Greeks work the longest hours in the European Union, according to data released by Eurostat, the statistical office of the EU. In 2024, 12.4 percent of Greek workers reported working long hours, defined as 49 hours or more per week in their main job.
Greeks Log More Hours Than EU Counterparts
Following Greece, Cyprus recorded the second-highest percentage of workers with long hours at 10.0 percent, while France came in third at 9.9 percent. Conversely, Bulgaria, Latvia, and Lithuania reported the lowest rates, with 0.4 percent, 1.0 percent, and 1.4 percent respectively.
Across the EU, 6.6 percent of employed people aged 20 to 64 worked long hours in 2024, a decrease from 9.8 percent in 2014 and 8.4 percent in 2019. Self-employed individuals were more likely to work long hours (27.5 percent) than employees (3.4 percent).
Long working hours were most prevalent among skilled agricultural, forestry, and fishery workers (26.2 percent) and managers (21.1 percent). Greek workers average 39.8 hours per week, with 25 percent working more than 45 hours – the highest percentage in the EU.
Average Weekly Hours in Europe
The average weekly working time in the EU was 36 hours in 2024, with significant variation between countries. The Netherlands recorded the lowest average at 32.1 hours, while Greece’s average was 39.8 hours. This 7.7-hour difference equates to almost an extra full workday per week for Greek workers compared to their Dutch counterparts.
In the EU, 37.3 percent of employees worked between 40 and 44.5 hours per week, while 7.2 percent worked fewer than 20 hours. Ireland, Finland, Belgium, France, and Denmark saw the largest share of employees working between 35 and 39.5 hours per week.
The disparity in working hours, combined with wage differences, contributes to economic differences between EU countries.
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