However not every country is so lucky when it comes to holidays and every working week can vary greatly. Depending on the geographical location and local legislation, full-time hours start at 35 hours over 5 days, all the way up to 48 hours over 6 days.

Top countries for paid time off

1. Spania - 39 (de) zile

As well as a daily siesta, Spaniards accumulate a whopping 25 days of paid annual leave a year. Employers cannot replace holidays with financial compensation, meaning they must all be taken. There are also 14 public holidays, which the Spanish government dictates. However, they are not included in the minimum holiday entitlement and offer another well-earned break. They include Christmas Day, New Year’s Day, and the Spanish National Day in October.

2. Austria – 38 days

Austria’s workforce may typically work a Monday to Friday week, but all employees are entitled to 25 working days leave each year. They also get 13 public holidays off spread throughout the year. In most major companies, if an employee has 25 years of continual service, their leave allowance increases to 35 free days a year.

3. Finland – 36 days

It is common for Finns to also take a week of holidays in the wintertime, either around Christmas or in early spring when children have their winter holidays. People living there tend to get 25 days off a year for annual leave and most employers also offer an additional 11 paid days during public or religious holidays.

4. Sweden – 36 days

The rules regarding time off in Sweden mirror Finland’s, especially when it comes to public and religious holidays. Every employee in Sweden is entitled to 25 full working days of vacation every year, regardless of age or type of employment.