India Works Way Too Hard: 8 Overworked Countries

India works the 2nd longest hours in the world. As per International Labour Organisation 2024 data, hours spent working varies drastically across nations.

Pic: Kind courtesy Phil Whitehouse/Wikimedia Commons

1. UAE

Is the United Arab Emirates pushing the limits of the working week? With an average nearing 52 hours in a week, it stands as among the countries with the most demanding hours worldwide. 

Pic: Kind courtesy FlickreviewR/Wikimedia Commons

2. India

Is India’s workforce clocks much more hours than it should at roughly 46 hours weekly. Mumbai or The City That Never Sleeps got its nickname for its round-the-clock work ethic, being India's most hardworking city.

Pic: Kind courtesy Udaykumar PR/Wikimedia Commons

3. Egypt

Folks in the Arab Republic of Egypt rack up 45.5 work hours each week. Egyptians are considered the third-hardest working nation of the world.

Pic: Kind courtesy Faris El-Gwely/Wikimedia Commons

4. China

China's official policy endorses a 40-hour week. Many now routinely put in closer to 45 hours, placing the country 4th on the list.

Pic: Kind courtesy 阴阳权政/Wikimedia Commons

5. Algeria

The north African country may have set limits of 40-hour weeks, but in practice, the average stretches to 44 hours per week. Seems like the legal cap is not a reality.

Pic: Kind courtesy habib kaki/Wikimedia Commons

6. Turkey

Based on nominal GDP, Turkey is expected to rank 16th worldwide in 2025. Given that a typical Turkish working week extends to nearly 44 hours per week, is success coming at the cost of work-life balance?

Pic: Kind courtesy Acode37/Wikimedia Commons

7. Mexico

On average, workers in Mexico clock hefty 2,207 hours each year or 42.7 hours per week. 

Pic: Kind courtesy Cocu15/Wikimedia Commons

8. South Africa

People in South Africa work, in spite of electricity failure work 41.7 hours each week. But the pace isn’t the same everywhere in the country.

Pic: Kind courtesy Husskeyy/Wikimedia Commons
Go to rediff.com