Ireland finds 15th spot on list ranking world's hardest working nations

DUBLIN, Ireland - An average Irish person works 35 hours a week or 1,820 hours a year - a new study has revealed.

The study, conducted by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has been released in the U.K. on ‘Work Your Proper Hours’ day.

According to OECD, Ireland has some of the world’s most overworked employees.

The study places Ireland in the 15th position on the list that ranks the world's hardest working nations, with Mexico leading the pack. 

The list, based on statistics from 2015, measured 38 countries and placed Ireland in an unenviable position when compared to Western European neighbours. 

OECD figures revealed that Mexico was the hardest working country in the world, with average citizens of the nation working for 2,246 hours per year or 43.2 hours a week. 

Mexico was followed by the world’s happiest country Costa Rica, with employees there working 2,230 hours per year.

South Koreans bagged the third place, working 2,113 hours per year, followed by Greece (2,042), Chile (1,988), Russia (1,978), Poland (1,963), Latvia (1,903), Iceland (1,880) and Portugal (1,868) making up the top ten spots. 

Germany was last on the list of 38 countries, with an average worker being engaged in 1,371 hours of work per year, or 26.4 hours a week.