The average London worker is allocated 120 sf of floorspace, only half the amount enjoyed by the typical German worker. But in Taiwan, where space is most at a premium, the average worker has just 97 sf to work in.

The report said that, more than anything, space allocations are a function of the cost of occupying office space, and the places with the smallest allocations per person tend to be the most expensive office locations. Central London's twin office districts the West End and the City emerge from DTZ's survey as the two most expensive locations in the world. DTZ calculates that West End space costs £97 ($137) per sf, taking in rent, service charge and local property costs, and City space costs £83 ($117) per sf. Central Tokyo and Hong Kong rank at number two and three with Paris, at number five, the second highest ranking European city.

Elspeth Lochhead, Director of DTZ Pieda Consulting, said: 'Although prime office space in London is the most expensive in the world, the fact that space is used more efficiently means that, overall, property is not necessarily a larger item on a company's profit and loss account here than in other major cities.'