Most Overworked Cities in the World 2025: Global Ranking List

Picture a train carriage at 6 a.m. in Madrid. Suits packed in, coffee lids rattling, phones buzzing already. Same faces return late at night, drained. This is the story of the most overworked cities in the world 2025.

It matches wider debates about labour pressure. Think of lists on the hardest jobs in the world or even the rarest jobs in the world. Those highlight roles. This one highlights whole cities caught in relentless work cycles.

Global Work Intensity Snapshot 2025

City	Weekly Hours	Overtime Level	Burnout Index	Main Industries
Madrid	44	High	Rising	Finance, Services
London	43	High	Surging	Tech, Finance
Mexico City	46	Very High	High	Manufacturing, Services
Dubai	47	Very High	Growing	Construction, Logistics
Hong Kong	48	Very High	High	Banking, Retail
Singapore	46	High	Stable	Tech, Finance
Bangkok	45	High	Moderate	Tourism, Retail
Washington D.C.	44	Moderate	Rising	Government, Tech
Houston	45	High	High	Oil, Health
Milan	42	Moderate	Rising	Fashion, Services

Most Overworked Cities in the World 2025 Ranked

1. Madrid

Workdays in Madrid average 44 hours. Staff in finance and services rarely leave before dark. Cafés stay open late because many are still stuck at desks.

2. London

London workers complain of endless calls. Tech and banking roles push overtime. Paychecks get eaten quickly by rent, forcing many into side hustles.

3. Mexico City

Shifts here run to 46 hours a week. Add clogged streets and two-hour commutes. By the time workers reach home, evenings are gone.

4. Dubai

Dubai records 47 weekly hours. Construction crews labour under heat, while logistics teams juggle tight schedules. Many employees are migrants with limited rights to protest.

5. Hong Kong

Hong Kong workers clock 48 hours, mostly in banking. Lights stay on in office towers until midnight. Small flats give little relief after long days.

6. Singapore

Singapore’s average is 46 hours. Staff in finance and tech stay late, fuelled by takeaway meals. Government campaigns for balance exist, yet overwork remains routine.

7. Bangkok

Bangkok’s tourism and retail drive 45-hour weeks. Workers speak of missing family events. Irregular shifts leave many permanently tired.

8. Washington D.C.

Policy staff and tech teams hit 44 hours. Political deadlines mean phones keep ringing into the night. Weekends vanish when bills need finishing.

9. Houston

Houston sits at 45 hours. Oil engineers report long rotations, while health staff endure back-to-back shifts. Fatigue is normal, not news.

10. Milan

Milan averages 42 hours. Fashion weeks double workloads. Designers, retailers, and couriers grind through chaotic peak seasons.

Regional Highlights

Asia-Pacific

Hong Kong, Singapore, and Bangkok dominate. Stations stay noisy late into the night. Workers queue for noodles before collapsing at home. Sleep feels optional.

Europe

Madrid, London, and Milan show another picture. Rules exist on paper. Yet culture and competition still drag workers beyond contracted hours.

North America

Washington D.C. and Houston differ but share fatigue. D.C. runs on policy deadlines; Houston on oil rigs and hospital wards. Both burn through people.

Middle East

Dubai leads. Migrant staff power growth, clocking some of the world’s longest shifts. They send money home, often sacrificing health in the process.

Impact on Workers’ Health and Society

Doctors link long hours with higher risks of heart disease and stress. Mexico City commuters lose more hours to traffic than sleep. London’s housing costs push residents into double jobs. Bangkok’s shop staff complain of swollen feet after twelve-hour days.

The cost isn’t just health. Family dinners get skipped. Children grow used to parents arriving home long after bedtime. Neighbourhood life dulls when evenings belong to offices, not communities.

How Cities Compare with Balanced Work Cultures?

Look at Copenhagen or Stockholm. Workers finish on time, sit down for dinner, and still keep productivity steady. Public policies back it. Compare that with Madrid or Hong Kong—contrast is harsh.

Outlook for 2025 and Beyond

Technology trims some tasks but extends availability. Phones buzz at midnight with “urgent” emails. A few cities trial four-day weeks. Others—Dubai, Hong Kong—double down on long schedules. Expect the gap between balanced and overworked cities to widen.

Daily Realities and Takeaways

Overwork is not a chart; it is sensory. The hiss of coffee machines at dawn. The hum of office lights at midnight. The taste of reheated leftovers eaten too late. Cities run on tired workers. Growth shines bright, but fatigue lingers in the background.

FAQs

1. Which city is most overworked in 2025?

Madrid ranks top, averaging 44 hours weekly with heavy overtime in finance and services.

2. How many hours do Hong Kong workers complete?

Employees in Hong Kong hit about 48 hours weekly, highest among the listed cities.

3. Why is Dubai considered overworked?

Dubai posts 47 weekly hours, mainly in construction and logistics, with few recovery breaks.

4. Which U.S. cities face long hours in 2025?

Washington D.C. and Houston lead due to government deadlines, oil, and healthcare shifts.

5. Are there examples of better balance?

Yes, Scandinavian cities like Copenhagen and Stockholm keep shorter weeks and steadier daily rhythms.