Hours of work needed to escape poverty — Working hours needed to in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Hours of work needed to escape poverty — Working hours needed to was 14 Hours per week in 2025. ▬ Flat

Latest (2025)
14 Hours per week
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
26th
of 31 countries
All-time high
16 Hours per week
in 2022
All-time low
14 Hours per week
in 2004
Years of data
25
2001–2025

Hours of work needed to escape poverty — Working hours needed to in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 2001–2025

0510152001201320252001: 15 Hours per week2002: 15 Hours per week2003: 15 Hours per week2004: 14 Hours per week2005: 14 Hours per week2006: 15 Hours per week2007: 14 Hours per week2008: 15 Hours per week2009: 15 Hours per week2010: 15 Hours per week2011: 15 Hours per week2012: 15 Hours per week2013: 15 Hours per week2014: 15 Hours per week2015: 15 Hours per week2016: 15 Hours per week2017: 15 Hours per week2018: 14 Hours per week2019: 15 Hours per week2020: 15 Hours per week2021: 15 Hours per week2022: 16 Hours per week2023: 15 Hours per week2024: 14 Hours per week2025: 14 Hours per week

Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in Hours per week.

Analysis

The most recent figure for hours of work needed to escape poverty — working hours needed to in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is 14 Hours per week, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.

That represents a change of down 6.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, hours of work needed to escape poverty — working hours needed to in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland peaked at 16 Hours per week in 2022 and was at its lowest, 14 Hours per week, in 2004.

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 26th of 31 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

Hours of work needed to escape poverty — Working hours needed to in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, year by year

Annual values for Hours of work needed to escape poverty — Working hours needed to escape poverty for a jobless family claiming minimum income benefits in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 2001 to 2025.
Year Hours per week Change
2001 15 Hours per week
2002 15 Hours per week +0.0%
2003 15 Hours per week +0.0%
2004 14 Hours per week -6.7%
2005 14 Hours per week +0.0%
2006 15 Hours per week +7.1%
2007 14 Hours per week -6.7%
2008 15 Hours per week +7.1%
2009 15 Hours per week +0.0%
2010 15 Hours per week +0.0%
2011 15 Hours per week +0.0%
2012 15 Hours per week +0.0%
2013 15 Hours per week +0.0%
2014 15 Hours per week +0.0%
2015 15 Hours per week +0.0%
2016 15 Hours per week +0.0%
2017 15 Hours per week +0.0%
2018 14 Hours per week -6.7%
2019 15 Hours per week +7.1%
2020 15 Hours per week +0.0%
2021 15 Hours per week +0.0%
2022 16 Hours per week +6.7%
2023 15 Hours per week -6.2%
2024 14 Hours per week -6.7%
2025 14 Hours per week +0.0%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 14.67 Hours per week 14 Hours per week 15 Hours per week 9
2010s 14.9 Hours per week 14 Hours per week 15 Hours per week 10
2020s 14.83 Hours per week 14 Hours per week 16 Hours per week 6

Countries ranked near United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

  1. 23 Israel 16 Hours per week compare
  2. 24 Belgium 15 Hours per week compare
  3. 24 Greece 15 Hours per week compare
  4. 26 France 14 Hours per week compare
  5. 28 Australia 9 Hours per week compare
  6. 29 Japan 8 Hours per week compare
  7. 29 Luxembourg 8 Hours per week compare

See the full ranking of 42 places →

More economy & growth data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

All data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland →

Frequently asked questions

What is hours of work needed to escape poverty — working hours needed to in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
Hours of work needed to escape poverty — working hours needed to in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was 14 Hours per week in 2025, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
What is the highest hours of work needed to escape poverty — working hours needed to recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
The highest recorded value was 16 Hours per week in 2022.
What is the lowest hours of work needed to escape poverty — working hours needed to recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
The lowest recorded value was 14 Hours per week in 2004.
How does United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank for hours of work needed to escape poverty — working hours needed to?
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 26th out of 31 countries with data for 2025.
Is hours of work needed to escape poverty — working hours needed to rising or falling in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
Over the last ten years it is down 6.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland data come from?
The figures come from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as part of Hours of work needed to escape poverty — Working hours needed to escape poverty for a jobless family claiming minimum income benefits. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Hours of work needed to escape poverty — Working hours needed to in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Statizoid, drawing on Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Retrieved 12 September 2026, from https://economy.statizoid.com/stat/hours-of-work-needed-to-escape-poverty-working-hours-needed-to-escape-poverty-for-a/united-kingdom/

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About this data

Indicator
Hours of work needed to escape poverty — Working hours needed to escape poverty for a jobless family claiming minimum income benefits
Unit
Hours per week
Source
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Licence
OECD Terms and Conditions (attribution required)
Coverage
42 places, 952 data points, 2001–2025
Last refreshed

This indicator measures the working hours needed to escape poverty for a jobless family claiming minimum income benefits. Calculations for families with children assume 2 children aged 4 and 6 who do not use formal childcare.