In reality, how much time do people have to themselves each day?
Leisure is a vital aspect of everyday living, from watching TV to hanging out with loved ones. However, the quantity of time people devote to these pursuits differs greatly between nations.
This table ranks 34 nations according to the average daily leisure time of individuals between the ages of 15 and 64 using data from the OECD Time Use Database. The numbers are derived from the most recent national surveys, which differ by year.
Which nations have the most leisure time?
Based on OECD data updated in 2026, the following table ranks nations according to their daily leisure hours.
| Rank | Country | Leisure (hours/day) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Norway | 5.90 |
| 2 | Germany | 5.68 |
| 3 | Belgium | 5.65 |
| 4 | Greece | 5.58 |
| 5 | Finland | 5.50 |
| 6 | Denmark | 5.48 |
| 7 | Italy | 5.38 |
| 8 | Sweden | 5.35 |
| 9 | Spain | 5.27 |
| 10 | Netherlands | 5.25 |
| 11 | Ireland | 5.20 |
| 12 | Slovenia | 5.18 |
| 13 | Austria | 5.12 |
| 14 | United Kingdom | 5.10 |
| 15 | South Africa | 5.10 |
| 16 | Estonia | 5.02 |
| 17 | New Zealand | 5.02 |
| 18 | France | 4.90 |
| 19 | Türkiye | 4.77 |
| 20 | Australia | 4.68 |
| 21 | Hungary | 4.68 |
| 22 | United States | 4.67 |
| 23 | Luxembourg | 4.60 |
| 24 | Japan | 4.48 |
| 25 | Latvia | 4.48 |
| 26 | Poland | 4.35 |
| 27 | South Korea | 4.30 |
| 28 | India | 4.23 |
| 29 | Croatia | 4.18 |
| 30 | Lithuania | 4.12 |
| 31 | Portugal | 4.02 |
| 32 | China | 3.80 |
| 33 | Canada | 3.52 |
| 34 | Mexico | 3.38 |
Norway is ranked first, followed by Germany (5.68 hours) and Belgium (5.65 hours), with Finland and Greece completing the top five.
Mexico, on the other hand, only averages 3.38 hours of free time every day. Compared to Norway, that represents a difference of around 18 hours per week, or almost 2.5 hours each day.
Disparity Among European & Asian Countries
Europe’s impressive performance might be partially explained by variations in paid time off, working hours, and cultural perspectives on leisure.
These rankings, however, are more than just a gauge of vacation time or shorter workweeks because national time-use surveys also record how people spend their days outside of paid employment.
The lower part of the ranking includes a number of significant Asian economies. The average daily leisure time in China is 3.8 hours, while in South Korea and Japan it is 4.3 and 4.48 hours, respectively. Expectations at work and long hours may be factors in these disparities.