The hardest working countries in the world 2025

According to the ILO, workers in Bhutan work an average of 54.5 hours per week, making them the hardest working nation globally.

According to International Labour Organisation (ILO) data for 2025, the 15 hardest working countries in the world, based on average weekly hours worked per employee, are:

1. Bhutan – 54.5 hours per week
2. Sudan – 50.8 hours per week
3. Lesotho – 50.2 hours per week
4. Republic of the Congo – 48.7 hours per week
5. United Arab Emirates – 48.4 hours per week
6. Sao Tome and Principe – 48.2 hours per week
7. Jordan – 47.8 hours per week
8. Liberia – 47.5 hours per week
9. Pakistan – 47.5 hours per week
10. Qatar – 46.8 hours per week
11. Lebanon – 46.4 hours per week
12. Cambodia – 45.9 hours per week
13. Maldives – 45.9 hours per week
14. Bangladesh – 45.8 hours per week
15. India – 45.8 hours per week

The above data has been determined based on the latest available data as of November 2024, and includes full and part-time employees in traditional employment agreements as well as self-employed workers.

Other major Asian economies have also featured lower down the order in the list:

• China – 44.8 hours per week
• Singapore – 44.6 hours per week
• Malaysia – 44.6 hours per week
• Hong Kong – 43.1 hours per week
• Thailand – 41.6 hours per week
• Vietnam – 41.5 hours per week
• Philippines – 40.3 hours per week
• Taiwan – 39.1 hours per week
• Indonesia – 37.6 hours per week
• South Korea – 36.8 hours per week

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