Germany Ranks High in Remote Work Adoption

Germany stands out in international comparisons of remote work, with its academics working an average of 1.6 days per week from home, surpassing the global average of 1.2 days, according to a recent study by the Ifo Institute in Munich. This analysis included responses from participants in 40 countries and focused specifically on individuals with higher education degrees.

Despite the ongoing trends of some companies pushing for a return to the office, the data indicates that the rate of remote work has remained stable globally since 2023. Ifo researcher Mathias Dolls noted, "Our findings suggest that the home office rate has not decreased significantly, even with high-profile examples of companies urging employees back to their physical workplaces."

Leading the rankings is Canada, where full-time employees work an average of 1.9 days from home, followed closely by the United Kingdom at 1.8 days and Finland at 1.7 days. Germany's figure of 1.6 days is matched by both the United States and India, with the U.S. slightly exceeding Germany when considering further decimal points.

At the lower end of the spectrum, countries such as South Korea (0.5 days), China and Greece (0.6 days), and Japan (0.7 days) reported the least amount of remote work. Among Germany's neighboring countries, the statistics vary: Denmark reports 0.9 days, France 1.0 days, Poland 1.1 days, Austria 1.2 days, and the Czech Republic 1.4 days, while Belgium, Luxembourg, and Switzerland did not participate in the study.

The differences in remote work practices between countries can largely be attributed to cultural factors, particularly the value placed on individuality in society. Dolls explained that societies with a stronger emphasis on individuality tend to foster greater trust between employees and employers, a trait that is notably prominent in English-speaking nations, which explains their high standings in remote work statistics. Countries like Ireland and New Zealand also exceeded the global average.

Furthermore, the study highlighted how family dynamics influence remote work practices. Employees with children tend to split their workweek between home and the office more frequently than those without children, who often choose to work exclusively remotely or on-site. Interestingly, the research found minimal differences in remote work patterns between male and female employees.

The survey, conducted from November 2024 to February 2025, involved thousands of individuals aged 20 to 64 across the 40 participating countries, providing a comprehensive overview of the current landscape of remote work.