While many assume Japan, South Korea, or the United States are the hardest-working nations, global labor data reveals a different reality: Mexico currently leads the world in annual working hours, followed closely by other Latin American countries.
When people imagine the hardest-working countries, many think instantly of nations like Japan, South Korea, or even the United States. The cultural imagery is powerful: late-night office lights in Tokyo, crowded commuter trains in Seoul, or the “hustle” ethos in America. But global labor data tells a much more complex—and surprising—story. According to the latest figures from the OECD and the International Labour Organization, the country that works the most hours per year is not an Asian economic giant, nor a Western powerhouse. The number one position belongs to Mexico, followed closely by several Latin American nations.
This finding challenges many assumptions about productivity, economic development, and the relationship societies have with work. The amount of time people spend working is shaped not only by cultural attitudes toward effort and discipline, but also by economic structure, wages, labor protections, and the informal economy.
In Mexico, the average worker clocks in over 2,100 hours per year. That is significantly more than in the United States, where the average is roughly 1,770 hours, and dramatically higher than in countries like Germany or Denmark, where averages fall closer to 1,350 hours annually. In simplest terms: a worker in Mexico may spend the equivalent of three additional working months at their job each year compared to a worker in Germany.
But the crucial question is: Does working more hours mean achieving more?
The answer is not straightforward, and this is where the analysis deepens. Longer working hours often correlate with lower wages, higher levels of job insecurity, fewer social protections, and weaker labor unions. In Mexico and many parts of Latin America, a large portion of the workforce is employed informally—without contracts, guaranteed vacation time, paid overtime, or employer-provided benefits. In such conditions, people must work more simply to meet basic needs. The longer working day is not a reflection of cultural over-commitment alone—it is frequently a matter of survival.
This contrasts sharply with the situation in countries like Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, and Denmark, which consistently rank among the nations with the fewest annual working hours. Workers in these countries typically earn higher wages, have strong labor protections, and benefit from policies that safeguard work-life balance, including paid parental leave, regulated overtime, and guaranteed holidays. Importantly, these countries also demonstrate some of the highest productivity rates in the world. In other words, they generate more economic output per hour worked.
This leads to a key insight: working more hours does not necessarily mean working better.
South Korea provides an instructive example. For decades, it ranked among the highest in annual working hours, partly due to rapid industrialization and cultural expectations promoting dedication and group loyalty. However, the negative consequences—burnout, declining family life, and low birth rates—became impossible to ignore. In recent years, South Korea has actively reduced maximum weekly working hours and promoted incentives for companies to limit overtime. The shift is cultural as much as political: the nation is learning to value time outside of work as essential to social well-being and innovation.
The contrast between Mexico and countries in Northern Europe, meanwhile, demonstrates that the length of the workday is not simply a question of cultural values, but of economic structure. Where salaries are higher and the social safety net stronger, people do not need to sacrifice their time to secure basic stability. Where employment is precarious and benefits scarce, working more becomes the default solution.
A deeper look also shows how cultural narratives shape identity. In some countries, long hours are worn as symbols of strength, dedication, or masculinity. In others, efficiency and balance are signs of personal responsibility and social maturity. These differing philosophies reveal how societies measure success—not only economically, but morally.
So, in which country do people work the most hours? Mexico. But the meaning of that fact is more important than the number itself. It invites us to reflect on the role of work in our lives, the systems that shape our time, and the values that guide our choices. The comparison between nations makes clear that the relationship between work and well-being is political, economic, and profoundly human.
And perhaps the most surprising discovery of all is not which country works the hardest—but the realization that more hours do not always bring more prosperity. In fact, the opposite may be true.