China Releases Third National Time Use Survey Results
Where Chinese Spent Their Times?
Hello, my readers! Oct.31, the National Bureau of Statistics published a report regarding Chinese time use. It’s the third time the Statistics Bureau has published such a report. The statistics show where the Chinese spend their time, and are definitely worth sharing.
Below are some of the key takes:
Chinese spending less time on household chores
Data shows that participants spent an average of 1 hour and 59 minutes per day on household chores, which is 28 minutes less compared to the previous report in 2018. Personally, I attribute this to the wider use of the food delivery and home services industry, which saves a lot of time.
More people start to work out.
The participation rate in physical exercise and fitness activities among Chinese residents was 49.6%, an increase of 18.7 percentage points compared to 2018. In terms of average workout time, it also increased by 4 minutes, compared with 31 minutes in 2018.
Further expansion of Internet use
Residents who use the internet spent an average of 5 hours and 37 minutes per day online, an increase of 2 hours and 55 minutes compared to 2018. The participation rate in internet usage activities reached 92.9%, a 35.9% increase compared to 2018. (Thanks to the “overcapacity“ of cheaper smartphones, residents from poor villages can afford a smartphone to use the internet.)
Working time is still a problem that needs to be addressed
在有酬劳动领域，居民每日平均时间为3小时27分钟，占全天的14.4%；参与者每日平均时间为6小时23分钟，活动参与率为54.1%。
In the field of paid labor, residents spent an average of 3 hours and 27 minutes per day, accounting for 14.4% of the day. Among participants, the daily average time was 6 hours and 23 minutes, with an activity participation rate of 54.1%.
The average working hour a week is about 44.66 hours, Which is lower than 48.6 hours in the first half of 2024 (also by the National Bureau of Statistics). I haven’t seen an official explanation for this yet. But overtime work remains a problem.
Source:
第三次全国时间利用调查公报（第一号）https://www.stats.gov.cn/sj/zxfb/202410/t20241031_1957217.html
第三次全国时间利用调查公报（第二号）https://www.stats.gov.cn/sj/zxfb/202410/t20241031_1957216.html
2018 Time Use Survey Results
https://www.gov.cn/xinwen/2019-01/25/content_5361065.htm
Below I have attached the translation of the full report I made with footnotes:
The Third National Time Use Survey optimized its scope, subjects, content, and methods based on the previous two surveys. The survey coverage expanded to 31 provinces (regions, municipalities) and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps for the first time. The survey subjects were expanded to include persons aged 6-14 years for the first time. Resident activity categories were expanded to 34, and a mobile app self-reporting method was introduced for the first time to more comprehensively and accurately reflect time use among Chinese residents. Based on the results, residents' daily time use data is published as follows:
I. Time Use by Major Activity Domains
Survey results show that based on a 7-day week calculation1:
In the domain of personal physiological needs2, residents' daily average time3 is 12 hours 27 minutes, accounting for 51.9% of the day4; participants' daily average time5 is 12 hours 27 minutes, with an activity participation rate6 of 100.0%.
In the paid work domain7, residents' daily average time is 3 hours 27 minutes, accounting for 14.4%; participants' daily average time is 6 hours 23 minutes, with an activity participation rate of 54.1%.
In the unpaid work domain8, residents' daily average time is 2 hours 5 minutes, accounting for 8.7%; participants' daily average time is 2 hours 45 minutes, with an activity participation rate of 75.6%.
In the personal discretionary activities domain9, residents' daily average time is 3 hours 24 minutes, accounting for 14.2%; participants' daily average time is 3 hours 30 minutes, with an activity participation rate of 97.4%.
In the learning and training domain10, residents' daily average time is 1 hour 47 minutes, accounting for 7.4%; participants' daily average time is 7 hours 9 minutes, with an activity participation rate of 25.1%.
In the transportation domain11, residents' daily average time is 50 minutes, accounting for 3.5%; participants' daily average time is 1 hour 2 minutes, with an activity participation rate of 80.5%.
II. Time Use by Major Activity Categories
Survey results show that based on a 7-day week calculation:
Sleep and rest activities12: residents' daily average time and participants' daily average time are both 9 hours 46 minutes, with an activity participation rate of 100.0%.
Personal hygiene and care activities13: residents' daily average time and participants' daily average time are both 56 minutes, with an activity participation rate of 99.1%.
Meals and other food activities14: residents' daily average time and participants' daily average time are both 1 hour 43 minutes, with an activity participation rate of 99.8%.
Transportation activities15: residents' daily average time is 50 minutes, participants' daily average time is 1 hour 2 minutes, with an activity participation rate of 80.5%.
Employment activities16: residents' daily average time is 3 hours 28 minutes, participants' daily average time is 6 hours 23 minutes, with an activity participation rate of 54.4%.
Learning and training activities17: residents' daily average time is 1 hour 47 minutes, participants' daily average time is 7 hours 9 minutes, with an activity participation rate of 25.1%.
Household work activities18: residents' daily average time is 1 hour 17 minutes, participants' daily average time is 1 hour 59 minutes, with an activity participation rate of 64.9%.
Family care and companionship activities19: residents' daily average time is 30 minutes, participants' daily average time is 1 hour 46 minutes, with an activity participation rate of 28.4%.
Shopping for goods and services activities20: residents' daily average time is 15 minutes, participants' daily average time is 43 minutes, with an activity participation rate of 34.1%.
Medical care activities21: residents' daily average time is 2 minutes, participants' daily average time is 1 hour 27 minutes, with an activity participation rate of 2.7%.
Sports and fitness activities22: residents' daily average time is 35 minutes, participants' daily average time is 1 hour 10 minutes, with an activity participation rate of 49.6%.
Cultural, leisure and entertainment activities23: residents' daily average time is 2 hours 33 minutes, participants' daily average time is 2 hours 40 minutes, with an activity participation rate of 95.3%.
Social interaction activities24: residents' daily average time is 18 minutes, participants' daily average time is 1 hour 9 minutes, with an activity participation rate of 26.3%.
III. Internet Usage Among Residents
Survey results show that based on a 7-day week calculation:
Internet usage25: residents' daily average time is 5 hours 37 minutes, participants' daily average time is 6 hours 3 minutes, with an activity participation rate of 92.9%.
According to the "Third National Time Use Survey Plan," participants must record all activities continuously for 24 hours from 0:00 to 24:00 the next day. For activities lasting less than 15 minutes, those under 7 minutes need not be recorded, while those over 7 minutes are recorded as 15 minutes in the diary. During the field survey period (May 11-31, 2024), all participants must complete two diary forms: Diary 1 (one weekday) and Diary 2 (one weekend day). When calculating time spent on activities, data from Diary 1 and Diary 2 are weighted by 5/7 and 2/7 respectively to obtain key indicators like daily average time, participant average time, and participation rates based on a 7-day week.
Personal physiological needs domain includes sleep and rest, personal hygiene care, meals and other food consumption, medical care, and related activities.
Residents' daily average time refers to the weighted average time spent on an activity across all survey participants.
Due to rounding, the percentages of daily average time for major activity domains may not sum exactly to the total.
Participants' daily average time refers to the weighted average time spent on an activity among those who participated in that activity.
Activity participation rate is the proportion of participants (those who engaged in a specific activity) among all survey participants.
Paid work domain includes all employment activities except unpaid internships.
Unpaid work domain includes household work, family care and companionship, shopping for goods or services, unpaid internships, and volunteer activities from the social interaction category.
Personal discretionary activities domain includes sports and fitness, cultural leisure and entertainment, and social interaction activities (excluding volunteer work).
Learning and training domain includes all learning and training activities.
Transportation domain includes all transportation activities.
Sleep and rest activities refer to activities meeting physiological needs for sleep and rest. Including night sleep, naps, dozing, and brief rest with closed eyes. Excludes activities like using phones or listening to music while in bed before sleeping or after waking.
Personal hygiene and care activities refer to daily personal care activities performed independently, self-health management, and unpaid care received from family members. Includes using the toilet, brushing teeth, washing face/hands, bathing, foot soaking, makeup, skincare, hair grooming, shaving, wearing contact lenses, nail cutting, foot care, dressing, blood pressure/glucose monitoring, insulin injections, taking medicine, and wound care. Excludes paid care from doctors, nurses, or caregivers.
Meals and other food activities refer to eating and drinking at any location (home, restaurants, workplace, school, etc.) for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or other times. Includes eating meals, takeout, snacks, drinking water, beverages, alcohol, tea, coffee, etc. Excludes food tasting activities for work compensation or business income.
Transportation activities refer to travel for any purpose using any mode of transport (including walking). Includes commuting to work/school, meeting clients, travel between offices, business trips, shopping, medical visits, fitness venues, leisure facilities, social venues, and transit to airports/train stations.
Employment activities refer to production of goods and services for wages, business income, work experience, or professional skills. Compensation can be monetary or in-kind, regardless of actual receipt. Includes full-time, part-time, apprenticeships, internships, probationary work in urban and rural enterprises; primary production in agriculture, animal husbandry, forestry, fishery; sales, repairs, transportation, construction; paid personal care, housekeeping, transport services; flexible employment like online shops, livestreaming, ride-hailing, delivery; and related paid training (pre-job training, party school, on-the-job training, full-time study). Excludes unpaid household work and volunteer work.
Learning and training activities refer to education at all levels. Includes formal education from preschool through higher education, adult technical training, adult non-degree higher education, related extracurricular study, tutoring, homework, self-study; vocational skills training, qualification certification, short-term training (language, computer, driving school); personal interest learning; qualification courses and exam preparation. Excludes paid work-related training.
Household work activities refer to unpaid domestic work for oneself or family members. Includes cooking, cleaning, pet care, and other household chores. Excludes unpaid household work for non-family members.
Family care and companionship activities refer to life care and educational support for family members of all ages. Includes daily care, hygiene care, conversations, study guidance, companionship, and supervision. Excludes care for non-family members.
Shopping for goods or services activities refer to purchasing goods or services online or in physical stores. Includes buying food, clothes, daily necessities, appliances, furniture, cars; arranging repairs; conducting business at banks, law firms, advertising agencies, wedding companies, real estate agencies; receiving services at hair salons, beauty parlors; and shopping-related livestream or TV shopping viewing. Excludes accompanying others' shopping without personal purchases and medical services.
Medical care activities refer to medical treatment and care received from doctors and nurses at medical institutions or online. Includes consultations, prescriptions, hospitalization, surgery, infusions, injections, physical examinations, consultations, therapy, massage, optometry. Excludes accompanying others or pets for medical care.
Sports and fitness activities refer to physical activities at home or fitness venues for health purposes. Includes walking, running, mountain climbing, cycling, martial arts, square dancing, fitness dance, yoga, ball sports, water sports, ice/snow sports, combat sports, and equipment-based exercises. Excludes mind sports like chess and card games.
Cultural, leisure and entertainment activities refer to participation in cultural or recreational activities, pursuing hobbies, using cultural facilities, and tourism. Includes reading, audio-visual entertainment, relaxation games, hobbies, cultural venue activities, and tourism.
Social interaction activities refer to activities primarily for social purposes. Includes social conversations, chatting, phone calls, messaging, emails, attending gatherings, school reunions, ceremonies, and participating in community or charitable volunteer services. Excludes work or study-related communications.
Internet usage refers to participants' internet use during various activities, including access via mobile phones, computers, or other devices.