10 Countries with the Fewest Working Hours, European Countries Dominate

YOGYAKARTA – Did you know that Yemen holds the title of the country with the fewest working hours? According to 2025 data from the International Labour Organization (ILO), the average weekly working hours in Yemen are 25.9 hours. This means workers only work for approximately 4.5 hours per day for six days. Besides Yemen, several other countries have the shortest working hours; see the following article.

Countries with the Fewest Working Hours

The country with the fewest working hours is predominantly Germany. Here are the 10 countries with the fewest weekly working hours.

Yemen (25.9 hours per week)

Working hours in Yemen are relatively shorter compared to other countries. However, Yemen's economic situation is unstable. The conflict in Yemen is one of the factors contributing to the relatively short working hours in that country.

Netherlands (26.8 hours per week)

The Netherlands is known for its work culture, which emphasizes balance between work and personal life. Furthermore, the government supports flexibility for workers. The Netherlands also has a fairly long leave policy for its employees. It's no wonder this country is a favorite for workers.

Norway (27.1 hours per week)

Like the Netherlands, Norway also supports short working hours for its workers. However, the Norwegian government still supports social welfare, especially for its workers. Despite short working hours, Norway's productivity is quite high.

Austria (28.4 hours per week)

Austria is one of the countries with pro-labor labor laws. Austrian labor regulations strongly protect workers' rights, especially regarding reasonable working hours.

Denmark (28.8 hours per week)

Although working hours in Denmark tend to be short, productivity remains high. This is achieved thanks to a work culture that prioritizes efficiency and quality of work, supported by efficient technology and management.

Finland (28.8 hours per week)

Finland is known for its culture called "Sisu." Sisu culture emphasizes physical and mental well-being. This culture encourages Finnish people to prioritize their social relationships. Some believe this culture is a factor in the short working hours in Finland.

Vanuatu (29 hours per week)

Vanuatu is an island nation located in the South Pacific. This country has short working hours, partly because informal employment is more readily available than formal employment.

Mozambique (29 hours per week)

Mozambique is dominated by workers in informal sectors such as agriculture, trade, or crafts. This factor is thought to contribute to short working hours.

Sweden (29.3 hours per week)

Many workers in Sweden work 7 to 8 hours per day on a five-day workweek. Sweden does indeed prioritize its labor policies. This situation contributes to flexible work arrangements.

Germany (29.6 hours per week)

Working hours in Germany are indeed longer than in other countries like Sweden or Denmark. However, the average daily work duration remains efficient.

That's the information regarding the countries with the fewest working hours. Visit VOI.id for more interesting information.