July 13: How people spend their time

Time is our most precious resource. How we choose to spend it varies considerably by country.

Source: Visual Capitalist
Published: December 2020

How people spend their time 

Time is our most precious resource. How we choose to spend it varies considerably by country. 

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development’s (OECD) Time Use database tracks how people spend their time in countries around the world. The data is gathered through time-use diaries logged by people between ages 15 and 64.

How people spend their time, minutes/day averages

1. United States
Paid work: 251 
Sleep: 8 hours 48 mins
Unpaid labor: 218
Education: 31
Personal care: 120
Total leisure: 292 

2. United Kingdom
Paid work: 235
Sleep: 8 hours 28 mins
Unpaid labor: 228
Education: 27
Personal care: 137
Total leisure: 305

3. India
Paid work: 272
Sleep: 8 hours 48 mins
Unpaid labor: 204
Education: 23
Personal care: 159
Total leisure: 253

4. Germany
Paid work: 224
Sleep: 8 hours 18 mins
Unpaid labor: 212
Education: 24
Personal care: 150
Total leisure: 331

5. Spain
Paid work: 176
Sleep: 8 hours 36 mins
Unpaid labor: 230
Education: 26
Personal care: 177
Total leisure: 316

6. China
Paid work: 315
Sleep: 9 hours 2 mins
Unpaid labor: 179
Education: 25
Personal care: 152
Total leisure: 228

* Unpaid labor includes activities such as care working, volunteering, housework. Education means in school and studying. Personal care includes eating and drinking.