Average Working Hours By Country
Peru, Colombia and Mexico work the most hours a year, and Germany, Denmark and Norway work the fewest. Here is the 2025 OECD data, with the US, UK, Canada and Australia compared.
What The Numbers Measure
The figures come from the OECD and show the average annual hours actually worked per worker. They count hours worked in all jobs, for employees and the self-employed, and the latest year is 2025 for almost every country.
These are hours worked, not contract hours. Paid holidays, sick leave and time off are left out, so the numbers are lower than a full time week times 52.
Part time work pulls an average down. A country with many part time workers can look like it works short hours, even if its full time week is long.
Countries That Work The Longest
Peru tops the table with 2,263 hours a year, which is 43.5 hours a week over 52 weeks. Mexico, the longest among the OECD members shown here, has 2,205.
| Rank | Country | Hours a year | Hours a week |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Peru | 2,263 | 43.5 |
| 2 | Colombia | 2,219 | 42.7 |
| 3 | Mexico | 2,205 | 42.4 |
| 4 | Costa Rica | 2,183 | 42.0 |
| 5 | Croatia | 1,946 | 37.4 |
| 6 | Chile | 1,912 | 36.8 |
| 7 | Greece | 1,874 | 36.0 |
| 8 | Israel | 1,870 | 36.0 |
| 9 | Cyprus | 1,851 | 35.6 |
| 10 | Malta | 1,844 | 35.5 |
The weekly column divides the yearly figure by 52. It is an average that includes weeks off, so a working week is longer.
Countries That Work The Shortest
Northern and Central Europe sit at the other end. Germany averages 1,332 hours a year, which is 25.6 hours a week.
| Rank from the bottom | Country | Hours a year | Hours a week |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Germany | 1,332 | 25.6 |
| 2 | Denmark | 1,369 | 26.3 |
| 3 | Norway | 1,386 | 26.7 |
| 4 | Sweden | 1,421 | 27.3 |
| 5 | Iceland | 1,421 | 27.3 |
| 6 | Netherlands | 1,436 | 27.6 |
| 7 | Austria | 1,442 | 27.7 |
| 8 | Luxembourg | 1,459 | 28.1 |
| 9 | Finland | 1,492 | 28.7 |
| 10 | France | 1,498 | 28.8 |
The US, Canada, Australia And The UK
The United States works 1,800 hours a year, which is 34.6 a week and 14 out of 43. That is above the OECD average of 1,736.
Canada is close to the average at 1,687 hours, and Australia is a little lower at 1,633. The United Kingdom sits near the bottom third at 1,533.
| Country | Hours a year | Hours a week | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 1,800 | 34.6 | 14 of 43 |
| Canada | 1,687 | 32.4 | 19 of 43 |
| Australia | 1,633 | 31.4 | 24 of 43 |
| United Kingdom | 1,533 | 29.5 | 32 of 43 |
| OECD average | 1,736 | 33.4 |
How Big Is The Gap?
The gap between the longest and shortest ends is large. A worker in Germany works 1,332 hours and one in the United States works 1,800, a difference of 468 hours.
That is the same as 11.7 extra weeks of 40 hours a year. Compared with Mexico, the gap grows to 405 hours.
Why The Averages Differ
No single factor explains the table. Treat it as a comparison of averages, not of how hard people work.
- The share of part time work. A high share lowers the average hours per worker.
- Paid leave and public holidays. More days off mean fewer hours worked.
- The length of the full time week set by law and contracts.
- The mix of jobs, such as more farm or self-employed work, which often runs longer.
- How hours are measured. Countries use different surveys, and the OECD adjusts them.
How To Compare Your Own Hours
Add up a few weeks of your own time card and divide by the number of weeks. Then multiply by 52 for a yearly figure, and subtract the weeks you take off.
Your number will usually be higher than the national average for a full time job, because the average includes part time workers.
The weekly maths is in the guide to full time hours.
Questions People Ask
Which country works the most hours?
In the 2025 OECD data table, Peru has the longest average at 2,263 hours a worker a year, followed by Colombia and Mexico.
Which country works the fewest hours?
Germany has the lowest average at 1,332 hours a year, which is 25.6 hours a week.
How many hours does the average American work?
The OECD reports 1,800 hours a year per worker in 2025, or 34.6 hours a week averaged over the full year.
How do the UK and Australia compare?
The UK averages 1,533 hours a year and Australia 1,633. Both are below the US figure of 1,800.
How many hours is the average work week?
Across the OECD, workers average 1,736 hours a year, or 33.4 hours a week over 52 weeks. Full time workers average more.
What are the average working hours in Canada?
Canada averages 1,687 hours a year, or 32.4 hours a week over 52 weeks, in the 2025 OECD data.
Why is the weekly figure lower than a 40 hour week?
The yearly total includes weeks of leave and holidays, and part time workers. Dividing by 52 spreads those weeks across the whole year.
Sources
Written and checked by the countmyworkhours.com team. How we calculate