Communiqué on China’s Third National Time Use Survey (No. 3)

Communiqué on China’s Third National Time Use Survey (No. 3)

-- Time Use of Participants by Urban and Rural Areas, Gender, and Age Group in Primary Activity Domains

National Bureau of Statistics of China

October 31, 2024

Based on the results of China’s Third National Time Use Survey, data on the average daily time spent and participation rates for various primary activity domains and use of ICT by participants in urban and rural areas, by gender, and by age group are hereby published as follows.

The survey results show that, based on daily activities calculated over a 7-day week:

I. Essential Personal Physiological Activities

Participants in essential personal physiological activities spent an average of 12 hours and 27 minutes per day. Specifically, men averaged 12 hours and 23 minutes, and women averaged 12 hours and 31 minutes. Urban residents averaged 12 hours and 26 minutes, and rural residents averaged 12 hours and 29 minutes. Residents aged 6-17 averaged 12 hours and 44 minutes, those aged 18-59 averaged 12 hours and 12 minutes, and those aged 60 and above averaged 12 hours and 56 minutes.

The participation rate in essential personal physiological activities across urban-rural areas, gender, and age groups was 100.0 percent.

II. Paid Labor

Participants in paid labor spent an average of 6 hours and 23 minutes per day. Specifically, men averaged 6 hours and 44 minutes, and women averaged 5 hours and 55 minutes. Urban residents averaged 6 hours and 23 minutes, and rural residents averaged 6 hours and 22 minutes. Residents aged 6-17[1] averaged 4 hours and 21 minutes[1], those aged 18-59 averaged 6 hours and 32 minutes, and those aged 60 and above averaged 5 hours and 30 minutes.

The participation rate in paid labor was 54.1 percent. Among them, men’s participation rate was 60.2 percent, and women’s was 47.7 percent. Urban residents’ was 52.1 percent, and rural residents’ was 57.9 percent. Residents aged 6-17 had a participation rate of 1.2 percent, those aged 18-59 had 75.6 percent, and those aged 60 and above had 36.3 percent.

III. Unpaid Labor

Participants in unpaid labor spent an average of 2 hours and 45 minutes per day. Specifically, men averaged 1 hour and 52 minutes, and women averaged 3 hours and 29 minutes. Urban residents averaged 2 hours and 44 minutes, and rural residents averaged 2 hours and 46 minutes. Residents aged 6-17 averaged 36 minutes, those aged 18-59 averaged 2 hours and 42 minutes, and those aged 60 and above averaged 3 hours and 31 minutes.

The participation rate in unpaid labor was 75.6 percent. Among them, men’s participation rate was 67.5 percent, and women’s was 83.9 percent. Urban residents’ was 76.0 percent, and rural residents’ was 74.8 percent. Residents aged 6-17 had a participation rate of 33.7 percent, those aged 18-59 had 82.7 percent, and those aged 60 and above had 88.9 percent.

IV. Discretionary Personal Activities

Participants in discretionary personal activities spent an average of 3 hours and 30 minutes per day. Specifically, men averaged 3 hours and 37 minutes, and women averaged 3 hours and 22 minutes. Urban residents averaged 3 hours and 34 minutes, and rural residents averaged 3 hours and 20 minutes. Residents aged 6-17 averaged 2 hours and 19 minutes, those aged 18-59 averaged 3 hours and 8 minutes, and those aged 60 and above averaged 5 hours and 22 minutes.

The participation rate in discretionary personal activities was 97.4 percent. Among them, men’s participation rate was 97.6 percent, and women’s was 97.1 percent. Urban residents’ was 97.2 percent, and rural residents’ was 97.7 percent. Residents aged 6-17 had a participation rate of 96.6 percent, those aged 18-59 had 97.1 percent, and those aged 60 and above had 98.7 percent.

V. Learning and Training

Participants in learning and training spent an average of 7 hours and 9 minutes per day. Specifically, men averaged 7 hours and 15 minutes, and women averaged 7 hours and 2 minutes. Urban residents averaged 7 hours and 4 minutes, and rural residents averaged 7 hours and 18 minutes. Residents aged 6-17 averaged 8 hours and 12 minutes, those aged 18-59 averaged 5 hours and 2 minutes, and those aged 60 and above averaged 1 hour and 27 minutes.

The participation rate in learning and training was 25.1 percent. Among them, men’s participation rate was 26.1 percent, and women’s was 23.9 percent. Urban residents’ was 25.3 percent, and rural residents’ was 24.6 percent. Residents aged 6-17 had a participation rate of 98.4 percent, those aged 18-59 had 12.8 percent, and those aged 60 and above had 1.2 percent.

VI. Transportation

Participants in transportation spent an average of 1 hour and 2 minutes per day. Specifically, men averaged 1 hour and 3 minutes, and women averaged 1 hour. Urban residents averaged 1 hour and 4 minutes, and rural residents averaged 57 minutes. Residents aged 6-17 averaged 50 minutes, those aged 18-59 averaged 1 hour and 6 minutes, and those aged 60 and above averaged 59 minutes.

The participation rate in transportation was 80.5 percent. Among them, men’s participation rate was 81.9 percent, and women’s was 79.1 percent. Urban residents’ was 84.0 percent, and rural residents’ was 73.7 percent. Residents aged 6-17 had a participation rate of 84.9 percent, those aged 18-59 had 84.9 percent, and those aged 60 and above had 65.2 percent.

VII. Use of ICT

Participants in the use of ICT spent an average of 6 hours and 3 minutes per day. Specifically, men averaged 6 hours and 11 minutes, and women averaged 5 hours and 54 minutes. Urban residents averaged 6 hours and 42 minutes, and rural residents averaged 4 hours and 43 minutes. Residents aged 6-17 averaged 2 hours and 15 minutes, those aged 18-59 averaged 7 hours and 19 minutes, and those aged 60 and above averaged 4 hours and 52 minutes.

The participation rate in the use of ICT was 92.9 percent. Among them, men’s participation rate was 93.5 percent, and women’s was 92.4 percent. Urban residents’ was 94.3 percent, and rural residents’ was 90.2 percent. Residents aged 6-17 had a participation rate of 82.4 percent, those aged 18-59 had 98.7 percent, and those aged 60 and above had 85.2 percent.

Notes:

[1] In the actual survey, residents aged 6-15 did not participate in paid labor activities.

Table 1: Average Daily Time Spent by Participants in Primary Activity Domains

(based on daily activities calculated over a 7-day week)

Table 2: Participation Rates in Primary Activity Domains

(based on daily activities calculated over a 7-day week)