Rica, 44.5 hours per week
2nd: Mexico, 45 hours per week
1st: Colombia, 47.5 hours per week
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Who's really working 9-5?

Think your working week is too long? It might actually be pretty short compared to the hours that people work in other countries around the world.

In fact, the idea of working 9-5 is a dream for many employees, with some regularly toiling away for more than 45 hours a week. 

Read on for our countdown of the nations where people work the longest hours, based on the most recent data from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

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Alice Cattley

02 January 2024

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