Average Working Hours by Country
Updated November 2026 · Free · No sign-up
Compare standard and actual working hours across major economies — statutory weeks vs the hours actually worked. Pick any two countries below for a side-by-side.
Quick answer: Statutory full-time weeks: France 35, most of Europe 38-40, US/UK/India/Gulf 40-48. Actual annual hours run from ~1,340 (Germany) to 2,100+ (parts of Asia/Mexico) — the gap is the story.
Average Working Hours by Country by Country
| Country | Statutory week | Actual hours reality |
|---|---|---|
| France | 35 hrs/wk | ~1,500 actual annual; RTT compensates overflow |
| Germany | ~40 statutory | ~1,340 actual annual — world’s lowest; part-time heavy |
| United Kingdom | 48 cap (opt-out) | ~1,530 actual |
| United States | 40 (OT trigger) | ~1,800 actual; no statutory cap |
| Japan | 40 + managed OT | ~1,600 actual, down from karoshi era |
| South Korea | 52 max (40+12) | ~1,870 actual, post-2018 cap |
| India | 48 (9/day norm) | Factories Act; services routinely beyond |
| China | 44 standard | 996 culture persists despite illegality |
| Mexico | 48 | ~2,120 actual — OECD’s longest |
| Australia | 38 | + reasonable additional hours |
| UAE | 48 (8x6) | Ramadan reductions; many sectors 5-day 40 |
| Singapore | 44 | OT capped monthly |
Figures reflect statutory/standard positions at last update — collective agreements and employer policies often exceed them; verify official sources for decisions.
Reading the Table Right
- Statutory ≠ actual: Germany’s 40-hour statute coexists with 1,340 actual annual hours (part-time rates, leave, agreements); Mexico’s 48 statute underestimates its 2,100+ reality.
- Caps vs triggers: the US 40 triggers overtime pay; the EU 48 CAPS the week (averaged) — different philosophies entirely.
- Productivity correlation runs backward: the shortest-hour economies top output-per-hour tables — the stat behind every 4-day-week pitch.
Using the Numbers
Relocating or hiring across borders: model the REAL week (statute + culture + OT practice), not the contract line. A “40-hour” US tech role at 50 actual hours against a German 35-actual role is a 40% life difference at similar pay — the true-hourly math exposes it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which country works the most hours?
Among OECD members Mexico (~2,120 annual actual hours), with Costa Rica and parts of Asia nearby; Germany anchors the other end near 1,340.
What is France’s 35-hour week?
The statutory full-time threshold — hours beyond earn OT or RTT rest days; actual French hours run near EU averages.
What limits exist in the EU?
The Working Time Directive: 48-hour average cap (opt-outs vary), 11 hours daily rest, and 4 weeks paid leave.
What are India’s working hour limits?
48/week and 9/day under the Factories Act with OT at 2x beyond — services sectors sit under state shops acts with similar ceilings, unevenly enforced.
Do longer hours mean more output?
Per-hour productivity DECLINES with national hours — the short-week economies lead output/hour, which is the empirical core of compressed-week experiments.
✓ Formula verified • Last updated: November 3, 2026