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💼 Career
Do I work too many hours?
See how your weekly hours compare to the national average.
hrs/week
Include overtime, side jobs, and unpaid extra hours
How many hours a week is normal to work?
The standard "40-hour work week" is a myth in many countries. Actual hours vary dramatically — from the Netherlands' 29 hours to Mexico's 48+.
Average weekly work hours by country (OECD 2023)
- Netherlands: 29.3 hrs/week — shortest in the OECD
- Germany: 34.2 hrs/week
- France: 35.9 hrs/week
- Sweden: 36.4 hrs/week
- United Kingdom: 36.4 hrs/week
- Australia: 36.2 hrs/week
- Canada: 36.6 hrs/week
- United States: 38.2 hrs/week (38.7 for full-time)
- Japan: 36.6 hrs/week (but unpaid overtime is common)
- South Korea: 38.6 hrs/week
- Turkey: 42.9 hrs/week
- Mexico: 43.4 hrs/week — longest in the OECD
Health impact of long work hours
WHO research shows that working 55+ hours/week is associated with a 35% higher risk of stroke and a 17% higher risk of heart disease compared to 35–40 hours. The sweet spot for productivity is around 40–45 hours — beyond that, output per hour drops sharply.