America Stingy on Vacation Days

Rest and relaxation doesn't seem to come as easily or naturally to Americans as it does to those in other nations. According to the 2006 World Almanac and Book of Facts:

• a worker in Italy averages 42 vacation days per year.

• a worker in France: 37 days

• a worker in Germany: 35 days

• a worker in Brazil: 34 days

• a worker in the United Kingdom: 28 days

• a worker in Japan: 25 days

• a worker in America: just 13 days

The typical U.S. employee averaged 1,804 work hours in 2006. By comparison, the typical employee in Norway averaged 1,407 hours and the typical French employee, 1,564 hours.

Bill Ray, Litchfield Park, Arizona, and Brian Lowery, associate editor, PreachingToday.com; sources: Ken Park, The World Almanac and Book of Facts (2006) (World Almanac Books, 2006), p. 755, and "Numbers," TIME (9-17-07), p. 20