20 countries with the worst work-life balance in 2025: Long hours, low benefits, and rising stress levels

In the past, working late nights and weekends was normal, but now people want a better balance between work and life. Today, the focus is on “working smart, not hard” and also enjoying personal life. Because of this change, countries are now being compared on how well they treat workers. Experts from Remote.com studied this issue to find which countries have the best and worst work-life balance.

They looked at the top 60 economies in the world (by GDP) to make the comparison fair, as stated by Boredpanda. These 60 countries were used as a global sample to understand work-life balance trends. The goal was to see which countries balance work, health, happiness, and productivity well. The report ranks countries, including the 20 worst performers in work-life balance. Countries are compared with top performers like New Zealand, which is ranked best globally.

How the ranking was calculated

The Remote 2025 Global Life-Work Balance Index used data collected in April 2025. Each country got a score out of 100 based on multiple factors, not just one. The ranking used a combined score system (weighted composite score).

Factors used in ranking

Paid vacation days (including public holidays) were counted. Sick pay rules—how much salary workers get when sick—were included. Maternity leave duration (weeks off for mothers) was considered. Maternity pay (how much salary is paid during leave) was also checked. Average working hours per week (including overtime) played a big role, as cited by Boredpanda.

Minimum wage (in USD per hour) was part of the score. Healthcare quality and access were included. Happiness Index (people’s self-reported happiness) was measured from 1 to 10. LGBTQ+ inclusivity (rights and freedoms) was scored from 0 to 100. Safety was measured using the Global Peace Index (lower score = safer country).

Country example – Philippines

The Philippines ranks #41 globally in work-life balance. Its overall score is 46.60 out of 100, which is still on the lower side. But it improved a lot from last year (2024), where it ranked 59 out of 60. Workers in the Philippines work long hours—around 42.25 hours per week, as noted by Boredpanda. Despite long hours, people report a Happiness Index of 6.04, which is relatively good. This happiness score is higher than many other countries in the worst list.

Full list: 20 countries with the worst work-life balance

1. Philippines (Manila) – Rank #41, long work hours but decent happiness levels.

2. Kazakhstan (Nursultan) – Rank #43, tough work culture and low inclusivity.

3. UAE (Abu Dhabi) – Rank #44, very long workweeks and low inclusivity.

4. Mexico (Mexico City) – Rank #45, low wages but future work reforms planned.

5. Hong Kong – Rank #46, high pressure jobs and low happiness.

6. Algeria (Algiers) – Rank #47, low wages and weak healthcare.

7. Iran (Tehran) – Rank #49, long hours and very low inclusivity.

8. Morocco (Rabat) – Rank #50, long work hours and low happiness.

9. China (Beijing) – Rank #51, very low leave and long working hours.

10. India (New Delhi) – Rank #52, low wages and strong hustle culture.

11. Bangladesh (Dhaka) – Rank #53, extremely low wages and overtime culture.

12. Qatar (Doha) – Rank #54, high income but low worker satisfaction.

13. Pakistan (Islamabad) – Rank #55, low happiness and social pressure for long hours.

14. Iraq (Baghdad) – Rank #56, low safety and poor work conditions.

15. Ethiopia (Addis Ababa) – Rank #57, no minimum wage and low happiness.

16. Egypt (Cairo) – Rank #58, long work hours and very low happiness.

17. United States (Washington, D.C.) – Rank #59, no guaranteed paid leave system.

18. Nigeria (Abuja) – Rank #60, worst in the world with poor safety and low leave.

19. Russia (Moscow) – Rank #42, low inclusivity and moderate happiness.

20. Turkey (Ankara) – Rank #48, low safety, low happiness, and limited benefits.

Work-life balance is now a major global issue, not just about salary but overall well-being. Countries with long hours and weak worker benefits rank lower. Countries improving worker rights and benefits are moving up in rankings.