Bhutan Is The Hardest-Working Nation On Earth
This visualization, via Visual Capitalist’s Bruno Venditti, ranks over 150 countries by the typical number of hours worked per week in 2025.
While global labor averages hover around 38.7 hours per week, the gap between the hardest- and lightest-working nations stretches nearly 30 hours.
The data for this visualization comes from the World Population Review. It compiles national estimates of average weekly working hours across formal and informal labor sectors.
Bhutan Leads the World in Working Hours
In 2025, Bhutan stands out as the world’s hardest-working nation, with employees clocking an average of 54.5 hours per week. Many South and Southeast Asian economies also appear near the top, including the UAE (48.4 hours), Pakistan (47.5 hours), and India (45.8 hours).
Extended workweeks in these regions often reflect labor-intensive industries, fewer part-time roles, and smaller social safety nets—factors that drive longer hours for both employees and self-employed workers.
| Country | Region | Weekly Hours Worked |
|---|---|---|
Bhutan |
Asia | 54.5 |
Sudan |
Africa | 50.8 |
Lesotho |
Africa | 50.2 |
Republic of the Congo |
Africa | 48.7 |
UAE |
Asia | 48.4 |
Sao Tome & Principe |
Africa | 48.2 |
Jordan |
Asia | 47.8 |
Liberia |
Africa | 47.5 |
Pakistan |
Asia | 47.5 |
Qatar |
Asia | 46.8 |
Lebanon |
Asia | 46.4 |
Cambodia |
Asia | 45.9 |
Maldives |
Asia | 45.9 |
Bangladesh |
Asia | 45.8 |
India |
Asia | 45.8 |
Mongolia |
Asia | 45.7 |
Macau |
Asia | 45.7 |
Egypt |
Africa | 45.6 |
Burkina Faso |
Africa | 45.3 |
Cape Verde |
Africa | 45.3 |
Zimbabwe |
Africa | 45.0 |
Senegal |
Africa | 44.9 |
Brunei |
Asia | 44.8 |
China |
Asia | 44.8 |
Singapore |
Asia | 44.6 |
Kuwait |
Asia | 44.6 |
Malaysia |
Asia | 44.6 |
Samoa |
Oceania | 44.5 |
Montenegro |
Europe | 44.2 |
Morocco |
Africa | 44.1 |
Tunisia |
Africa | 44.0 |
Equatorial Guinea |
Africa | 43.9 |
Turkey |
Asia | 43.8 |
Oman |
Asia | 43.6 |
Jamaica |
North America | 43.5 |
Botswana |
Africa | 43.4 |
Peru |
South America | 43.2 |
Iran |
Asia | 43.2 |
Mali |
Africa | 43.1 |
Libya |
Africa | 43.1 |
Hong Kong |
Asia | 43.1 |
El Salvador |
North America | 43.0 |
Algeria |
Africa | 42.9 |
Honduras |
North America | 42.8 |
Sierra Leone |
Africa | 42.7 |
Guyana |
South America | 42.6 |
Benin |
Africa | 42.5 |
Western Sahara |
Africa | 42.4 |
Guinea-Bissau |
Africa | 42.3 |
Zambia |
Africa | 42.3 |
South Africa |
Africa | 42.2 |
Mexico |
North America | 42.1 |
Colombia |
South America | 42.1 |
Namibia |
Africa | 42.0 |
Cameroon |
Africa | 41.9 |
Turkmenistan |
Asia | 41.9 |
Gabon |
Africa | 41.8 |
Costa Rica |
North America | 41.8 |
Thailand |
Asia | 41.6 |
Vietnam |
Asia | 41.5 |
Myanmar |
Asia | 41.5 |
Haiti |
North America | 41.4 |
Albania |
Europe | 41.4 |
Guatemala |
North America | 41.4 |
Laos |
Asia | 41.3 |
Eswatini |
Africa | 41.2 |
Tajikistan |
Asia | 41.0 |
Burundi |
Africa | 41.0 |
Tanzania |
Africa | 40.9 |
Uganda |
Africa | 40.9 |
Saudi Arabia |
Asia | 40.9 |
Bosnia & Herzegovina |
Europe | 40.8 |
Cuba |
North America | 40.8 |
North Korea |
Asia | 40.8 |
Paraguay |
South America | 40.7 |
Nepal |
Asia | 40.7 |
Angola |
Africa | 40.7 |
Ivory Coast |
Africa | 40.4 |
Papua New Guinea |
Oceania | 40.4 |
Belize |
North America | 40.4 |
Uzbekistan |
Asia | 40.4 |
Philippines |
Asia | 40.3 |
Saint Vincent & the Grenadines |
North America | 39.8 |
Niger |
Africa | 39.8 |
Suriname |
South America | 39.7 |
Nigeria |
Africa | 39.6 |
Saint Lucia |
North America | 39.6 |
Palestine |
Asia | 39.5 |
Sri Lanka |
Asia | 39.5 |
Bahrain |
Asia | 39.5 |
Trinidad & Tobago |
North America | 39.4 |
Ukraine |
Europe | 39.3 |
Kenya |
Africa | 39.1 |
Guinea |
Africa | 39.1 |
Taiwan |
Asia | 39.1 |
Mauritania |
Africa | 38.8 |
Dominican Republic |
North America | 38.7 |
Romania |
Europe | 38.6 |
Eritrea |
Africa | 38.4 |
Serbia |
Europe | 38.4 |
Venezuela |
South America | 38.3 |
Mauritius |
Africa | 38.3 |
Bulgaria |
Europe | 38.2 |
Russia |
Europe | 38.2 |
South Sudan |
Africa | 38.2 |
Central African Republic |
Africa | 38.1 |
Armenia |
Asia | 38.0 |
Puerto Rico |
North America | 38.0 |
Kazakhstan |
Asia | 38.0 |
Ecuador |
South America | 37.9 |
Bolivia |
South America | 37.8 |
Greece |
Europe | 37.8 |
Gambia |
Africa | 37.8 |
Indonesia |
Asia | 37.7 |
North Macedonia |
Europe | 37.5 |
Comoros |
Africa | 37.4 |
Togo |
Africa | 37.4 |
Brazil |
South America | 37.3 |
Georgia |
Asia | 37.1 |
Moldova |
Europe | 37.0 |
Guam |
Oceania | 36.9 |
Bahamas |
North America | 36.9 |
Chile |
South America | 36.9 |
South Korea |
Asia | 36.8 |
Poland |
Europe | 36.7 |
Panama |
North America | 36.2 |
Barbados |
North America | 36.1 |
Nicaragua |
North America | 36.1 |
U.S. |
North America | 36.1 |
Belarus |
Europe | 36.1 |
U.S. Virgin Islands |
North America | 35.9 |
Fiji |
Oceania | 35.7 |
New Caledonia |
Oceania | 35.6 |
Afghanistan |
Asia | 35.6 |
DR Congo |
Africa | 35.4 |
Solomon Islands |
Oceania | 35.3 |
Kyrgyzstan |
Asia | 35.2 |
Hungary |
Europe | 35.1 |
Israel |
Asia | 35.0 |
French Polynesia |
Oceania | 35.0 |
Latvia |
Europe | 35.0 |
Lithuania |
Europe | 34.9 |
Switzerland |
Europe | 34.9 |
Uruguay |
South America | 34.7 |
Argentina |
South America | 34.7 |
Madagascar |
Africa | 34.6 |
Azerbaijan |
Asia | 34.4 |
Croatia |
Europe | 34.3 |
Timor-Leste |
Asia | 34.2 |
Cyprus |
Asia | 34.2 |
Italy |
Europe | 33.9 |
Slovakia |
Europe | 33.9 |
New Zealand |
Oceania | 33.7 |
Slovenia |
Europe | 33.7 |
Malta |
Europe | 32.9 |
Iceland |
Europe | 32.7 |
Portugal |
Europe | 32.5 |
Luxembourg |
Europe | 32.4 |
Canada |
North America | 32.3 |
Ghana |
Africa | 31.8 |
Belgium |
Europe | 31.8 |
Australia |
Oceania | 31.8 |
Spain |
Europe | 31.6 |
Syria |
Asia | 31.2 |
Estonia |
Europe | 31.1 |
Japan |
Asia | 31.0 |
UK |
Europe | 31.0 |
France |
Europe | 30.8 |
Ethiopia |
Africa | 30.8 |
Tonga |
Oceania | 30.7 |
Malawi |
Africa | 30.7 |
Ireland |
Europe | 30.7 |
Chad |
Africa | 30.5 |
Rwanda |
Africa | 30.5 |
Iraq |
Asia | 30.4 |
Djibouti |
Africa | 30.2 |
Somalia |
Africa | 30.1 |
Germany |
Europe | 29.6 |
Sweden |
Europe | 29.3 |
Mozambique |
Africa | 29.0 |
Vanuatu |
Oceania | 29.0 |
Finland |
Europe | 28.8 |
Denmark |
Europe | 28.8 |
Austria |
Europe | 28.4 |
Norway |
Europe | 27.1 |
Netherlands |
Europe | 26.8 |
Yemen |
Asia | 25.9 |
Europe’s Short Workweeks Reflect Developed Economies
At the opposite end of the spectrum, Western and Northern Europe maintain some of the shortest working weeks on record. The Netherlands (26.8 hours), Norway (27.1 hours), and Denmark (28.8 hours) all fall below 30 hours weekly.
These countries benefit from strong productivity, high automation, and generous labor protections. Shorter average hours are often paired with higher living standards and better work-life balance.
The United States Sits Mid-Pack
The United States averages around 36.1 hours per week, below the global mean but above other major developed nations such as Canada (32.3 hours), the UK (31.0 hours), and France (30.8 hours).
In contrast, emerging markets—particularly in Africa—show some of the highest workweeks, such as Sudan (50.8 hours) and Lesotho (50.2 hours), where economic necessity drives longer working days.
If you enjoyed today’s post, check out Where’s the World Heading in 2026? on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.
Tyler Durden Sat, 11/08/2025 – 07:35
Source: https://freedombunker.com/2025/11/08/bhutan-is-the-hardest-working-nation-on-earth/
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Bhutan
Sudan
Lesotho
Republic of the Congo
UAE
Sao Tome & Principe
Jordan
Liberia
Pakistan
Qatar
Lebanon
Cambodia
Maldives
Bangladesh
India
Mongolia
Macau
Egypt
Burkina Faso
Cape Verde
Zimbabwe
Senegal
Brunei
China
Singapore
Kuwait
Malaysia
Samoa
Montenegro
Morocco
Tunisia
Equatorial Guinea
Turkey
Oman
Jamaica
Botswana
Peru
Iran
Mali
Libya
Hong Kong
El Salvador
Algeria
Honduras
Sierra Leone
Guyana
Benin
Western Sahara
Guinea-Bissau
Zambia
South Africa
Mexico
Colombia
Namibia
Cameroon
Turkmenistan
Gabon
Costa Rica
Thailand
Vietnam
Myanmar
Haiti
Albania
Guatemala
Laos
Eswatini
Tajikistan
Burundi
Tanzania
Uganda
Saudi Arabia
Bosnia & Herzegovina
Cuba
North Korea
Paraguay
Nepal
Angola
Ivory Coast
Papua New Guinea
Belize
Uzbekistan
Philippines
Saint Vincent & the Grenadines
Niger
Suriname
Nigeria
Saint Lucia
Palestine
Sri Lanka
Bahrain
Trinidad & Tobago
Ukraine
Kenya
Guinea
Taiwan
Mauritania
Dominican Republic
Romania
Eritrea
Serbia
Venezuela
Mauritius
Bulgaria
Russia
South Sudan
Central African Republic
Armenia
Puerto Rico
Kazakhstan
Ecuador
Bolivia
Greece
Gambia
Indonesia
North Macedonia
Comoros
Togo
Brazil
Georgia
Moldova
Guam
Bahamas
Chile
South Korea
Poland
Panama
Barbados
Nicaragua
U.S.
Belarus
U.S. Virgin Islands
Fiji
New Caledonia
Afghanistan
DR Congo
Solomon Islands
Kyrgyzstan
Hungary
Israel
French Polynesia
Latvia
Lithuania
Switzerland
Uruguay
Argentina
Madagascar
Azerbaijan
Croatia
Timor-Leste
Cyprus
Italy
Slovakia
New Zealand
Slovenia
Malta
Iceland
Portugal
Luxembourg
Canada
Ghana
Belgium
Australia
Spain
Syria
Estonia
Japan
UK
France
Ethiopia
Tonga
Malawi
Ireland
Chad
Rwanda
Iraq
Djibouti
Somalia
Germany
Sweden
Mozambique
Vanuatu
Finland
Denmark
Austria
Norway
Netherlands
Yemen
