Japan vs United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Average annual hours actually worked per worker — Hours worked

Japan
1,598 Hours per year per person
in 2025
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
1,533 Hours per year per person
in 2025
Japan rank
24th
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank
26th

Average annual hours actually worked per worker — Hours worked over time

  • Japan
  • United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
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How they compare

Japan currently reports 1,598 Hours per year per person against 1,533 Hours per year per person in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, a difference of 65 Hours per year per person.

Across all 56 years both countries report, Japan has been ahead every year.

Japan ranks 24th and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 26th of 36 countries.

Japan has averaged higher in every one of the 6 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade Japan United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Difference Ahead
1970s 2,167 Hours per year per person 1,715 Hours per year per person 451.59 Hours per year per person Japan
1980s 2,098 Hours per year per person 1,602 Hours per year per person 495.8 Hours per year per person Japan
1990s 1,909 Hours per year per person 1,589 Hours per year per person 319.98 Hours per year per person Japan
2000s 1,784 Hours per year per person 1,540 Hours per year per person 244.98 Hours per year per person Japan
2010s 1,714 Hours per year per person 1,530 Hours per year per person 183.03 Hours per year per person Japan
2020s 1,606 Hours per year per person 1,498 Hours per year per person 107.98 Hours per year per person Japan

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher average annual hours actually worked per worker — hours worked, Japan or United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
Japan, at 1,598 Hours per year per person against 1,533 Hours per year per person in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland as of 2025.
What is the difference in average annual hours actually worked per worker — hours worked between Japan and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
65 Hours per year per person, with Japan ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Japan and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
56 years are reported by both, from 1970 to 2025.
How do Japan and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank globally for average annual hours actually worked per worker — hours worked?
Japan ranks 24th and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 26th of 36 countries.
Where does this data come from?
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as Average annual hours actually worked per worker — Hours worked. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Japan vs United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Average annual hours actually worked per worker — Hours worked. Statizoid, drawing on Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Retrieved 20 August 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/compare/average-annual-hours-actually-worked-per-worker-hours-worked/japan/united-kingdom/

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About this data

Indicator
Average annual hours actually worked per worker — Hours worked
Unit
Hours per year per person
Source
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Licence
OECD Terms and Conditions (attribution required)
Coverage
46 places, 2,114 data points, 1950–2025
Last refreshed

The concept used is the total number of hours worked over the year divided by the average number of people in employment. The data are intended for comparisons of trends over time; they are unsuitable for comparisons of the level of average annual hours of work for a given year, because of differences in their sources. Part-time workers are covered as well as full-time workers. Detailed notes and sources can be found in LFS_NOTES_SOURCES. In order to facilitate analysis and comparisons over time, historical data for OECD members have been provided over as long a period as possible, often even before a country became a member of the Organisation. Information on the membership dates of all OECD countries can be found at OECD Ratification Dates.