The U.S. Is Amongst the Countries With Fewest Vacation Days

Burnout and stress are modern maladies that affect people around the world. And while personal circumstances play a major role in these health issues, culture and official policies are also to blame. 

The global disparity in work-life balance is stark. Workers in some countries enjoy up to 53 days of paid time off. Others have to make do with vacation time that doesn’t even reach the double digits. 

Here are the ten countries with the least amount of paid time off — you might be surprised at where the U.S. lands.

Population: 5.4 million

Average vacation days: 17

Bottom line: Lebanon is the only majority Muslim country in the world with a terrible vacation policy. There are only two paid public holidays, and workers get an average of 15 paid leave days. Compare that to Iran’s 27 public holidays.

Part of the reason for Lebanon’s limited number of rest days could be its ongoing political and economic instability. Civil war and conflict in the region have led to a high unemployment rate, constant energy blackouts and other issues that make it difficult for the population to worry about taking time off.

*Rankings and paid vacation days data are based on a Resume.io study. Population numbers come from World Population Review.

Population: 220.8 million

Average vacation days: 17

Bottom line: Nigeria has one of the largest economies in the world, with a gross domestic product of $440.8 billion, according to the World Bank. But this hasn’t translated to better work conditions, probably because the wealth generated is unevenly distributed. 

While the country’s elite can enjoy lavish vacations, the average person doesn’t even get 20 days off a year.

Population: 116.3 million

Average vacation days: 17

Bottom line: The Philippines is a famed vacation destination, but its own citizens only have about 17 days to rest. Twelve of those days are public holidays, with employees providing workers five days off of work. 

Factories don’t follow strict labor laws, which has increased manufacturing within the country at the expense of decent work conditions.

Population: 23.9 million

Average vacation days: 17

Bottom line: Taiwan is one of Asia’s economic success stories, going from poverty to a strong economy in just a few decades following World War II (or, more precisely, the fall of the Japanese empire).

Despite being advanced in healthcare and technology, the nation ties as the eighth worst when it comes to letting people catch their breath for a moment.