Hours of work needed … jobless family claiming minimum income benefits in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Hours of work needed … jobless family claiming minimum income benefits was 14 Hours per week in 2025. ▬ Flat
Hours of work needed to escape poverty — Working hours needed to in United Kingdom, 2001–2025
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 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 peaked at 16 Hours per week in 2022 and was at its lowest, 14 Hours per week, in 2004.
United Kingdom ranks 26th of 31 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Hours of work needed … jobless family claiming minimum income benefits in United Kingdom, year by year
| 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% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 14 Hours per week is below the median for high income countries, which is 20 Hours per week, 70% of the median. (30 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 14 Hours per week is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 20 Hours per week, 70% of the median. (22 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | 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
More economy & growth data for United Kingdom
- Real gdp growth, annual growth rate 21.6 % change on previous year (2025)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.14 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 1.42 Percent per annum (2029)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, annual growth rate 1.04 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0099 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per capita 571.28 units per person (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, annual growth rate -3.78 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0072 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per capita 417.14 units per person (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, annual growth rate 3.15 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is hours of work needed to escape poverty — working hours needed to in United Kingdom?
- Hours of work needed to escape poverty — working hours needed to in United Kingdom 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?
- 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?
- The lowest recorded value was 14 Hours per week in 2004.
- How does United Kingdom rank for hours of work needed to escape poverty — working hours needed to?
- United Kingdom 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?
- 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 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.
Download this data
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About this data
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.