Millions of Germans have won the right to work a 28-hour week for up to two years to spend more time with their families. The deal covers industrial workers in Baden-Württemberg but could be extended to other parts of the country.

However, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Germans already work far fewer hours than most.

Its latest Employment Outlook report, published in 2017, suggests the average German works 1,363 hours annually (which equates to around 26 hours a week). None of the other 37 countries to feature in the study toil for less time each year. The average Briton works 1,676 hours a year, according to OECD data – or the equivalent of around 32 hours per week, which also puts it towards the better end of the table. Also enjoying plenty of downtime are citizens of The Netherlands, Norway, Denmark and France.

Mexico ranks number one, according to the OECD Credit: ALAMY

The hardest working country of all? Contrary to what Jeremy Clarkson would have you believe, it's Mexico. The average citizen of the Central American country works 2,255 hours a year, or a little over 43 hours a week.

In second place is Costa Rica, often described as the world's happiest country; South Korea, Greece and Chile complete the top five.

Germany's workers toil for the fewest hours Credit: Sean Pavone 2016

Which nationalities work the longest hours?

Mexico - 2255 hours per year Costa Rica - 2212 South Korea - 2069 Greece - 2035 Chile - 1974 Russia - 1974 Poland - 1928 Latvia - 1910 Israel - 1889 Lithuania - 1885 Iceland - 1879 Estonia - 1855 Portugal - 1842 Turkey - 1832 Ireland - 1820 US - 1783 Czech Republic - 1770 Hungary - 1761 New Zealand - 1757 Slovakia - 1740 Italy - 1730 Japan - 1713 Canada - 1703 Spain - 1695 Slovenia - 1682 UK - 1676 Australia - 1669 Finland - 1653 Sweden - 1621 Austria - 1601 Switzerland - 1590 Belgium - 1551 Luxembourg - 1512 France - 1472 Netherlands - 1430 Norway - 1421 Denmark - 1410 Germany - 1363

Overall, average working hours have fallen in every country for which the OECD has data. In the UK, for example, a typical employee spent 1,700 hours a year working in the year 2000 – that has fallen to 1,676.

Bigger decreases have been seen in other countries, such as Hungary. Its residents worked 2,033 hours a year in 2000; by 2017 that figure fell to 1,761.