Time Use Survey
We mostly sleep, work and watch TV
Time spent on main activities: by sex, 2005, GB
An average of 142 minutes was spent on housework in Great Britain in 2005 – 30 minutes less than in 2000. Seventy seven per cent of men and 92 per cent of women spent some time each day doing housework (compared with 86 per cent and 96 per cent respectively in 2000).
The three main activities carried out by people in Great Britain in 2005 were sleeping, working, and watching TV and videos/DVDs or listening to music. These activities take up more than half the day (13 hours and 38 minutes out of the 24 hours available). About a third of the day was spent sleeping. Men were more likely to watch TV or listen to the radio and to take part in other activities (sport, entertainment, hobbies and using the computer). Women are more likely than men to spend time reading or spend time with other people.
The distribution of activities varied during the week. At the weekend, both men and women spent more time sleeping and participating in leisure activities and men spent more time on domestic work (161 minutes compared with 116 minutes on weekdays). The difference was due to more time being spent on repairs and gardening and shopping and appointments at the weekend.
Men have on average 30 minutes more free time than women although this is to some extent compensated for by the extra 20 minutes women spend sleeping on average. Less free time is enjoyed by men and women when there are children in the household. Men aged 16-49 with children of pre-school age have 231 free minutes compared to 348 minutes for those without dependant children.
Source: 2000 and 2005 Time Use Survey, Office for National Statistics
Note:
'free time' is the time left over after sleep, personal care, meals, paid work, domestic work, study and travel have been allowed for.
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UK 2000 Time Use Survey