According to a recent report by the World of Statistics, Nigerian workers have been ranked as the second most hardworking in the world, following Mexico. On average, Nigerian workers put in approximately 2,124 hours per year, just four hours less than their Mexican counterparts.
This places Nigeria as the most hardworking country in Africa. While the report does not specify the nature of the work being performed, it is noteworthy that the top-ranking countries are not primarily focused on the tech industry.
In Nigeria, the standard working hours for most public and private sector employees are typically eight hours, ranging from 8 am to 4 pm or 9 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday. However, certain industries such as media, healthcare, security, and manufacturing may require their workers to put in additional hours or work on weekends.
In more informal settings, workers such as market vendors and traders often work up to ten hours per day. The report highlights that Costa Rica, Colombia, and Chile from Central and South America follow Nigeria in terms of hardworking employees, with Costa Rica securing the third spot with 2,073 hours, Colombia with 1,964 hours in fourth place, and Chile with 1,916 hours in fifth place.
Surprisingly, South Korea, known for its technological advancements, ranks sixth with workers averaging 1,910 hours per year. Other countries in the top rankings include Malta with 1,882 hours, Russia with 1,874 hours, Greece with 1,872 hours, and Romania with 1,838 hours.
In contrast, the United States, the world’s largest economy, ranks 13th, with workers putting in an average of 1,791 hours annually. Japan, the third-largest economy, is placed 30th, with workers contributing 1,607 hours per year. Germany, Europe’s leading economy, stands at 50th place, with employees working an average of 1,349 hours per year. South Africa ranks second among African countries, coming in at 36th place with workers spending 1,513 hours on the job annually.
Considering that Nigerian workers put in 2,124 hours per year, this means that, on average, each worker spends at least five additional hours engaged in productive activities compared to their South African counterparts, who work four hours less.
The World of Statistics, a global network comprising nearly 2,360 organizations worldwide, aims to raise public awareness about the significance of statistics in all areas of society. It is committed to fostering the profession of statistics, particularly among young people, while promoting creativity and advancements in the fields of probability and statistics.