That is because the total number of hours worked in the UK has also risen sharply in the past few years.

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Rather, bosses are calculating it on the basis of the total number of hours worked in the year, then dividing that figure by 52.

ECONOMIST: France��s shorter week

You might think, then, that if we looked at the average number of hours worked by all those of working age - dividing the total number of hours worked by the working age population - Germany would come out on top.

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"It is estimated that the total number of police staff hours spent investigating Ray Gosling's false report is in excess of 1, 800, " said Mr Clements.

BBC: 's Ray Gosling sentenced for wasting police time

They were adding up the national total spent on child care, and dividing it by the number of hours women worked to get the per hour cost of care.

FORBES: How to Lie With Statistics, Women and Child Care Edition

Verizon Wireless previously said the number of iPhones it sold in the first two hours of availability exceeded the one-day total for any other device's debut in the carrier's history, though it declined to say how many were ordered.

WSJ: Verizon iPhone Hits Shelves

Over a number of days, Ms Martin was interviewed by the police for a total of six hours and 55 minutes.

BBC: Millie Martin