Colombia is positioned as the second country in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) where the cost of free time is highest, with an index of 13.91.
It is only surpassed by Mexico, which leads the ranking with an index of 15.89. This situation reveals the economic sacrifice that Colombian workers face when trying to enjoy their time outside of work.
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One of the key factors behind the high cost of free time in Colombia is the long work hours faced by its workers. With an average of 2,405 hours worked per year, which is equivalent to more than 50 hours per week, Colombia becomes the country with the longest working day among OECD members. This reality not only limits the time available for recreational and rest activities, but also increases the economic value of free time.
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The concept of ‘free time cost’ refers to the sacrifice that a worker must make in terms of income by dedicating hours to personal activities instead of working.. In Colombia, this cost is considerably high due to the relatively low wages compared to the long hours that employees must work.
International comparisons
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The Colombian case is similar to that of Mexico, which tops the list of countries with the most expensive free time. Mexican workers have an average working day of 2,128 hours per year, although some estimates place it even at 2,226 hours.
To reach the OECD average salary, a Mexican worker would need to work 220% more hours. In Colombia, the situation is not much better: employees would have to increase their annual working hours by 140% to reach that salary level.
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In contrast, countries like Iceland and Luxembourg present a completely different reality. In Iceland, the cost of free time is remarkably low, with an index of 1.41, and workers only need to dedicate 974 hours a year to reach the OECD average salary, which represents a 33% reduction in their workload. Luxembourg also stands out with an index of 1.47, where employees work an average of 1,005 hours per year.
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Impact on quality of life
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The situation in Colombia and Mexico is an example of how long working hours and low wages negatively impact the quality of life of workers.
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Lack of affordable free time can lead to a cycle of burnout and discontent, impacting both productivity and overall well-being. Highlighting the difference with nations such as Denmark, Luxembourg and Iceland, where workers enjoy a healthier work-life balance.
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