Which countries have longest working hours? Know India's position

India stands out as one of the most overworked countries in the world, with a significant portion of its workforce logging excessive hours. This alarming trend raises urgent questions about employee well-being and the need for improved work-life balance.

In Short

• India is among the most overworked globally
• Average Indian workweek is 46.7 hours
• Vanuatu has the shortest average workweek at 24.7 hours

India ranks amongst the most overworked countries globally, with workers clocking some of the longest hours in the world. According to the International Labour Organisation, the average Indian worker spends 46.7 hours per week on the job. Below is a list of countries with the longest average working hours per week, organised in descending order based on the proportion of total hours worked.

INDIA'S WORKFORCE LOGS EXTENDED HOURS

Additionally, 51 percent of India’s workforce is logging 49 or more hours weekly, placing India second amongst countries with the highest rates of extended working hours. While Bhutan leads the global list with 61 percent of its workforce working beyond 49 hours, other South Asian nations like Bangladesh (47 percent) and Pakistan (40 percent) also rank within the top 10, underscoring a regional trend of long working hours.

UAE AND LESOTHO ALSO REPORT LONG HOURS

On the global stage, the United Arab Emirates and Lesotho also report high weekly averages, with workers clocking 50.9 and 50.4 hours, respectively. However, India stands out for the sheer percentage of its workforce exceeding the 49-hour threshold.

COUNTRIES WITH A BALANCED APPROACH TO WORK HOURS

In contrast, countries like Aruba, China, Croatia, Georgia, Germany, Isle of Man, Japan, Jersey, and Singapore have significantly lower average workweeks, ranging from 34.2 to 46.1 hours per week. None of these countries have significant portions of their workforce exceeding the 49-hour mark, indicating a stronger focus on work-life balance compared to India and other overworked nations.

Vanuatu has the shortest average working hours globally, with workers logging just 24.7 hours per week. Only 4% of its workforce works extended hours, making it a stark contrast to countries like India and Bhutan. Similarly, Kiribati (27.3 hours) and the Federated States of Micronesia (30.4 hours) have relatively low working hours, with minimal portions of their workforce engaging in long hours.

------

European nations like the Netherlands (31.6 hours) and Norway (33.7 hours) also report significantly lower working hours, reflecting their emphasis on maintaining work-life balance. These findings highlight important discussions about labour policies and the health impacts of extended working hours, as India's workforce continues to face the challenges of overwork.