Danes best at balancing work and private life

OECD comparison shows Danes can enjoy an average of 16 hours of free time a day

Lucie Rychla

Denmark has the best work-life balance according to the new OECD Better Life Index that compares the data of 20 countries.

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) based its ranking on three key variables: the percentage of employees working more than 50 hours a week, the employment rate for women with children and the time spent on leisure activities and personal care.

In Denmark, only 2 percent of the country’s employees work more than 50 hours a week, while the average for all the analysed countries is 13 percent.

The difference between men and women when it comes to working hours is very small in Denmark, while in most of the other countries men tend to work much longer hours.

READ MORE:  Denmark once again the happiest place on Earth

Family-friendly
Some 78 percent of Danish mothers are employed after their children begin school, which is a lot more than the OECD average of 66 percent, suggesting Danish mothers get more support to balance their work-family life.

“The extensive range of support systems for families with children as well as family-friendly workplace practices give many Danes the feeling that work and a family life are compatible,” states OECD.

In general, Danes can enjoy more free time – 16.3 hours per day – for leisure activities and personal care (including sleep), while the OECD average is 15 hours.

According to OECD, the amount and quality of leisure time contributes greatly to people’s overall physical and mental health.

European countries dominate the top 10 on the Better Life Index, with Spain and the Netherlands ranking second and third respectively.

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