What are the Top 10 Countries with the Shortest Working Hours?
Life has changed over the years, modern technology has revolutionized our daily lives, be it education, health, eating habits, dress, and others. Some changes we like, while others create a sense of insecurity in our minds.
In the cut-throat competition scenario, time is being compared with wealth. Office goers would like to work for fixed hours in a day. The nine-hours office rule is not universally acceptable. Several countries are easy on the working hours as their focus is on the output.
The trend of short working hours is prominent in several developed nations. As per the data published by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in 2019, Denmark tops the list with the least average annual working hours of 1,380 hours, followed by Norway and Germany.
OECD was formed in 1961. It is a group of 37 member countries. Its function is to deal with economic progress and world trade.
If employees do the same amount of work in fewer working hours, then it would be more efficient for the organizations. The common observation is that the employees who have fewer hours are more dedicated to their work, always try to produce the best possible results for the progress of the organizations. Their health also remains better.
On close observation, one would find that it is the European countries that have lesser working hours in comparison to others.
Here is a table representing the top ten countries with relatively shorter working hours, as per the 2019 data published by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
| S. No. | Country | Average Annual Hours Actually Worked Per Worker, 2019 |
| 1 | Denmark | 1380 |
| 2 | Norway | 1384 |
| 3 | Germany | 1386 |
| 4 | Netherlands | 1434 |
| 5 | Sweden | 1452 |
| 6 | Iceland | 1454 |
| 7 | Austria | 1501 |
| 8 | France | 1505 |
| 9 | Luxembourg | 1506 |
| 10 | United Kingdom | 1538 |
