Indian Women spent 17.6% of their Time on Unpaid Domestic Work: TUS Survey 2024

By: WE Staff | Tuesday, 1 April 2025

• TUS Survey 2024 of NSS reveals that Gender Stereotypes persist
• Men spent 23% of their Time on employment while Women spent 17.6% time on Domestic Chores
• Gujaratis spend More time on Socializing and Leisure activities

The Time Use Survey (TUS) 2024 of the National Sample Survey (NSS) revealed that gender stereotypes persist in earning and household care, with men spending 23 per cent of their time on employment, while women dedicate 17.6 per cent of their time to unpaid domestic work, a crucial aspect of family and community sustainability, yet often unacknowledged in economic evaluations.

The survey revealed that women spend 6.3 per cent of their daily time on paid work, while men spend 1 per cent on unpaid domestic services, and both spend 10 per cent on socializing, communication, and community activities. Additionally, women spent 9.4 per cent on culture, leisure, media, and sports, whereas men spent 11 per cent of their daily time on the same.

Gujarat has a higher proportion of people engaged in work compared to national figures, with men and women spending 23 per cent and 6.3 per cent respectively. Gujaratis spend more time socializing, but cultural and leisure activities stand at 10 per cent compared to 8.7 per cent nationally.

A sociologist noted, "The new-age lifestyle involves multiple activities on simultaneously. One may be listening to music while doing domestic chores or socializing over a cricket match. In such a scenario, the values should be taken as indicative. The results show similar values in several categories for urban and rural populations or genders, indicating a changing society"

The study revealed an average daily mass media consumption of 1.8 hours, comparable to 120 minutes for the 15 to 59-year-old age group. Gender roles were evident, with men spending 414 minutes on paid activities and women spending 363 minutes.