As discussions about education reforms, student mental health, and academic performance continue worldwide, one issue keeps coming up: the length of the school day.
While most countries stick to a 6 to 7-hour schedule, some have pushed those limits, extending the average school day to over nine hours.
It’s not just about fitting more subjects into a packed schedule. In many countries, longer school days are part of bigger plans aimed at boosting the economy, ensuring fair education, and preparing students for future jobs.
But the big question is: does spending more time in class actually improve learning?
Here, we’ll look at the top five countries with the longest school days and see what those extra hours really mean for students.
Note: This list is based on data from the World Population Review’s 2025 report.
