Rediff.com« Back to articlePrint this article

The world's 15 most hardworking nations

Last updated on: August 3, 2012 16:44 IST
Labourers cast their shadows on the glass facade of a hotel as they take down scaffolding at a construction site in Nanjing, China.

Believe it or not, but India has been ranked as one of the most hardworking nations in the world in a survey conducted by Ipsos Global and Reuters.

The survey, in some select nations, used a simple technique to arrive at the result it sought. The survey says that full-time workers in most countries get paid holidays, apart from Sundays and in some cases Saturdays too.

However, since organisations do not force workers to avail of those holidays, many people do not use these vacation days.

So check out which are the world's hardest working nations.

Click NEXT to read on...

The world's 15 most hardworking nations

Last updated on: August 3, 2012 16:44 IST
A man walks through a street in Tokyo's Shinjuku district.

1. Japan

The Japanese are the world's hardest working people and only 33 per cent of the employees avail of all their allotted paid holidays.

The Japanese get 16 public holidays and work about 1,714 hours per year on an average.

Click NEXT to read on...

The world's 15 most hardworking nations

Last updated on: August 3, 2012 16:44 IST
Rowers train at dawn on the Yarra River in Melbourne.

2. Australia

Only 47 per cent Australian workers take all their allotted vacation days.

Australians get eight federal holidays off, and clock an average of 1,690 hours per year.

Click NEXT to read on...

The world's 15 most hardworking nations

Last updated on: August 3, 2012 16:44 IST
A view of Johannesburg.

3. South Africa

Only 47.5 per cent of people take all their allotted vacation days.

South Africans get 12 government vacation days.

Click NEXT to read on...

The world's 15 most hardworking nations

Last updated on: August 3, 2012 16:44 IST
A view shows part of central Seoul.

4. South Korea

In South Korea, only 53 per cent of the employees take all their allotted vacation days.

In South Korea, employees get 15 public holidays.

Click NEXT to read on...

The world's 15 most hardworking nations

Last updated on: August 3, 2012 16:44 IST
A view of downtown area in Los Angeles.

5. The United States

Only 57 per cent of people take all their allotted vacation days.

There are 10 government or public holidays that Americans enjoy.

In the US, employees work 1,768 hours per year on an average.

Click NEXT to read on...

The world's 15 most hardworking nations

Last updated on: August 3, 2012 16:44 IST
A view of the Toronto Skyline.

6. Canada

In Canada, only 58 per cent of the employed people take all their allotted vacation days.

Canada is slim on their holidays, with 9 federal holidays per year. Canadians clock an average of 1,699 hours per year.

Click NEXT to read on...

The world's 15 most hardworking nations

Last updated on: August 3, 2012 16:44 IST
The domes of the Taj Mahal hotel are seen in front of the Arabian Sea in Mumbai.

7. India

About 58.5 per cent of people take all their allotted holidays.

Indians get 16 government holidays, and employers are required to give only 12 paid holidays.

Click NEXT to read on...

The world's 15 most hardworking nations

Last updated on: August 3, 2012 16:44 IST
The Juscelino Kubitschek bridge designed by architect Alexandre Chan is seen in Brasilia.

8. Brazil

Just about 59 per cent Brazilian employees take all their allotted vacation days.

In Brazil, there are 11 federal holidays, and employers are required to offer 30 additional vacation days.

Click NEXT to read on...

The world's 15 most hardworking nations

Last updated on: August 3, 2012 16:44 IST
View of the Turning Torso in the western harbour area of Malmo.

9. Sweden

Only 63 per cent of people take all their allotted vacation days in Sweden.

The Swedes get 11 government holidays in a year, and work about 1,610 hours per year on an average.

Click NEXT to read on...

The world's 15 most hardworking nations

Last updated on: August 3, 2012 16:44 IST
Traffic flows on a flyover at the Bund in Shanghai.

10. China

About 65 per cent of Chinese employees take all their allotted vacation days.

In China there are 11 government holidays, and organisations/companies have to give at least 10 vacation days to employees.

Click NEXT to read on...

The world's 15 most hardworking nations

Last updated on: August 3, 2012 16:44 IST
The cityscape of southern side of Warsaw.

11. Poland

In Poland, only 66 per cent of people take all their allotted paid holidays.

There are 10 public holidays in Poland, and the citizens world at an average of 1,966 hours per year.

Click NEXT to read on...

The world's 15 most hardworking nations

Last updated on: August 3, 2012 16:44 IST
Trams travel in downtown Milan.

12. Italy

About 66.5 per cent of people take all their allotted paid holidays.

Italians have 11 government holidays and work on average, 1,773 hours per year.

Click NEXT to read on...

The world's 15 most hardworking nations

Last updated on: August 3, 2012 16:44 IST
A view of the Red Square near the Kremlin in Moscow.

13. Russia

Only 67 per cent of people take all their allotted vacation days.

There are 12 government holidays in Russia and Russians work 1,997 hours per year on an average, according to the survey.

Click NEXT to read on...

The world's 15 most hardworking nations

Last updated on: August 3, 2012 16:44 IST
Hot air balloons float at the Sun pyramids of Teotihuacan outside Mexico City.

14. Mexico

Only 68 per cent Mexicans take all their allotted paid holidays.

Mexicans clock an average of 1,857 hours per year, says the survey.

Click NEXT to read on...

The world's 15 most hardworking nations

Last updated on: August 3, 2012 16:44 IST
A view of the Concorde obelisk, Champs Elysees Avenue and the Arc de Triomphe monument in Paris.

15. France

Almost 89 per cent of French citizens avail of their allotted vacation days. On that basis it would be considered one of the least workaholic countries.