The 10 Countries Where People Work the Longest Hours

Bhutan - The World's Hardest Working Nation

According to the latest data from the International Labour Organization (ILO), workers in Bhutan spend the most time working in the world at circa 2,829 hours a year. This translates to about 54 hours per week, making Bhutan the country with the longest working hours globally.

Four of the five countries with the longest work weeks are in the Asia–Pacific region: India, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Cambodia. The nation's challenging mountainous terrain and developing economy contribute to these extended work schedules.

India - 56 Hours Weekly Grind

The top 10 countries all recorded average work weeks over 48 hours, with India at the highest at 56 hours a week. This means when it comes to India, a full-time employee has an average work week of 46.7 hours, which translates to circa 2,428 annual work hours.

The country's rapid economic growth has created a culture where long working hours are often seen as necessary for career advancement. In September 2024, a 26-year-old accountant at Ernst & Young in India reportedly died due to the strain of a "backbreaking" workload as a new employee, which sparked a national investigation into workplace conditions and renewed debate about toxic work culture in India's corporate sector.

Myanmar - Economic Transition Demands Long Hours

In 2023, Myanmar has the highest at 2,437 hours per year, making it one of the countries with the longest working hours. Myanmar is in the process of evolving from an agricultural economy to one centered around industry and service.

World Bank has determined that one major hurdle in this process is that the quality of jobs available has not yet fully caught up with this transformation. Workers often face extended hours as the nation navigates its economic development challenges.

Bangladesh - Rapid Growth Comes at a Cost

Bangladesh represents another Asian nation where workers put in exceptionally long hours. Bangladesh has one of the fastest-growing economies in the world and is quickly approaching middle-income country status.

The country's focus on manufacturing, particularly in the textile industry, has created a work environment where extended hours are common. In comparison to Southeast Asian countries, Bangladesh's average salary is lower than that of nations like Malaysia or Thailand but may be comparable to countries such as Cambodia or Myanmar, especially within specific sectors like the garment industry.

Cambodia - Development Drives Long Work Days

In 2017, the Southeast Asian state of Cambodia had the longest average working hours worldwide among 66 countries studied. Here, the working time per worker was around 2,456 hours per year, which is just under 47 hours per week.

While the data is from 2017, Cambodia continues to rank among the top countries for working hours. World Bank points out that Cambodia's 80% rate of employment is higher than the average for East Asian countries (63%), indicating a highly engaged workforce that works long hours.

Mexico - Leading the Americas in Working Hours

The average annual hours worked in Mexico is 2,207 hours, making it the most overworked country. The average workweek for full-time employees in Mexico is about 42.7 hours.

What makes Mexico's situation particularly concerning is that about 28.7% of Mexican employees work over 50 hours per week. At the top of this ranking are three countries from the Americas: Mexico, Costa Rica, and Chile.

Turkey - High Hours Despite European Proximity

So, for example, while employees in Turkey spend circa 2,283 hours a year at work, workers from the Netherlands work about 1,643 hours per year. This stark difference highlights how Turkey's working culture differs significantly from its European neighbors.

The country's position as a bridge between Europe and Asia is reflected in its working patterns, which align more closely with Asian standards than European ones.

Costa Rica - Central American Work Champion

Costa Rica's average annual hours worked is 2,171 hours per year. Costa Rica's average full-time workweek is slightly shorter than Mexico's at 41.3 hours.

The country's growing technology sector and banking industry have contributed to extended working hours. Costa Rica has an average of about 1,938 working hours annually.

This country has a strong banking sector and a growing technology market that's pushing workers to extend their hours.

Chile - South America's Hardest Workers

Chile ranks third among the most overworked countries. In a year, Chilean workers put in an average of 1,953 hours.

The average full-time workweek is 37.5 hours with 9.7% of employees working over 50 hours per week. Despite having a relatively moderate average weekly schedule, Chile's annual hours place it among the countries with the longest working hours globally.

Colombia - Breaking the 2,000-Hour Mark

On the other hand, an average employee in Colombia had 2,298 hours worked in 2024 (ILO). This places Colombia firmly among the countries with the longest working hours.

The nation's developing economy and focus on agricultural and manufacturing sectors contribute to these extended work schedules. As of 2022, Colombia, Mexico, and Costa Rica ranked the highest number of hours worked per year.

The Global Context and Health Implications

Working more than 48 hours per week is considered excessive by ILO standards due to its negative impacts on health, safety, productivity, and work-life balance. The stark contrast between these hardest-working countries and nations like the Netherlands, where employees spent the least time working in the Netherlands — 31.6 hours on average weekly, highlights the global inequality in work-life balance.

Some countries have much longer workweeks, resulting in lower life satisfaction and a workforce that can feel burned out. Overworked employees are more likely to make mistakes on the job, have a lower quality of work, or be less productive due to exhaustion.

What Drives These Long Working Hours?

Among the countries with the longest workweeks, the prevailing trend is that most, if not all, are economies that have yet to fully mature. Economic development stage plays a crucial role, as in developed countries, the average working time is therefore usually significantly shorter than in developing countries.

However, there are exceptions. These include countries such as South Korea, Singapore and Taiwan which still have comparable long working hours despite high incomes.

Cultural factors also contribute significantly, with some societies viewing long hours as a demonstration of dedication and work ethic. Did you expect that tiny Bhutan would top the global charts for working hours, or that workers in some countries spend nearly 55 hours per week on the job?

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